Help for the problems

When I asked for your help, you answered my prayer and gave me courage. ~ Psalm 138:3 (CEV)

But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. ~ 1 Peter 5:10 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Through Christ God gives his people the inner strength they need to face the challenges that come their way.

PRAYER:

Again, Lord, thank you that you give us what we need to face the problems. I confess, though, that even when you encourage and strengthen me I am slow to accept the help. Sometimes I like to flounder about pretending that I can handle the problems on my own. Please give me the wisdom and humility to receive your help. I'm going to see the problems as an opportunity to rely more on you. Amen.

Unimportant people

God wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors. God stepped in and mightily bought you back out of that world of slavery, freed you from the iron grip of Pharaoh king of Egypt. ~ Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (MSG)

Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:28-29 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God chooses to do his most important work through unimportant people.

PRAYER:

Almighty God, thank you for noticing me. Help me to stop thinking that because I am unimportant in the world that I am unimportant to you and that you are uninterested in using me. That is how the world system thinks and I need help in learning to think like you think. I'm going to stop thinking so much about status and trust that my Savior Christ Jesus knows what he is doing. Amen.

God provides

Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. ~ Psalm 116:7 (NLT)

My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:19 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God will provide everything we need.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for being so generous to us -- to me. I confess, though, that I worry about the future. I worry that there will not be enough. I have no basis for that worry. It is unfounded. Continue to remind me of all the great ways that you have provided in the past. I'm going to trust that you will take care of us this new year. Amen.

Rest

He has sent me to provide for all those who grieve in Zion, to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of tears of grief, and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness. ~ Isaiah 61:3 (MSG)

Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. ~ Matthew 28:11 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

The Lord is our relief.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for carrying me through the hard times. I wish that the difficulties would all go away. And sometimes I feel angry that you don't take them away. This keeps me from fully appreciating the way that you are stepping in to carry the load. So, I am asking you to help me to rest in you and to change my discouragement to praise. I'm going to find rest in Jesus. Amen.