6/01/04 Genesis 3:16
Then he said to the woman, “You will bear children with intense pain and suffering. And though your desire will be for your husband, he will be your master.”
CONFLICT
You and I face conflict everyday. It is important for our survival and growth as a child of God that we give the Lord our attention during times of conflict. I cannot see the future but I can talk with the Lord. Claiming His promise to always be with me I can know that He hears me. As I walk through conflict the Lord will draw me closer to Him if I will let Him. My moment by moment obedience opens the door to a closer relationship with Christ.
6/02/04 Genesis 41:52
Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my suffering.”
PROSPERITY
Growth and prosperity often come during times of significant difficulty. As Paul noted I am to give thanks in all things. The Lord is on your side and is seeking to bless you. Listen to Jesus and obey his Word. He will not leave you in the midst of your crisis.
6/03/04 Exodus 3:7
Then the LORD told him, “You can be sure I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
SUFFERING
Suffering is a difficult subject for Christians just as it was for Job. The truth is that we do not know what tomorrow holds. Until we get there we don’t know how the journey will develop. Life is full of ups and downs but the Lord is always the same. Jesus is our closest friend. Tell Him of your love right now. He will listen and you will be blessed.
6/04/04 Numbers 14:34
“‘Because the men who explored the land were there for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years – a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. You will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’
DESERT
Have you ever felt alone? We do that to ourselves. Somehow life gets off-balance and one day we wake up feeling alone. Be assured that you aren’t. Jesus will not leave you. He will stand by you through today’s conflict or difficulty. Ask the Lord to speak to your heart a word of encouragement. He will.
6/05/04 Deuteronomy 16:3
Eat it with bread made without yeast. For seven days eat only bread made without yeast, as you did when you escaped from Egypt in such a hurry. Eat this bread – the bread of suffering – so that you will remember the day you departed from Egypt as long as you live.
SUFFERING
My suffering has drawn me closer to Christ. I have been encouraged by Him at the point of my greatest need. Feeling the touch of God’s hand in the midst of a great crisis is an experience that you will never forget. Today is calm. Tomorrow may be chaotic. Jesus is with me through both.
6/06/04 Judges 2:18
Whenever the LORD placed a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.
SUFFERING
I do not understand suffering. I do not have an eternal viewpoint nor do I know all that I would need to know to understand suffering. I do know Jesus. I do know that He suffered and died for me. I believe that He loves me. As I live my life day by day that knowledge is adequate to give me strength to face the day. Knowing about Jesus doesn’t bring power for living. Knowing Jesus is the key to living an abundant life.
6/07/04 2Kings 14:26
For the LORD saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and how they had absolutely no one to help them.
SUFFERING
Our pain does not escape the Lord’s attention. I am living my life as an object of the love and activity of God. Christ in me gives me access to all of the resources of God. I am His child and have a right to call upon Him in time of need. He will answer and He will help.
6/08/04 Psalm 22:24
For he has not ignored the suffering of the needy. He has not turned and walked away. He has listened to their cries for help.
SUFFERING
Complete knowledge would be a great thing. I don’t have complete knowledge about what goes on in the world. God does. As a result of His complete knowledge He came to this world so that I might be saved. His salvation brings me into a complete relationship with Him. Life in Christ is a complete life.
6/09/04 Psalm 34:6
I cried out to the LORD in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears.
SUFFERING
Suffering’s goal is to destroy me. Jesus stands with me. He will not allow me to be destroyed. I do not have to fear that which can only destroy the body. Christ is my Savior from destruction and to an eternal relationship with the Lord. In Christ I can live a courageous life.
6/10/04 Psalm 69:29
I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
SUFFERING
Short prayers can have powerful results. If I know that the Lord will rescue me, a prayer of help is simply a statement of fact. I don’t know what the Lord will do or how He will do it but He will. He has promised me that He would help me. His promises are always true.
6/11/04 Revelation 2:9
“I know about your suffering and your poverty – but you are rich! I know the slander of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they really aren’t because theirs is a synagogue of Satan.
SUFFERING
Our steps are guided by the Lord Jesus. One thing I can depend on is His love for me. When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I know that Jesus will be right beside me. He will not let me be destroyed.
6/12/04 Revelation 1:9
I am John, your brother. In Jesus we are partners in suffering and in the Kingdom and in patient endurance. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and speaking about Jesus.
SUFFERING
In this world we will suffer. The tragedy is that the lost suffer even more. You and I are called to proclaim Christ as Lord by the way we live and the things we say. Jesus is Lord and He will stand with us as we endure. Rejoice, Jesus is Lord.
6/13/04 1Peter 5:9
Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
SUFFERING
Growing and becoming more like Jesus is our goal. As we grow in Christ likeness we will become an affront to the world. Our faith in the Lord will change the way we see our lives. We are not alone and this is not the end. There is joy in our journey as we serve a risen Savior.
6/14/04 1Peter 4:19
So if you are suffering according to God’s will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.
SUFFERING
I am never glad when I go through times of suffering. It is a complex human experience. I am glad when I get through suffering and see the work it has done in my life. As long as I focus on Jesus and not the suffering I will come through it well.
6/15/04 1Peter 4:13
Instead, be very glad – because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.
SUFFERING
I love Jesus. I want to know Him more and more. As I develop an abiding awareness of Jesus in my life, the trials and tribulations I face become part of the work that I do. I know that the Lord loves me and I know that Jesus is with me. His presence equips me to stand firm wherever I experience life.
6/16/04 1Peter 2:21
This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps.
SUFFERING
Our life is hidden with Christ in God. This is a promise that we can base our lives on. The world can cause me pain but it cannot destroy me. I belong to the Lord Jesus and in Him I can live and move and breathe.
6/17/04 1Peter 1:11
They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. They wondered when and to whom all this would happen.
SUFFERING
One day I will see Jesus face to face. When the fires of persecution, tribulation or just pain are roaring I stop and think about what that day will be like. On that day of translation I will move from this life to life with Jesus. My eternal life will be transformed from this physical world to that spiritual realm where everything is perfect. Jesus is Lord of my life.
6/18/04 James 5:13
Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord.
ATTITUDE
The Lord is with me. He guides me on my way. As I walk with Him my heart must learn to praise Him in all things. When I am suffering, I am to focus on Jesus. When I am celebrating, I am to focus on Jesus.
6/19/04 James 5:11
We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord’s plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy.
SUFFERING
Suffering often does not provide answers. We may never know the reason or the results. But we do know Jesus. He is the great comforter. In Christ we have peace with God. Through Christ we have strength for living. With Christ we cannot be defeated.
6/20/04 James 5:10
For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
SUFFERING
Evil hates good. If you are serving the Lord and are suffering don’t be surprised. Use suffering as a reminder to walk more closely with the Lord. Change your daily routine to spend more time with Jesus. Get into the Word of God and claim His promises. There is much work to do. There is a great need for more prayer warriors. Fight the good fight. Be faithful with your time.
6/21/04 Hebrews 10:33
Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.
SUFFERING
This is the normal Christian life. Care for others and hold on when you are undergoing suffering. Jesus has not forgotten you. The Lord has not misplaced the plan for your life. You are valuable to Jesus and He will not let you suffer alone. Jesus will stand with you and comfort you as you experience suffering.
6/22/04 Hebrews 10:32
Don’t ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.
FIRST LOVE
Remember the miracles. Remember His touch. Remember how grateful you were that your life had changed. The grind of daily living sometimes robs us of our joy. Stop where you are suffering and ask the Lord to put the joy of your salvation back into your heart. Reclaim your intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus. When our eyes are focused on Jesus we will not stumble.
6/23/04 Hebrews 2:18
Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.
TEMPTATION
Everyone experiences temptation. Only a few choose to let the power of God deal with the attacks of the world. You cannot overcome the world. Jesus overcame the world and His power in you will enable you to live a victorious Christian life.
6/24/04 Hebrews 2:10
And it was only right that God – who made everything and for whom everything was made – should bring his many children into glory. Through the suffering of Jesus, God made him a perfect leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation.
SALVATION
It all begins with Jesus. Everything we need to become a child of God and to be a child of God resides in the Lord Jesus Christ. When I fail I still have a relationship with the Father through Jesus. When I succeed I still have a relationship with the Father through Jesus. Jesus is God’s everything.
6/25/04 2Timothy 4:5
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Be what the Lord called you to be. If you suffer Christ will comfort you. If you fail the Lord will help you to learn and grow. If you succeed the Lord will guide you to the next step. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus we will lead a profitable Christian life.
6/26/04 2Timothy 3:11
You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra – but the Lord delivered me from all of it.
SECURITY
You are safe in Jesus Christ. This world cannot destroy you. You may lose everything here but you will not lose the most important thing-eternal life. You have an eternal relationship with the Lord God through His son Jesus Christ.
6/27/04 2Timothy 2:9
And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.
WORD
The Lord will not lose. You will not be destroyed. Focus your life and heart on Jesus. Let all that you do reflect His love and life and you will be free. Real freedom is found in absolute commitment to Jesus. Serve the Lord. Live you life. Rejoice, Jesus is Lord.
6/28/04 2Timothy 2:3
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
SUFFERING
If you love Jesus you will suffer. This world cannot stand His name or His presence. If you are filled with Christ the world will seek to destroy you. The enemy is like a roaring lion seeking whom he might destroy. Stand fast, suffer in service and live faithfully. When you do this you will defeat the world.
6/29/04 2Timothy 1:12
And that is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
FAITH
Serve Jesus with confidence. Know that there will be difficult days. Experience the living presence of the Lord Jesus as you seek to know Him more. Walk with Christ and talk with Him about everything you face in your life. Remember when Jesus aggressively deals with the obstacles you face. Be confident that the Lord will not forget you.
6/30/04 2Thessalonians 1:5
But God will use this persecution to show his justice. For he will make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering,
SUFFERING
Suffering brings us closer to the Lord. Suffering equips us to grow in faith. Suffering is necessary for us to be equipped to conquer the world. If you are seeking to deal with the sin in your life and are actively serving Jesus you will suffer. Have faith in the Lord for His deliverance because Jesus is already victorious over the world.
