Smiling Through the Troubles of Life
Today’s Bible Verses:
Psalm 34:17-18 ESV
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Yesterday, as I scrolled through X/Twitter, it seemed my fellow New York Rangers fans were angry and sad that our team failed to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. I wasn’t surprised by the tweeting outburst. Yet, I smiled through it all.
People in real life are dealing with greater troubles than their favorite team losing. If you’re dealing with cancer, you know what I mean (#cancersucks). Dealing with life’s true challenges by living by faith in Jesus Christ is one way to overcome the mountains of depression, fear, and anger that come along with hardship. Going to our Lord in prayer and pleading for guidance and help is important. But knowing that God hears your concerns and promises to answer them is a great confidence builder. God is there to deliver us out of our troubles and uphold us as we deal with whatever trouble is weighing us down. Trust in the Lord and praise His name. And if you’re dealing with a deep sadness or trouble, let our God put a smile on your face. He’s saved us from eternal death and loves us beyond human understanding. He’ll never leave us!
Oh, and the Rangers will come back in the fall. Maybe this time, some wingers can be taller and more muscular…
PRAYERS
Keep in Your Prayers:
Those struggling to make ends meet.
All people dealing with cancer
Those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
A Prayer for Today:
Gracious Father, I pray this day for those dealing with health troubles of life’s difficulties. Be with all of them. Strengthen their faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and assure them of Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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