One night I had a dream—
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
“I don’t understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
“When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.”
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
Sometimes the day-to-day pressures of life can cause unnecessary stress. In fact, many people lose sleep worrying about things or people in their lives. But God doesn’t want us to live stressed out and overwhelmed. He wants us to live a life of rest and peace.
When Jesus walked on this earth, He took time for Himself. He got away from the crowds. He spent time with the Father. That’s how He found rest. He was gentle and humble in heart. Do you ever notice that when you are stressed out or worrying about something, you’re less tolerant of others? You’re more likely to say something you don’t really mean. Today, God wants you to cast your cares on Him and live with a gentle and humble attitude. When you release your burdens and follow the example of Jesus, you will find rest for your soul. You will be rejuvenated and refreshed! You will find peace in your heart, and you will move forward in the abundant life God has for you!
Seek God for a fresh word each day.
by Joyce MeyerAnd in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed.
— Mark 1:35When Jesus told us to abide in Him and in His Word, He used the Greek word meno, which is translated in Strong’s concordance as “continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry.” We are to spend time with God—continually. When we do, we get in the flow of His plan for our day.
We are not told just to wish for everything to work together; we are told to seek God for a fresh word each day. If we seek Him early in the day, we will have “a word in due season” to share with others (See Proverbs 15:23).We can succeed at what God calls us to do, if we listen for His instructions. He has said, “If you seek Me early and diligently, you will find Me” (See Proverbs 8:17).
Everyone goes through seasons of difficulty or times when things just seem dark. During these challenging times, know that you are not alone. God has a plan to drive out the darkness — He will flood you with His light!
So often, people limit themselves in their thinking. They don’t think they’ll ever accomplish their dreams. They start thinking they don’t have the talent, the connections or the funds. They don’t think a marriage could ever be restored or they’ll ever get out of debt. But that kind of thinking comes from looking at things in the natural. That’s a limited perspective. We have to realize that God is a supernatural God. And just because we don’t see a way doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a way. God can bring one opportunity across your path that will thrust you to a new level. He has explosive blessings that can blast you out of debt and into abundance! He can do what medical science can’t do!
Today, I encourage you to take the limits off your thinking. Lift up your eyes to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Trust that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf, and He will make a way out of no way. Remember, what you are facing may seem impossible with man, but when God puts His “super” on your “natural,” anything is possible!
Love covers us. Not only does it cover all our sin, but love covers every area in our life where we feel naked and ashamed. The best definition of love that I know of can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. It talks about how patient love is, how kind it is, how it doesn’t get easily angered, how love believes all things, hopes in all things, and endures all things.
The love that we were created to receive will never fail. Ever. If you are struggling today with a feeling of being uncovered in some way, be encouraged to know that God’s love will cover you completely.
My prayer for each one of us is that we would know more of our Father’s love today than we did yesterday and tomorrow will be a new opportunity to know even more of His unending, amazing, eternal love!
