I look to Thee in every need
And never look in vain;
I feel Thy strong and tender love
And all is well again:
The thought of Thee is mightier far
Than sin and pain and sorrow are.
--Samuel Longfellow
"Sin and pain and sorrow" -- all your troubles -- are so limited and weak, they're not worthy of your full concentration.
Your troubles can't shut off the power of God's Spirit to work on your behalf.
They can't change His long-range plans for you.
They can't thwart the ability of His Word to comfort and direct you.
They can't lessen the availability of your Christian brothers and sisters to encourage you.
They can't reduce your eternal life!
Then don't let them overcome you.
Fix your eyes on Jesus, and ask Him for godly optimism, steadiness, endurance.
Take courage from Psalm 25:15:
My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
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Offer to Him this prayer:
Dear Lord God, thank You for giving me my troubles! First Peter 1:7 says that You've given them to prove that my faith is genuine, when it gets refined in these fires; and that they will result in praise, glory, and honor to You.
Then, Lord, I don't fix my eyes on my troubles but on You. I offer You my praise, glory and honor! I'm so happy that these very trials are proving that my faith is in You and I trust You.
Alleluia!
In Christ's dear name, amen.
* * * * *
For every one look at your problems,
your weaknesses, your failures --
take ten looks at Jesus.
--Robert Murray McCheyne,
fiery Scottish preacher
who died at the age
of twenty-nine
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