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How Long?

In the Word

How long, O Lord? … How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? (Psalm 13:1a, 2a).

Of the Word

“Are we there yet?” Everyone who has traveled with children has heard that question multitudes of times. No matter how many games, snacks, and breaks parents provide, little tykes are impatient to arrive at the destination.

The psalmist’s question isn’t much different. How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? (Psalm 13:2a).

What are those thoughts? Fear of the future? Divorce or separation? Addiction?

What are those sorrows? Illness or death? A wayward child? Miscarriage?

No matter what the trouble, God’s Word is true. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18a).

Walking with my Lord

Gracious Father, when I long for relief from all that troubles me, wrap me in Your love and remind me of Your promises. Keep me safe until the day Your kingdom comes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Comfort from the Psalms. Authors: Marcia Gomulka & Myrna Lou Meyer. 13/30 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Faith is … Trusting that God’s Time is the Best Time

In the Word

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:6).

Of the Word

We all experience days, even weeks, when everything in life seems to be going our way. But then suddenly, altogether unexpectedly, everything shifts into reverse. One day the sun is shining brightly; the next day all is dark and overcast. One week we are actively carrying out our responsibilities; the next week we are lying helpless in a hospital bed.

God is Lord. He rules His creation and His children with a mighty hand. When we pray to our God in our time of need, we may do so with confidence, knowing that the God who sent His Son to die for us certainly will also … lift [us] up in [His] time.

It has been said there are two ways to open a flower bud. You can force the petals apart and, in doing so, destroy the flower; or you can leave it alone until slowly but surely, God unfolds it. God’s ways are not our ways. Nor is His time our time. But our comfort lies in the fact that His time is based on the true wisdom and knowledge of a God who not only knows us, but loves us.

Walking with my Lord

Help me, O Lord, to patiently bear all things and trust that Your timing is always best. For Jesus’ sake and in His name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 15/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Faith is … Trusting in God’s Care

In the Word

… casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV).

Of the Word

The mother knew her daughter’s badly-infected finger needed a doctor’s attention. She seemed hard-hearted when she gave permission for him to use the knife. Only after the girl’s finger healed was it evident that the mother had acted out of love.

Likewise, we may think that God is hard-hearted when He permits adversity and hardship. Later we understand that concern for our welfare was behind all He did. “Why, Lord?” we ask so often. “What is the purpose of all this?” It is not given us to understand God’s ways. His ways and thoughts are hidden from us. He simply asks us to trust in His care.

To be in God’s care is to be secure in the midst of all dangers because He will never abandon us. He asks us to cast all our worries and cares upon Him, for He will carry them with us and for us. Do not bear alone thy burdens, A single one too much for thee; I will bear them, I alone, Thou shalt only rest in me. (Author unknown)

Walking with my Lord

Lord, help me to trust in Your care each day. Thank You in my Savior Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 14/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture notations marked NKJV are from the NEW KING JAMES BIBLE, © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Yes! Praise

In the Word

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Of the Word

“We’re never quite sure what you’re saying,” staff members told their manager. The manager, eager to please everyone, rarely uttered an outright “yes” or “no” to employees’ questions. Her failure resulted not in a pleased staff, but employees left to guess what she wanted.

Christianity is clearly a “yes” religion. It doesn’t leave us wondering what it offers or where we stand with God. Jesus came not as “perhaps” the Messiah, but as “I am” the Messiah, the Christ. His “yes” to death on Calvary and His resurrection from the grave gives us certainty in our relationship with God, the Father. Jesus’ “yes,” His unchangeable and eternal “yes,” means His answer is still “yes” today. Yes to His Word. Yes to His forgiveness. Yes to His promise to remain with us, to work all things according to His will, to give us every spiritual blessing we need for this life.

Our Spirit-inspired response leads us to wholeheartedly respond “Amen” to His “yes.” “Amen” — yes, yes, it is so! — lets the lips of believers return glory and praise to God, the everlasting and unchanging “Yes.”

Walking with my Lord

Your “yes” gives me my confidence.
Your “yes” is my secure defense.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Praise. Author: Patricia Mitchell. 14/32 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Faith is … Looking to the Future

In the Word

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God …” (Job 19:25–26).

Of the Word

Job was in agony. His strength had left him; all hope of recovery was gone. What was left? His only comfort was the living hope of seeing his Redeemer with his own eyes.

Perhaps Job could see himself, clothed with flesh, listening to the invitation of Christ, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34b).

Nothing helps a Christian through difficult days more than knowing that Jesus lives. Gloom may weigh us down, but glory waits. Job’s faith is the same faith we need when everything seems to fall apart. Can we look beyond our problems? Can we fix our thoughts on the day when we will see the Lord with eyes that see only misery and suffering today? Job looked into the future. We can, too!

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, let me see Your Son on the glorious day of the resurrection and hear His invitation to the blessings of heaven. In His name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 30/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Faith is … Relying on Our Heavenly Father’s Grace and Mercy

In the Word

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead … (1 Peter 1:3).

Of the Word

A German submarine sank a British freighter off Africa in 1941. The sub surfaced amid wreckage, lifeboats, and wounded men. When the British were ordered to board the sub, they thought they would be killed or captured. Instead the German captain had his doctor treat their wounds. His crewmen repaired their lifeboats. He gave them food, water, wine, and tobacco, then set them on a course for the nearest land. They were not treated as enemies, but they were shown mercy.

We have not been treated as enemies of God. Because of our sin we deserve hell which is eternal separation from Him. The grave should swallow us, and we should sink into a sea of torment forever.

No, God has not dealt with us as we deserve. He put our sins on Christ and dealt with Christ. Our Father gave us what we have not deserved. God, who is full of grace and mercy, has given us a living hope.

Our wounds have been treated and we have been clothed with Christ’s own holiness. He has set us on a course for heaven. That is the sweetest truth we will ever hear!

Walking with my Lord

I thank You, O God, for Your mercy toward me, a sinner. In Jesus’ most precious name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 25/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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View the printable PDF of this devotion, Faith is … Relying on Our Heavenly Father’s Grace and Mercy

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Living in the Spirit … Gives Me Power

In the Word

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Of the Word

The storm crashed around the house. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, hail pounded against the windows. And then the power went out. The family huddled in darkness, fearing that the fierce winds would demolish their home. When morning came, they inspected the damages and prepared for the day. Breakfast? No power meant no hot coffee, no warm toast. The air was unbearably hot. No power meant no air conditioning. How had the rest of the city fared? No power meant no radio or TV to catch the news. No power to begin the ordinary routines of the day.

When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, His disciples were without power. In fear and dismay, they deserted Him and ran. After His resurrection, Jesus met with them. He spoke to them, and their fears dissolved. They believed His words, and power was restored — power from the Holy Spirit.

Electric power outages are to be expected now and then, but never will we experience an outage of Spirit power. This is Jesus’ promise to us, His disciples of the twenty-first century.

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. When I feel weak and helpless, remind me of the power that You and You alone can give. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in the Spirit. Authors: Marcia Gomulka, Dcs. Betty Knapp, Myrna Lou Meyer. 2/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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