Life Plan Devotion #47 [troubles]

Hi, Everyone.
Have a great start to your week. As always, I love hearing from you.

Life Plan Devotion #47 [troubles]

     When life is going well, we often forget God. We slack up in reading and following His Word. The pleasures of life take up too much time. Inevitably, troubles come. Perhaps they come to move us back to the center of God's will for us...being close to Him.
     God is just, but the world equates that with meanness. God is also good, but the world equates that with weakness. God is misunderstood. It's too bad, because knowing Him is all that we need, in this world and throughout eternity. When troubles come, those who truly know Him will find Him to be their rock. Those who trust in Him flee to Him for protection and refuge.

Nahum 1:7
"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and He knows them that trust in Him."

What this has to do with weight loss: The weight-loss journey can be one with troubles, both minor and major, few or many. We're not meant to go through those times alone. It helps to have loving and understanding friends and family. When you're going through troubles, don't forget The One who will help you more than anyone. Just put your trust in Him.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I admit that when all's right with my world, I often veer from following You. It's as if I think I don't really need You...until troubles come, that is. I can see how You would allow trouble to come to my door, when You know it's the only thing that will bring me back to You. What I really want, though, Lord, is to stay close to You, so my troubles are as few as possible. When the inevitable troubles come, my prayer is that I will continue to trust in You, to flee to You, where I will find help, refuge, and safety. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, staying close to The One who, in the midst of troubles, is still God.

Blessings,
Mary

People too often confuse God with Santa Claus. They expect Him to be a giver of gifts and never a punisher. When we who know Him also know that He is a God of judgement and will certainly allow troubles to come our way if we aren't living the way we should. We also know the wonderful blessings He will give us when we do follow His ways!

Hi, my friend.
I know I'd much rather receive the "good gifts [that] come down from the Father of Lights," than have Him allow troubles to come my way because I've strayed from Him. Even the troubles are a gift, if you think about it. God is just and fair and good and loving. We who love Him fear (meaning "respect") Him, and those who do not love Him should fear (meaning "fear") Him, not in this life, but definitely in the next. He will have the final say, to evil.
Thank you for reading and replying.
Blessings,
Mary