|
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:3,4a NLT
Recently a good friend was distressed because her daughter had to go back to work and began to leave my friend’s precious grandson in daycare for the first time. Used to being the center of his world, understandably, the little one did not like his new environment, so cried and refused to eat! As though the poor mother did not feel bad enough, his unhappiness made her feel even more guilty. And grandma was left feeling helpless. We have all found ourselves in situations that leave us bewildered, hurt and helpless. This pandemic has left our entire nation, and the whole world, desperate for God’s comfort. After Israel had been chastened and suffered for years, the Lord called out to his prophets and leaders, “Comfort, comfort my people.” (Isa.40:1) Could he be calling that same message out to his Church today? When popular culture thinks of comfort, they may think of shoes, mattresses or even music. However, Christians must understand that our Heavenly Father is the source of ALL our comfort. Comfort is a powerful, fundamental need for our hearts and spirits, not just our bodies. When we search for comfort, apart from God, we fall into addictions, hopelessness and depression. Just think about it, if we trusted God as our Comforter, why would we turn to alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, overeating, binge shopping, exercising, video gaming or suicide? The enemy, the devil, knows that. He will try to block us from knowing God as our Comforter by any means, then accuse us for falling into the sin that ignorance and denial of that truth leads to. May I ask you to pause a minute and examine your heart? To whom or to what do you turn when the bottom falls out of your world, when you find yourself overwhelmed, exhausted and hurting? To what have you turned during this seemingly unending pandemic? I confess that God showed me one thing I have turned to is snacking and chocolate! My pandemic pounds testify to that At the April Refresh meeting, our friend Jennifer brought her tiny new baby daughter. That tiny child was curled in the safe, loving arms of her mother. What a picture that was of the comfort God wants us to seek in him. She slept trusting in the familiar sound of her mother’s heartbeat. It was a picture of the comfort we are promised in our Father’s arms. In Isaiah 66:13 God gives his people this promise, “I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.” Father God is calling us to crawl into his safe arms, rest our heads on his chest and let our hearts synchronized with his heartbeat and rest. James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift flows down to us from our Father’s throne. Now, more than ever, we are all in need of the beautiful gift of comfort. Jesus called the Holy Spirit “another Comforter”. He lives in all true believers. Let’s ask him to teach us to turn to God and receive our comfort. Let’s cry out to God before anything else and rely on him for our comfort. Dear friends, be blessed as you trust only in God for your comfort. May nothing or no one prevent you from seeking and receiving the comfort you need daily. As you live in perfect trust and peace in God, may your comfort overflow to those around you. May our nation be healed as the Church increasingly relies on the comfort of our loving Father. Amen. Mary Sumner ~ April 21, 2021 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! ~ John 15:11 NLT
For those who were with us for our Victory Saturday in November, you might recall that I was hearing that day that we were to decree JOY over the coming year. Recently, I was led to the verse above in John 15 and have been so encouraged by what it promises us. In John 15 Jesus is preparing his close disciples for his departure. I can only imagine that the conversation drifted to recalling memories of all they had been through together. But what are they to expect for the future? Jesus gently tells them that, first, as a loving Father does, expect to be pruned by God. The excess baggage and dead growth will be cut away so fresh spiritual life can flourish. Then, no matter what seems to be happening, stay connected to the “vine”, the source of life, to Jesus himself. In John 15:9 he says, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love." Jesus clarifies that by saying, if they do what he told them to do, they will remain in his love and produce much eternal fruit (v.16). That exhortation is for us today, too. God has been speaking, sharing his deepest secrets with us through Jesus’ life, his Word, the Holy Spirit, nature, and many other ways. Have you heard him? He is always “speaking” to his chosen ones, and Jesus has chosen you. Imagine Jesus is seated next to you at dinner. He leans over to tell you another secret. “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” Jesus smiles at you as he says it, watching for your reaction. Will you believe it? What gives Jesus joy? Can it be that doing the Father’s will, establishing his Kingdom on earth by changing our hearts and setting us free from fear and condemnation gives him joy? Does he want us to share in his joy by partnering with him in ministry? Notice how “my” joy, changes to “your” joy. Why not? After all, we are created to become branches connected to Jesus, the vine, by remaining in his love. That is where we feel fulfillment, belonging and worth. By staying connected, we soak in the Holy Spirit’s power and learn to love God and others well. Jesus promises that, as we do, our joy will overflow. As Jesus’ love and joy overflow in us, God will use us to testify to his glory by our lives and expand his Kingdom to the lost and hungry. Will you join me in claiming the promise of John 15:11? Let’s become women of contagious joy as we remain in Christ’s love and are filled with the Spirit’s power. This is a promise we can live into for our lifetime and beyond. Let's testify to Jesus' presence in our lives through joy. Dear friends, be blessed as you commit to believe Jesus. He is faithful, generous and kind. Be blessed as you daily are filled with his love, experience his joy, and overflow with your own joy as you trust Jesus more each day. May people stop and ask you why you are so content. Be blessed in the name of the vine, the source of life. Amen. Mary Sumner ~ April 14, 2021 |
AuthorMary Sumner Archives
November 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed
