Revive and Restore Ministries
  • Welcome
  • About Us
    • Our Leaders
    • Photo Gallery
    • God Stories
  • Devotions
  • Join Us
    • Local Outreach
    • Refresh!
    • International Missions >
      • Dominican Republic 2018
      • Costa Rica 2017
  • Resources
    • Be Restored Materials
    • Materias en Español
    • Retreats and Conferences
    • Teachings
  • Contact Us
    • Prayer Requests
    • Prayer Partner Sign Up

Devotions  

What Is Your Normal?

2/3/2023

0 Comments

 
 “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared
 with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. …”
 Philippians 3:8
NLT

All my life, if you had asked me what “normal” was, I would have said it was a peaceful, trouble free life.  Trouble will come, but like waves after a storm, the waters will settle down when the wind stops blowing. What is your “normal” setting?

Then one day I realized that maybe God had gone to a lot of trouble to create just the right trial I needed as s lesson to illuminate another area where I didn’t rely on him nor trust him to take care of my needs. 
I knew in my head that Father God is the only giver of good gifts, that everything good comes to us through him. (Jas. 1:16,17) I remembered Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

What if God’s purposes are not like ours?  What if the “good” thing, the best thing, for us is to be put in the fire of testing to purify us?  What if God will use trouble to draw us closer to him in intimate relationship?  In the storms, we receive revelations of the Lord and his love that we may have missed when all is going smoothly. So, maybe God even designs a few problems to fit our needs?

When normal is smooth sailing, it feels like I can do pretty much everything without Jesus and his finished work on the Cross for me.  But put me in a good storm, the boat precariously tipping into the waves, and I know I need my Savior and Lord! When we understand the truth that we will always live in a dangerous world, we realize our need for God. We search for him and listen to him.  We get familiar with his voice and learn to trust in his love.

As we live day by day depending on God’s presence, our confidence grows in our Triune God and we begin to really believe who God’s Word says we are to him.  We are daughters, friends, ambassadors. We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.  No matter the trials, what happens to us can never change who we are in Christ. 

We are more than conquerors.  We are cherished, loved and eternally belong to a heavenly family, and so much more! We begin to love the Cross of Christ, his completed work there that guarantees our forgiveness of sin, and made the way for us to return to our eternal home.  In Christ, these are our “normal”.

Dear friends, be blessed to embrace the storms of life as learning grounds.  May you lean on and rest in Jesus, depend on him every day.  As you do, may you realize he is always with you. So, no matter the circumstances, he becomes your firm foundation, in sunshine and in storms.  You are loved and safe in his arms.  Rejoice in your growing relationship with him! Amen.

Mary Sumner ~ January 31, 2023
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mary Sumner

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Welcome
  • About Us
    • Our Leaders
    • Photo Gallery
    • God Stories
  • Devotions
  • Join Us
    • Local Outreach
    • Refresh!
    • International Missions >
      • Dominican Republic 2018
      • Costa Rica 2017
  • Resources
    • Be Restored Materials
    • Materias en Español
    • Retreats and Conferences
    • Teachings
  • Contact Us
    • Prayer Requests
    • Prayer Partner Sign Up