Grateful That God Makes a Way |
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Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. — Isaiah 43:19 In the classic Broadway musical and film The Sound of Music, the Reverend Mother sends Maria away from the convent to work as a nanny for the Von Trapp family. Maria is unsettled at the idea of leaving the abbey and giving up on her dream of becoming a nun. The Reverend Mother reassures her with the now-famous cliché, "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window." In other words, whenever one opportunity ends, another opportunity will come along — and it will probably be a better one. Sure enough, the closing abbey door leads to the opening of the window that ushers Fräulein Maria into the arms of the dashing Captain Von Trapp. Though the cliché is meant to help people stay positive in the face of disappointment, it isn't exactly true. God doesn't promise that when something doesn't work out, something better is waiting for us just around the corner. His pledge is far more substantive than that. He promises to sustain us amid life's disappointments. When all the doors and windows remain shut, He helps us make our way through the dark room, and He sustains us. Our circumstances do not always change for the better. But we can be confident that He will use them to change us for the better. 'I know the plans I have for you' — this is the Lord's declaration — 'plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'. — Jeremiah 29:11 MEDITATION When was the last time you faced a closed door? During this time, how did God make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert? Why can you trust Him with closed doors, even when there are no windows in sight? GROW GRATEFUL Thank God that He makes a way through the wilderness. * |
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The Lord is for you and not against you. |
The Lord is for you and not against you. |
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Grateful That God Is for Me The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? — Psalm 118:6 When our family plays board games, everyone is out to win. It's a no-holds-barred, every-man-for-himself, dog-eat-dog rivalry. Through our sons' teen years, we often played Settlers of Catan. The battles were epic. Still, they were all in good fun. Mostly. But things took a turn for the worse when we expanded the game with cards that could be used as a method of attacking other players. This (and the ambiguous rules) started to create problems. Competitions turned into arguments and hard feelings. Some players felt that others really were "against them." Things got so bad that we had to call it quits and find some board games that were less combative. It's one thing to have an opponent in a game — but having a real-life opponent is an entirely different matter. Especially when that opponent is out to do you harm. Some people think God is out to do them harm. Perhaps they've lost a job or encountered a series of unfortunate events. They look at the hand they've been dealt and conclude that God is not on their side. But according to the Bible, this is not true. The Lord is for you and not against you. He may not always answer your prayers in the way you expect. Nevertheless, He delights in your well-being (Psalm 35:27) and rejoices in doing you good (Jeremiah 32:41). Whenever life gets rough or people try to do you harm, don't despair or be afraid. Remember that God is always on your side. MEDITATION How do you feel knowing that God is for you and not against you? Why do people sometimes struggle to believe that God is for them? What difference does it make to have God on your side when people come against you? GROW GRATEFUL Thank God that He is for you. |
Excerpted with permission from Growing Grateful by Mary A. Kassian, copyright Mary A. Kassian. * |
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There is so much uncertainty these days. But, what is not uncertain is that God is for you. He is with you. He has good plans for your life. He will make a way. Believe it and thank Him for His goodness today! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Transform your life when you discover the key to true and lasting happiness…embracing a life a gratitude. Growing Grateful helps you grab hold of a happy and peaceful life with 101 devotional meditations on the joy of being grateful even in the hardest times. Life does not always go how we dreamed it would. People disappoint us or betray us, jobs that we counted on disappear, financial troubles happen, health issues blindside us. It is so easy to fixate on what we don't have, what went wrong, and how life is unfair. We begin to let anger, bitterness, regret, or frustration rule our lives. But there is another way to live that frees us to embrace the blessings in our lives and find true and lasting joy—gratitude. |
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In Growing Grateful, author Mary A. Kassian guides you through 101 daily devotions on how the habit of gratitude will foster happiness in your life no matter what the day holds—the kind of happy that blooms in every season along the pathway of life's ups and downs. Each daily entry in this beautiful and inspiring book gives you a meaningful Bible verse, a short entry that helps you reflect on your own attitude of gratitude, and a meditation with reflection questions to consider or to write about in your journal. In Growing Grateful you will learn how to: - Get back to the basics of gratitude
- Be grateful for God's friendship
- Cultivate a closer relationship with God
- Be thankful despite your circumstances
- Be grateful that God delights in you
- Pursue a joyful life
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What our readers are saying |
"One of my favorites, a great way to get your mind ready for the day!" — Audrey F. |
"We all need a tool to remind us how grateful we need to be regarding how good God is to us. This book is just such a tool." — Michelle F. |
"I absolutely love this book! Uplifting verses that seem to be at the perfect time! A great book for anyone!" — CathBrad |
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Ready to grow closer to Jesus this winter? Don't miss out on our Winter Bible Study Sale! It's the perfect time to dive into God's Word and strengthen your faith. Save up to 60% on Study Bibles, Daily Reading Bibles, bestselling workbooks, book of the Bible studies, and more. Plus, get an extra 15% off your purchase of $50 or more with code WINTER15. Shop now and discover the resources you need to deepen your walk with God! |
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The GREAT Morning Revolution Online Bible Study |
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Change your entire day by how you start your morning. In The Great Morning Revolution with Tara Beth Leach, you'll go from scattered to spiritually centered—before the day begins. Using the GREAT framework—Gratitude, Reflect, Exalt, Ask, Trust—you'll build a gentle, flexible morning practice to deepen your relationship with God Join The Great Morning Revolution Online Bible Study and get access to six teaching videos and other helpful tools—all FREE when you sign up! |
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