Daily Devotional for Sunday July 5, 2009

Be Encouraged

(Isaiah 41:10)

As I was in prayer this morning about what God would have me say to you today, He brought this powerful verse from the book of Isaiah into my mind and told me that many of you today needed to be encouraged and reassured that God had not left you.

The Bible promises us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Let me say it this way, God has NEVER left you, although you may have left Him. How can you fear anything-any person, any situation, any circumstance, when God is there with you? But the promise of this verse just doesn't end with His presence.

To me, the power in the verse is His promise to help us. Every morning, when I look into the mirror in my bathroom, the first thing I see is a Bible verse from John that simply says, "Without me you can do nothing." I never want to start the day trusting in my own strength or wisdom, but trying to rely on what God provides. It is such a comfort to know that God is with me and that He is helping me.

That is why I have such confidence, even in the face of what appears to be overwhelming odds. God is with me, He is helping me, and the Bible says that if He is with me, who can be against me! That promise also applies to you!!!!

I want you to put this truth in your heart and mind, and start living a confident, victorious life-NOW!!! There is no better time than now to put God to the test. If He said it, believe it and live it. When you are driving down the freeway at 60 mph and there are cars all around you going just as fast or even faster, you are trusting those other drivers literally with your life. When you get on an airplane, you are trusting the pilot to get you up and down safely.

There are so many times each day that you are putting your faith in trust in people you don't even know. If you are willing to blindly trust total strangers every day, why not put your trust in the God of the universe. The God who loved you so much He sent His Son to die for your sins. The God who not only promises to never leave you, but help you.

I love you and care for you deeply. I want to see you rise above whatever the situations in your life may be and live that victorious life. Not only do you then become a living testimony of God's power, but you are then free to serve Him without being so distracted by the events in your life. Overcoming the hurdles in your life, gives you the freedom to help others overcome their hurdles.

Keep praying for this ministry, those who come to us each day for help, and those God will lead to us in the future. Your prayers and support make it possible for us to be here for people in their hour of need to share with them the hope we have in Christ Jesus.

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller