Courage in the Lonely Hour

   “The Lord himself goes before you and will be

with you; he will never leave you or 

forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

                                                                 Deuteronomy 31:8

Loneliness is one of the most isolating, painful feelings people face. God designed us for connection, both with Him and with others. From the very beginning, He said it was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18).

Yet even the most faithful believers face seasons of loneliness. Picture Elijah standing alone on Mount Sinai after fleeing for his life (1 Kings 19:9-10) or Jesus praying alone in the garden while His disciples slept nearby (Matt. 26:36-46). These moments weren’t failures of faith—they were simply part of the human experience.

When loneliness settles over us, it’s easy to believe we’ve been forgotten or abandoned. But God promises, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). His presence doesn’t depend on our feelings or circumstances. He is with us in the crowded room and in the empty house, in seasons of rich community and in times when we feel utterly alone.

Loneliness can drive us to despair, or it can become an invitation to experience God’s nearness in a deeper way. In those quiet moments, we can bring our need directly to Him and discover that His companionship is real, present, and enough.

~ Charles Stanley Devotional - In Touch

This is the Day

 “This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalms 118:24

“This verse is a great daily reminder that every morning is a unique, precious gift to embrace with gratitude.  Reflect on the meaning of this verse, it’s a wonderful spirit to carry into whatever you have going today.”

~ anonymous 

With You Always

 “And surely I am with you always, 

to the very end of time.”

Matthew 28:20

“Christian hope is strongly linked to my presence - which is with you now and throughout eternity.  So the more you are aware of my presence, the more hopeful you will feel.  Even though you believe that I am with you always, there may be times when you feel distant from me.  This diminishes your hopefulness.  Do not hesitate to ask for my help.”

~ Jesus Today by Sarah Young

Being Grateful

 “Ask and it will be given to you,

seek and you will find; knock and it

will be given to you.”

Matthew 7:7

“Being grateful is the practicing and intentionally and appreciating the good in your life.  It shifts your focus from what is missing to what is present, which is God who is always present.  He can boost your mood among other things to make your life be filled with joy and peace.”  

~ anonymous 

Wisdom and Discernment

“What we have have received is not the spirit

of the world, but the Spirit who is God,

so that we must understand what God has freely

has freely given us…we have the mind of Christ.”

Corinthians

“The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians to be on their guard lest the enemy deceive them and lead them astray. He was saying that you have to recognize the enemy’s lies and schemes. The enemy can be convincing, but you have the advantage. Because you have the Holy Spirit inside, you have the mind of Christ. The Spirit of truth will check every lie that would try to stop you. Every morning, it’s good to pray that God will give you a spirit of wisdom and discernment. Pray that you’ll have wisdom that comes from knowing God’s Word and make decisions that honor Him. Discernment has to do with recognizing where a thought is coming from, what’s right and what’s not. God’s still small voice inside will alert you to things that are deceptive. It may sound and look fine, but the Spirit of God will rise up in you and you’ll feel a check, an uneasiness. Something says, “It’s not right.” When you’re sensitive and listen to that inward witness, that’s the Spirit of truth revealing the lies. God will always speak to your spirit.”

~ Joel Osteen Devotional

 

Pentecost /Holy Spirit

 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in

his name, will teach you all things and

will remind you of everything I have said.”

John 14:26

“Pentecost commemorates descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples, Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ, celebrating exactly 50 days after Easter Sunday.

The Holy Spirit stands alongside believers to comfort and encourage.  He helps believers in their weakness and prays for them according to God’s will.  The Holy Spirit produces “spiritual fruit” - such as love, joy and peace - the Holy Spirit lives in us”.

A great book to read is…Life With the HolySpirit by Katherine Ruonala

God Is Amazing!!!

 “You are the God who performs miracles;

you display your power among the people”.

Psalm 77:14

“God is amazing” means recognizing His supreme greatness, unfailing love, and miraculous  nature.  God actively steps into the lives of His people performing wondrous deeds and signs that display His supreme authority over nature and circumstances.  It reflects a sense of holy wonder at His power, character, continuous presence in our lives.”

~ anonymous