Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 90:1-2 Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation.
2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Read the Entire Psalm
Eternal God – God has always been. He will alway be. Mountains seem stable and constant, God existed before the mountains. There was an existence before the earth and the world. God was all that existed in that reality. Praise Him for His eternal nature.
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Peter 4:12 – Christian Standard Bible
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for again for the River Youth as they return from camp. Ask God to use the seeds that were sown this week to produce lasting fruit in their lives.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Jesus is the final and best answer to the question: “God, if you are good and powerful, why don’t you do something about my suffering?” Paul wrote, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). We do not learn to trust other people merely by what they say; ultimately, we believe or disbelieve what they say by what we see them do. God “demonstrates” his love is so important. How did he demonstrate love? While we were still in rebellion against him, God the Son died for us. There are intellectual answers to the question of why so much evil and suffering exists, but ultimately the question will always become personal, and the answer is ultimately personal. When the answers fail to comfort and the pain only confuses, we must learn to cry out like the man in pain did to Jesus, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!” Are you suffering? What does the Bible say to you? Think back to the entire week of devotions. Are you overwhelmed by the suffering in the world as you read or watch the news? How is Scripture able to shape or reshape your perspective? What will matter the most are not intellectual answers, though they are important. What will matter the most is relationship. Take your questions to Jesus, but choose to trust him whether your questions are answered to your satisfaction or not.