Sunday Writing... 10-27-19... "REFORMATION, REFUGE AND STRENGTH"

Good morning!

Blessed Reformation day to you!  Today's devotional, "REFORMATION, REFUGE AND STRENGTH," takes us through a quick look at the reformation of the church and what it means for us to go through a personal reformation.

Blessings,
Jan

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Today's Devotional: 

"REFORMATION, REFUGE AND STRENGTH"

by

Jan Andersen

This weekend our church celebrates the Reformation, commemorating when Martin Luther, a Catholic monk, challenged the status quo in the church. He questioned some long term teachings that were entrenched in the life of the church at that time. It was something with which he had struggled for years. He was not the first to question those things, but he was the first to survive questioning them... others before him had been put to death. It took a lot of prayer and fortitude to stand on the firm foundation of faith in the Word of God over the familiar traditions.  He surely leaned on God as his refuge and strength through the reformation times.

There are times when we also need to make changes that are difficult, a certain personal reformation. Even if we don't believe we are at risk of losing our lives, we resist change or cringe at the thought of rocking the boat. We get comfortable with the old patterns, whether they are healthy or not. Though we may see danger in remaining in the same rut and begin to think about moving in a different direction, we slip back into that old familiar and sometimes deadly groove. There are times that the banks of this road are so steep and high that we cannot see what is better beyond them. Sounds are blocked out by the earthen walls of that trench, so we can't hear the promise of something greater. Nor can we smell the flowering trees that will go begging to be harvested later. If only we could climb out of the furrow we've dug for ourselves in the old ways that falsely provide comfort and safety. Eventually we might even become buried alive there as the walls cave in. 

The good news is that God is always just over the ridge, ready to pull us out of that rut if we let him. Even if the oceans rise, flooding the road and eroding the earth from under our feet, God will provide a way out for us. Though we may repeatedly try to stand back up on our own only to fall again, we can turn to God for forgiveness and for the power to move forward in his direction. We can stand firm on his foundation. He is our refuge and strength at all times! 

Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." 

Dear Father in heaven, you are our refuge and strength in every moment of every day, even when it feels as if our entire world is crashing down upon us. You will triumph over every evil. Help us to remain faithful in all circumstances. Forgive us when we slip up, and set us back on track when needed, reforming us as your beloved children. Thank you for the gift of salvation that you freely give us through faith in your son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen            

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Song:

I LIFT MY HANDS

Chris Tomlin

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries

Blog writers:

Sandy Billingham, Karen Bennett,

Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,

Bre Miller, Lynda Kinnard, Amie Spruiell,

Debbie Rodriguez, Carol Steficek,

Jan Andersen and Corinne Mustafa