"These devotions explore human responses to difficult, painful experiences. Discussions about the challenges to faith that inevitably comes in times of trial, and true accounts of how God's grace finds those who continue to seek him."

The author, Mary J. Nelson is a speaker. She is also president and founder of Soterion, a health care communications consulting firm, and she leads the Pray for the Cure Cancer ministry at Hosanna, a church of 5,000 members, where she serves on the vision board.

The author said she never saw the cancer. She just believed four doctors who claimed it was there. A fifth doctor believed the claims of the other four.

She said she could not see God either, but the apostle Paul tells us we have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing Him. His handiwork in nature and the heavens shows us a God of intelligence, detail, order and beauty.

When we trust anything but God for our supply - our food, protection, or health - idolatry has subtly entered our hearts. Paul cautions us not to turn away form the glorious ever-living God to worship idols and the things that God made (Romans 1:21 - 25).

The Philistine army had just attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men, when the leaders of Israel had a brillant idea: "Let's bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies" (I Samuel 4:3).

So they sent men to Shiloh to get it. They unlawfully entered the Most High Place, the sacred part of the temple that only the high priest was allowed to enter once a year. Eli's own sons, Hophni and Phinehas, helped carry it to the battlefield. Israel lost the battle. Some 30,000 men were killed including the sons of Eli. The Philistines captured the sacred Ark of God. Eli fell and died when he heard the news (I Samuel 4:4 - 18).

Whatever battle you're fighting today, it does not belong to you. The Lord does not need your weapons to fight.

God will move in His Kingdom and accomplish His purposes, regardless of whether or not we choose to participate.

God can use your testimony to touch the life of one or the lives of millions. God can use it for reasons you may never know.

When God led Moses and the people of Israel out of captivity, He provided for both their physical and spiritual needs. The Tabernacle was their portable place of worship. When it was all completed according to His detailed specifications, a cloud covered it, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled it (Exodus 40:34). When the cloud lifted, the people would set out on their journey, following it. When the cloud stayed over the Temple, they stayed in that spot until it moved again (Exodus 40:36 - 37). The Tabernacle was God's dwelling place on earth. When King Solomon, David's son, built the magnificent permanent temple in Jerusalem some 500 years later, it was also filled with glory and presence of God (2 Chronicles 5:13 - 14). When the Israelites turned their backs on God and traveled down a path of sin and rebellion, His glory left the temple, and enemies destroyed it (2 Kings 25).

After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the deade, God no longer needed a physical dwelling place on earth. We, you, and I, the body of believers called the church - became His temple. When we became Christians, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within us.

The prophet Jonah should have obeyed God the first time around. The Assyrians were Israel's greatest enemey and Jonah hated them. When God told him to go to the capital city of Nineveh and warn the people of the Lord's judgment against them, Jonah boarded a ship heading in the opposite direction (Jonah 1:1 - 3). But Jonah couldn't escape God or His assignment. God caused a violent storm in the region where his ship was sailing. Since he knew that he was responsive for it, he persuaded his reluctant crew members to throw him overboard in an attempt to calm the seas. When they did the storm immediately subsided, and Jonah was swallowed by a great fish (Jonah 1:4 - 17). After three days and three nights inside the fish's belly, God heard Jonah's prayer and rescued him. He gave Jonah a second chance, and this time he obeyed. He went to Nineveh and preached God's message in the streets. As a result of Jonah's obedience, the people repented and were delivered from God's judgment (Jonah 3:5 - 10).

Today, the author counsels, mentors, and prays with the people suffering from all types of cancer. God in His mercy reached down into her fire and restored her heatlh. He gave her a second chance to participate in His work, but not before restoring her relationship with Him, not before she learned obedience.

God's peace is not like the peace of this world (John 14:27); it doesn't come from good feelings or positive thinking. It comes from knowing that God is in control of our circumstances.

When we accept Christ as our Savior, we too become children of the Almighty God (Galatians 3:26).

Articles Source - Free Articles

About the Author

Writer, Web Publisher, Book Reviewer, Freelancer, Christian Freelancer http://www.writers.net/writers/21422