|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Have You Any Room For Jesus"1 (Lyrics) |
Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (NIV)
People were thrilled when we finally got a much-needed dump of snow over a three-day period. It had been so cold and all our previous snow had melted during a warm period, leaving the ground exposed before the temperature dropped almost 30 degrees Celsius. This meant that a lot of folks had frozen water and sewer pipes and septic tanks. However, now with the goodly amount of snow, these same pipes and tanks were insulated against the worst of the frigid weather and were able to be thawed and begin functioning again.
As I considered this issue, I was reminded of the insulation of God's love and goodness that surrounds me as a believer. Knowing how much God loves and accepts me through belief in His Son Jesus, I am protected from the worst of so many situations. When someone is unkind, or hard times arrive, I am able to keep functioning with confidence and peace. I don't need to freeze in fear or doubt, wondering how I will ever cope or get through the situation, because I trust the many promises in the Bible that God loves me dearly and that He is busily at work within my problem.
The most wonderful thing of all is that God's love and goodness is for each and every one of us, not just me. We can each say confidently, "Jesus loves me — this I know, for the Bible tells me so." God says to each of us individually, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3b NIV). Paul tells us that "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" and that absolutely nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37,39b NIV). Remember that Peter wrote, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).
So today, take precautions. None of us ever knows what the weather of life may bring. Choose to enfold yourself in the truth of God's love and goodness by affirming in your mind, through pertinent Scriptures, just how precious you are to God. For the more we wrap the truth of God's Word around our minds and our actions, the more power it has to insulate us against those things in the world that seek to freeze us with worry, panic, depression, and the like.
Prayer: Father God, how wonderful it is to know that You love us completely through Jesus Christ Your Son. Bless us this day with diligence to insulate ourselves with Your goodness and love as we read and know Your Word. May we trust by faith to stand upon it, that we may be confident and at peace amidst whatever trials and disappointments may come our way. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 – In Toronto, Ontario — Praise God for the Alpha series at Knox Presbyterian Church, Toronto, Ontario, as they conclude the series today with over two dozen guests and many supporters. Pray that God may continue to bless and guide them and bring lasting results for Christ in the lives of guests and helpers.
stressful travel ahead: "April 17, 2024: Please pray that our upcoming travel will be okay. A few problems have arisen with..." 
Thanks for the good word, Lynne.
Dear Lynne:
I am trying so hard. Thank you.
Thank you for your “rays of sunshine” while I watch the blizzard outside!
Your words rarely cease to touch me. Thanks.
(B.C.)
Hi Lynne
Thank you for your devotional this morning, just what I needed to hear again.
As always right on, Lynne.
We have snow here too right now but freezing and melting is causing flooding and potholes!
Lynne, great message for this cold winter season! It reminded me that we have access to the warm shelter of God’s wings (Psalm 91:4). Blessings.
Thank you for this devotional. I reread it this evening and got a second blessing. I especially appreciated your paragraph of scriptural references. Blessings.
Thank you for your devotional today, Lynne. So confirmed what the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me lately.
It can be exciting to read the same truth again.
Grateful beyond words for your encouragement by sharing this lovely daily example of faith in living. Means a lot to me. This is turning out to be SOME week!
Hello Lynne,´
This was so good and a neat way of looking at it. But it is true, the Word does act like insulation against what we can go through. God bless you. I really enjoyed this.
Hi Lynne.
I have just read your devotional “The Insulation” on the PresbyCan website. I would love to include your words in our church newsletter.
Thank you.
(Ontario)
Dear Lynne,
Thank you for your devotional.
God bless you forever.
Thanks for using your gift “of a fine turn of expression.”
Keep writing.
Dear Lynne,
Your devotional was just what I needed, I am going through a rough patch and wonder what ‘’the plan’’ is. So, as I waivered, your words helped me back, I hope, into god’s embrace.
God bless you.
Thank you, Lynne, for sharing wisdom from your heart to ours. As always, you’ve provided an insightful and uplifting devotional for your readers.
You hit all the right notes! Keep writing in your God-given style. You have a way of sharing His Word that is a blessing to all who read it.
I read your meditation today and really could understand it as I have lived in the country with septic tank as well as frozen pipes!! These conditions really contribute to many hardships. Several years ago I moved into a condo thus have only a monthly fee to pay!!
Canada has such a beautiful country. Blessings.
What super analogies you make Lynn. They are very helpful to me. I can ‘get it’ so well with your creative thinking. I also felt very happy to see a quote from Zephaniah and a beautiful one at that. How rarely we hear words from this book. Thank you, Lynn. Your strong faith is very real and encouraging … a real human being with real ups and downs, sharing her faith! Thank you so much.
Lynne
It is only through casting our every care upon the Lord that we are able to make it through the myriad of trials we face. I know because this is what continues to help me with all my myriad of medical issues. God is faithful and He never leaves us nor forsakes us. As I keep my eyes focused on Jesus and the Cross which He bore for my sins, I am able to cope and make it through each day as I walk towards my healing.
Thank you.
Very nicely said thank you.