Seeds Of Hope Daily Devotionals

When Courage Fails

“Pastor,” said the voice on the phone, “I don’t know what to do. My business that was doing well has crashed, and I’ve had to declare bankruptcy. I’ve never been sick a day in my life, and now my health is failing. And to add more grief, my wife told me a few moments ago that she is going to leave me. I can’t go on any longer. My life is not worth living!”

Fearing he was about to do something desperate that would end his life, the pastor asked, “Where are you?”

“At wit’s end,” he replied.

“Yes, I can understand, but where can I find you?” asked the pastor.

He gave his location, the pastor hurried to meet him, and shared God’s Words of love, salvation, and hope with him. The man surrendered his life to the Lord and was saved.

Psalm 107 contains a story of a group of merchants that remind us of this man. They went out to sea in ships. Things went well for a while. They marveled at “the works of the Lord.” But suddenly things changed. “He stirred up a tempest...lifted high the waves...up to the heavens and then they came crashing down to the depths...and they were at wit’s end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.”

Every now and then God has to bring us to the end of our resources - our wit’s end - before we turn to Him and cry out for His “resources.” How blest we are to know that He will calm the storm, still the waves, rescue us, bring out the stars and guide us safely into His harbor of hope.

Prayer: We thank You, Father, for the difficulties and challenges of life that force us to recognize Your greatness. Thank You for Your faithfulness and compassion. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: -They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. Psalm 107:27

Wonderful Words Of Life

Johnny Bartek grew up in Freehold, New Jersey. He attended one year of high school before “flunking out” at age 16. For the next several years he worked at various jobs but could not find one that he enjoyed. Dissatisfied with his opportunities at home he decided to join the Army Air Force soon after turning 18. He became a flight mechanic and was aboard the aircraft carrying Captain Eddie Rickenbacker that was lost at sea because of bad weather and inadequate navigation equipment. The crew spent three weeks at sea in a crowded life raft, and all but one survived the horrific, harrowing ordeal.

Very few supplies were on the raft, and after three days, they ran out of food and water. One of the few items on the raft was a Bible. The inscription in the Bible read “A Sacred Token, to John F. Bartek by the First Baptist Church, Freehold, NJ, April 7, 1942.”

On the eighth day, a few minutes after they read a portion of Scripture from the Bible, a seagull landed on the head of Captain Rickenbacker which became food and fish bait to help keep the men alive until they were rescued. The men on the raft believed that it was a sign from God.

What verse did they read? “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’...for...your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Many years before those eight men on that raft needed nourishment the Psalmist wrote, “He sent forth His Word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave.”

Prayer: How faithful You are, Father, to keep Your Word, meet our every need and protect us from danger. Your Word does indeed heal and rescue us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:– He sent forth His Word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. Psalm 107:20

From Rebellion To Restoration

Going against God’s will comes naturally. Our wants and God’s needs seem to be at odds with one another. It’s part of our sinful nature that needs our constant attention and never-ending vigilance.

Psalm 107 describes the outcome when we become careless or lax or when we do not struggle to stay close to God. It presents a picture of those who have strayed from God as “sitting in darkness,” “in the shadow of death” and being “bound in affliction and in irons.” Here, this “darkness” is what life is like without the Light of God in a person’s life. And we also know that when God is not present and active in our lives, death looms large!

This struggle to be obedient and close to and with God is nothing new. Rebellion and self-centeredness began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. They rejected God’s requirement for them to be obedient and faithful. And when they disobeyed Him, the battle against sin and any desire that anyone would ever have to do what was right in the eyes of God began. But the battle to be righteous, and the desire to please God are certainly possible.

Notice this reminder from the Psalmist: “They cried to the Lord in their trouble and He saved them from their distress.” Any “trouble” we may have had, are having now or will have in the future is included when anyone at any time from anyplace cries out to God for His deliverance.

Our loving, gracious, merciful, and faithful God will never desert us no matter how far we have strayed or how sinful our lives may be. “Call on me and I will answer!”

Prayer: Father, as we enter this year cleanse, forgive and deliver us from all of our sins and restore our joy. We do need Your help! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: – “LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. Psalm 107:13

What To Give The Giver Of Gifts

“They cried” when they were in trouble and He “saved them from their distress.” Then when “they were in darkness and the deepest gloom,” He provided light for their path. And when they were in bondage, He “broke away their chains” and set them free.

God’s grace and goodness for the children of Israel remind me of His grace and goodness for His children today. Many speak of God comforting them when He “saved” them from the distress of an emotional crisis that would have destroyed them. Often, we hear stories of God’s Word providing light for His children who had a difficult time in finding direction for their lives. Quite frequently we hear testimonies of individuals who were in “bondage” caused by alcohol or other drugs who were set free by His grace.

But the stories and testimonies of God’s goodness must never end with the release from distress and the restoration of His blessings. His light for our path or the joy that comes from being set free from the bondage of sin must always lead to words of thanksgiving and times of worship. The words “must always lead” were selected to emphasize the importance and obligation we have to be grateful to God and honor Him for His goodness and grace.

Self-centeredness will reign in our hearts and control our lives until we honor God publicly for everything He does for us. When we honor Him in praise and worship for His “unfailing love and wonderful deeds,” we show others how dependent we are on God for all that we are or have.

Prayer: Father, fill our hearts with gratitude and our lives with humility so others can see Your greatness. Let us lead them with our visible thankfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: – He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. Psalm 107:13-15

Looking For God in 2022

“You chart the path ahead of me and tell me

when to stop and rest.

“Every moment you

know where I am.” Psalm 139:3

“The Lord says, “‘I will guide you along the

best pathway for your life. I will advise you

and watch over you.’” Psalm 32:8

“Because of Christ, we have received an

inheritance from God, for He chose us from

the beginning and all things happen just as

He decided years ago.” Ephesians 1:11

“The Lord will work out His plans for my

life – for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures

forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made

me!” Psalm 138:8

“Seek His will in all you do and He will

direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

Prayer: Grant us wisdom, give us faith, increase our trust, and watch over us each day, Father, as we seek Your plan for our lives. May we follow You always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scriptures For Today: - Psalm 139:3: Psalm 32:8; Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 138:8; Proverbs 3:6