Marie’s daily verse: Psalm 16: 

A psalm of David. 1 Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. 2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”

DAILY DEVOTION, October 2, 2022

 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12).

Notice how affliction is sandwiched between hope and prayer. We definitely do not like afflictions. Paul experienced much affliction and warned us that the same may come our way. When affliction strikes, we are urged to be patient. There are two reasons given to help us attain a patient attitude when life is not going our way. First, we must never forget the hope we have in Jesus. We hope for heaven, and as we focus on that reality, our afflictions do not seem so awful. Focusing on our ultimate hope, heaven fills us with joy, and joy tends to deaden the pain of our trials and tribulations. Elsewhere Paul said that the sufferings of this world are not worth comparing to the glory that awaits us. Hold on to hope.

Then Paul mentions prayer. We have access to God through faith in Jesus. We can cast all our cares on Him, knowing He cares for us. As we seek God’s help and strength when we are going through a trial, we know that He will help us. If He doesn’t remove the affliction, He will give us the strength to bear it. Hope and prayer will carry us through our difficult days.

Father, when life seems to slap me down, help me to remember that I have eternal hope because of Jesus. Help me to remember that I have access to you through prayer. Thank You for these two tools that carry me through all my afflictions. Thank You for Your gracious love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.