We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Matt Chow.
Bible Reading:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Psalm 23:1-6
Word:
When my son was about 3 or 4, he would wake up around midnight with night terrors and come to our room. He would walk to my side of the bed crying to wake me up. After a few minutes, I would comfort him and calm him down. Then he would go back to his room and fall back to sleep. While I didn’t like being woken up in the middle of the night, I sort of didn’t mind that he was coming to me. It was a reminder to me that he thought if he has a problem, he can come to his dad and his dad will make things better. He knew his dad cared for him and could bring peace for him to rest.
I tell you that story as a reminder that we all have a Father who cares for us and wants comfort us. For today’s scripture reading I would like to focus on verse 4. Verse 4 says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” In Mark 4, Jesus is on a boat in the middle of the lake with all the disciples. It’s late at night and they are rowing across a lake while Jesus is asleep. It starts to storm all around them, and the disciples began to panic and were scared for their lives. They run to Jesus to wake him and say “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus says “Quiet! Be still!” and the wind and waves go away. He turns to the disciples and says “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
November is a month of Thanksgiving. Let’s be grateful that we have a God that is strong enough to calm the storms just like a father is strong enough to make the night terrors disappear. But not only that we also have a God who wants to walk with us through life so that no matter what we face we know that He is with us, and He cares for us. God is inviting you to trust in Him and experience true peace that only comes from a relationship with Him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for being always with me so that I can have peace in this life. Help to remind me that in the storms you are always near. Fill me with your spirit so that your will can be done in my life, AMEN.
Skillwork:
Take some time to think about and write down the things that you are letting lead your life. Is it the news, social media, or even yourself? Remind yourself that none of these things can bring you peace. Give thanks that we serve a God that is bigger than it all. He is the King of Kings. True peace comes when we make time to worship him and thank him for his goodness.
To receive the Faith Workout of the Day every morning, please sign up here.
