What Challenges Are You Facing Today?

April11

Fear

Trust in God Numbers 13:25–14:9

Fear came knocking on my door today.

I asked faith to answer, because he knew what to say.

Fear said he brought friends and they want to play. Unbelief was one who wanted to come.

He explained not believing in what God wanted will be fun. Temptation was the other friend.

He said being tempted is not a sin.

All they wanted were to be welcomed in.

Then there were wicked habits and drugs who wanted to come too. Faith, please help me to know what I need to do.

Then panic spoke, saying how much he wished to come.

All they could talk about was having fun.

Faith told them to leave.

With their presence here, God would not be pleased.

When fear came knocking on my door today,

Faith let them know they were not welcome and they could not stay.

Giants in our lives need to be confronted by faith.

Aging

January 5 Psalm 92:12–15

Aging is something we all will have to face.

Aging is best experienced when it is done with God’s grace. It can be full of tranquillity, without thinking about the things that went wrong to make you feel uncomfortable and guilty. Aging can also be full of courage, kindness, and mirth. This is to encourage you to see aging as experiencing

life with a new mind-set to be birthed.

Growing old with God is what life is all about. Thinking about who God is brings so much joy

it will make you jump and shout.

It is life that is full of indescribable treasures. Treasures that cannot be measured.

Growing old with God does not convey uselessness.

It is a life that defines faithfulness.

Aging can be described as a bottle of fine wine: the older it gets, the better it is.

Aging January 6 God’s Care Isaiah 46:4–13

One day, I looked into the mirror, and what did I see? Someone who was aging looking back at me.

Hair was turning gray.

Even with the use of dye, the gray will always stay.

Sagging skin? A nip and tuck should do the trick.

However, other challenges in life it cannot fix.

Reminding me that growing old is happening each and every day. With growing old, there are many struggles to face.

How do you face the challenge of growing old?

How do you deal with the changes that you cannot put on hold? How do you deal with the changes in life that should be years of gold? The fear of growing old? God wants to be there for you.

He will teach you how to number your days in

the aging process as you go through.

God will be there to carry, sustain, and rescue you; know that this is true. As you fulfill your purpose in life, you have

the wisdom to know what to do.

As you grow older each day, let the heart of you grow new.

Do you remember the time when you wanted to be older?

October 16

Sin

Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:1–13

Temptation came to visit one day.

He wanted to know if he could visit or perhaps stay. Temptation, temptation, I do not know. Temptation replied, “Let me stay, please. I have much to show. Life can be so boring when there is nothing to do.

Please let me spend the day with you.” Temptation, temptation, that sounds risky at best.

Is this some kind of test?

This is no test, and you will see.

It is learning how to have fun before eternity.

The last time you came to visit, God had made an escape for me.

What Challenge Are You Facing For Today? • 379

Temptation

November 9

Isaiah 53:1-6I

Like sheep, we children of God will go astray;

We will do this to God every day.

We go our own way to do our own thing;

God’s Word tells us sorrow it will surely bring.

Like sheep, we need a shepherd to guard our souls,

Every day as we grow old.

Jesus is willing to lead if we will follow;

Lead us away from the temptation of today so we can be blessed with tomorrow.

Like sheep, we have gone astray;

Jesus, as our Good Shepherd, we need You each and every day.

Sheep without a shepherd will always be lost.

August 29

Prayer

Isaiah 37:9–22, 33

Trouble came and demanded that I obey, Threatening me with words, but I did not know what to say.

I was scared, and fear was in control of me.

What was I to do? The only thing that came to mind was to flee. I cried out to God for help, to know what I should do: “Heavenly Father, I truly am in need of You.”

I told Him about the problem, and I told Him of my fear.

He told me not to worry but to be still and know that He was near. As I prayed about my worries, God gave me peace.

From trouble and its demands I was released.

God commanded trouble that it was to cease.

Turn worrying into praying.

Forgiveness

April 16

Ephesians 4:25–32

You did me wrong.

Please do not do it again.

I will forgive you because I’d like for us to remain friends.

The day has ended; your wrongs I will not keep.

I have asked the Lord Jesus to bless you while you sleep.

I asked Him to give me words of grace that will edify, uplift, and encourage you.

When I talk to others about how I feel about you, they will be encouraged and uplifted too.

When I do something wrong that has hurt you.

I know you will be willing to forgive me too.

Forgiveness is giving yourself and others another chance.