2 Kings 8:1-9:13, Acts 5:16-16:40, Psalms 143:1-12, Proverbs 17:26

What God Said to me – How do you respond in difficulties?  Do you gripe in the traffic jam?  Do you complain when the air conditioning quits, and you can’t get service for two days?  Do you grouse about obtuse people blocking your way at the store and who have no idea they are slowing everyone down?  Do you truly believe that I work all things together for your good or are you just giving Me lip service?  When Paul and Silas and Timothy were beaten and thrown into prison in Philippi, they spent their time singing hymns and praising Me.  They sang and praised rather than rant and complain.  The other prisoners and the jailer were listening to them, and I used their positive response to their trials to do a work in the lives of those around them.  Never forget that people are watching you closely because you are Mine.  They are looking to see if your walk is genuine or if you are a hypocrite.  Take extra care to walk with Me in difficult times because the peace and joy and patience and steadfastness you show is a witness to those who are watching and listening.  Walk in a manner worthy of your calling so I can use your testimony of faithfulness to draw them.

2 Kings 6-7, Acts 15:36-16:15, Psalms 142:1-7, Proverbs 17:24-25

What God said to me – The King of Aram and his army were besieging the Samaritan city where the King of Israel lived during a time of great famine.  The people were trapped in the city with enemies outside and no food inside.  They were literally starving to death.  A group of lepers who were outcasts of the city because of their disease went to find the Aramean army hoping to be given some food.  What they found was that I had miraculously overcome the enemy who fled, leaving behind an abundance of food and treasure.  The lepers were celebrating and eating and grabbing all the treasure they could carry when they stopped and looked at one another and said, “This is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent.”  They knew they had found a way for the people of the city to be saved but they were keeping it to themselves.  So, they returned to the city and told the people the good news.  There are people all around you who are dying, and you have the good news by which they can be saved.  Are you celebrating your own salvation but keeping it to yourself or are you sharing it so they too can be saved.  You have Me, the Bread of Life and the Living Water within you – this is too good of news to keep it to yourself.  Go and share life and hope with those who are dying – not all will respond, but those I have called will come.  You be faithful to share the good news.

2 Kings 4:18-5:27, Acts 15:1-35, Psalms 141:1-10, Proverbs 17:23

What God said to me – Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”  Think about that – most people, even My own children, don’t come to Me when things are going great – they come when they are hurting – when they are going through trials or experiencing difficulty.  So, if you want to make an impact for Me in the lives of others, use difficulties as opportunities to share and to minister.  A little Jewish slave girl used her master’s leprosy as an opportunity to share about a prophet in Israel who could cure him.  Her boldness to grasp the opportunity resulted in her master, Naaman, not only being cured, but he became a believer.  I can use even your personal trials as opportunities to reach others as you share about My faithfulness and the joy and peace and strength you experience, not just in spite of your difficulties, but because of them.  Because you are My child, I work all things together for your good and for My glory so use those things to lift up My name and witness to others.