Daily Devotional

I thought this was such a cool passage. The analogies of the weather and how His word melts and nothing can stand against it. But I think what I loved is how He related it all to the way He guides His people.. How personal it was for Him to relate it to Jacob. Not just the whole nation of Israel but He made it personal down to an individual…Jacob.

We could look at the melting as a negative but then He states that He doesn't deal with any other nations this way, only His chosen people, Israel. He cares about their relationship with Him, I think that's why he makes it personal to Jacob. Verses 1-15 shows us how he strengthens, blesses, makes peace and fills us. These come about as His word runs throughout the earth and works through the "weather."  Because we know His rules, His statutes, they are what strengthens, blesses, gives us peace and fills us.

This weekend is one of the hottest weeks forecasted this summer. Because of that we had to change some plans that required a lot of reworking. But on top of that the air conditioning in our house quit working correctly. I say it's kind of like having "luke warm/cool" air. So by the afternoon our house has registered 90 degrees the past couple of days. We are dealing with the process of getting it fixed and we are fortunate to have family nearby.

I know these are "1st world" problems. Nothing compared with other storms in our family. But it's still enough for me to see this passage in a personal way.

It's hard to look at the struggles of life… hard, hard times, illness, death, conflict; and imagine what it would be like to never seek the Word that strengthens, blesses, gives peace and fills us with His outlook. The "weather" will get us down. Our ability to live in a manner that expresses the fruit of the Spirit is hindered. WE HAVE to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. We need it to teach and admonish us to bring us to the place that we can sing with songs, hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16).

I pray the "weather" isn't getting you down! If it is, run to the Savior. Can you put your name in the place of "Jacob" in this passage?

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:10-19

Other passages that may help when you're "under the weather…"
Isaiah 43:2-3 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the tire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

Psalm 61:2 "From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and weak; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."

Psalm 27:1 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear: the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.