By Chris WittsSunday 12 May 2024Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
Yesterday I looked at what happens when our life is shattered or when hope is all gone. And I have a feeling that many people experience those kind of days when everything seems hopeless, pointless. And I talked yesterday about the serenity prayer. It’s a lovely prayer, great place to start. It’s worth writing down.
The Serenity Prayer – Part 1 — Morning Devotions
It says God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. I heard about a lady named Barbara Beti. She received a knock at her door one day, and a Navy chaplain had come to tell her that her husband, John, who was a fighter pilot, had been killed tragically in Vietnam during the war. And his death, of course, left her a young widow.
A broken stained-glass window
A single parent of three little children, and that day she was absolutely devastated. 12 months later, she was still feeling despondent and unhappy. One morning when she was in her house in the kitchen, a glass dropped and shattered onto the floor, and as she stared at the broken pieces, she sort of said to herself, my life is like that glass shattered to pieces.
And as she thought about it, she sensed God came to her and reminded her of the church that she attended because in the church was a stained glass window that was made up of broken glass pieces. And as she stood there, that image brought her a new insight that came from God and commenced the healing process.
And, she said, I realised then that I could create a new reality of the shattered pieces of my life. It wouldn’t be the same one that John and I shared, but it still could be beautiful. Now, if your life is like that, if you’re shattered, can I suggest that you speak one word and I’m talking about the one word ‘help’ directed to God because God is your loving, eternal Father.
So if you feel overwhelmed or upset or in despair – that word help can actually say, “Look, help me, God, that’s all you have to do.” It’s a prayer, really. It reminded me that Alfred Tennyson said that more things are wrought or achieved by prayer than this world dreams of.
I like the story of the father who left his wife and their five-year-old son without any explanation. The devastated boy was so upset he pleaded with his mother to tell him why Daddy had left home.
She had no answer and said, I’m not the person who can explain this. You need to talk to God about it. So immediately, this little boy folded his arms and prayed, God help me, please send my father home. And he kept repeating that prayer until that night he went to sleep. A few hours later, both he and his mother heard the sound of a car coming into the driveway. That’s my daddy and the little boy shouted, and the father told them that something had tugged at his conscience and urged him that he had to live up to his responsibilities.
Now that child is now 27 and his father never left home again. Now, isn’t it true that God answers prayer even with that little word help? It’s true that God hears prayer, and even when we feel all is lost. So did you know that there are many verses in the Bible to help you. These are called faith building Scripture verses.
And many people can testify to the power of these words. And here are just a few – Isaiah 42:6. I will guard you. I will support you, Matthew, 19:26 says – With God, everything is possible. In Isaiah God says fear not, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. And then the wonderful promise from Psalm 125:1 – Those who trust in the Lord will not be defeated. Now there are just a few. There are many, many more. But they are all powerful promises that says God will give you strength and give you a sense of calm and restoration. So write them down if you can remember them and say them out aloud. Believe it or not, God can give you his joy. There is an interesting book called Finding Joy – 101 Ways to Free Your Spirit, written by Charlotte Davis Kasl and she talks there about Hope is the thing that, like a bird with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune.
She says that sometimes we lose contact with that. The bird of joy is there. He never stops singing. We just stop listening. So the potential there and the psalmist said happy are those whose hope is in the Lord their God.
Let’s Pray
Thank you, Heavenly Father, that the pieces can be brought together as we trust in you. I thank you in Jesus name, Amen.