As I was praying one day about a matter of great concern to me, I sensed an unwelcomed anxious feeling. Have you ever experienced this – to be praying about something and feel anxious at the same time? Not good. At that particular moment, I was focused on how monumental the problem was to me. Actually, I believe the accurate term would be fretting over my circumstances. Then it happened. The Lord, in His kindness, gently reminded me of His word in Psalm 46: 10: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Yes! Thank you, Lord! That was – and still is – my answer! Sure, the problem was bigger than I was, but it wasn’t for God. All I really needed to do was to be still! “Let go and let God” and get out of His way!

I opened my Bible and read these words from Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river…..”(Vss 1-4a) These words describe extraordinary events that illustrate circumstances we face that are earth-shaking to us, traumatic, and life changing. These events typically come without warning and certainly without permission. But, God wants to be our refuge in the midst of it all, giving us the safety and security we need to stand even when our world is teetering on collapse. There is an old gospel song that includes these words: “I am weak, but Thou art strong”. We have limitations. God has none. He offers the River of His Presence so that we can experience the refreshing that renews our strength.

Everything in this temporal life is subject to change. But, oh, thank God, He will not, He can not, ever change, nor can His word. (Malachi 3:6) When there is great turmoil around us, we can avoid turmoil within by reminding ourselves of God’s word to “be still and know that I am God”. If we will rest in the knowledge of who GOD is, and that He will take care of us, and our problems, then we will enjoy a peace – His peace – that passes all understanding. (John 14: 27; Philippians 4: 7)

Psalm 46: 5 gives us our hope. It says: “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” This was/is a promise for Jerusalem and it is for us as well. God is with us, He will keep us, He will help us and it will happen on time. God has our deliverance on schedule. Until then …we can “be still”, because we know the true and living God is in control. Always.

Blessings to you and those you love,
Myra Woodbridge,
January 2012

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It seems that every day in some form or fashion our faith in God is under assault. If we trusted in one of the pagan gods, or in some false religion, we would find that to be more tolerable in the secular arena but please, (they would say) do not mention the true and living God of the Bible! (Someone might be offended!) Surely, we are seeing the words of the prophet Isaiah come to pass from chapter 5: 20 of those who would call evil good and good evil. Isaiah also said “woe” to those who do this. At some point, they will face the consequences of their actions.

Paul the apostle warned us about our faith being under attack in Ephesians 6: 16. In this verse he specifically refers to encountering the “fiery darts” of the enemy. Such attacks may occur as marriage or family issues, health problems, financial losses, temptations, or persecution at the workplace. While there are many areas that the enemy may launch his assault, it is the believer’s faith in God and His Word that is the real target.

This sounds pretty threatening except for one thing. Satan and all his forces cannot succeed against a true believer in Christ who holds forth the shield of faith against each dart that is hurled in our direction. The Word of God promises that this shield is sufficient to “extinguish all the fiery darts of the enemy”. No fiery dart is any match for the superior shield of faith God has given to His children to use! Our faith is our belief system – what we believe about God and His Son as declared in His Word. Our faith in His Word is our shield that we can never let go because it covers our lives completely! We must holdfast our confidence in that Word regardless of the attack. (Hebrews 10: 35) It is our faith that is the victory that overcomes the world. (I John 5:4) Enduring faith is the faith that prevails. (Matthew 24: 13)

As long as our confidence remains in the Lord, and not in ourselves or others, then we will stand and not be moved. After the dust has settled and the battle is won, we realize – once again – that God’s grace has proven to be sufficient and His strength greater than our weaknesses. (II Corinthians 12: 9) We are able to testify that what the devil meant for evil, God has turned around for good. (Genesis 50: 20) We are not going under – there are no white flags of surrender in God’s camp! Instead we are victorious through Christ our Lord, the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12: 2)

Blessings to you and those you love,
Myra Woodbridge
October 2011

Visit www.MyraWoodbridge.com to make comments on this devotional. Also available on the website is the teaching series “The Book of Ruth – A Woman of Diligence”. Click OnLine Bible Study to listen.

I think it is interesting that in the Old Testament in the Book of Lamentations, where you can read of the prophet Jeremiah’s great sorrow of heart over Israel and for himself, that there is a brief portion that speaks of hope. It is in chapter 3, verses 22-23. These verses read: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” These words assure us that even when we are at our worst, God is at His best to show us His kindness and He extends His mercy to us. Mercy is so grand because it is graciously given; it is not earned or deserved! God is just that good.

Since God is so benevolent to extend His mercy to us – and He does so at the moment we ask – He expects us to do the same toward others! That is the difficult part of mercy, isn’t it! It is so wonderful to receive but not always so easy to extend to those who hurt us, knowingly or unknowingly. Jesus referred to the beautiful attitude of mercy in Matthew 5: 7 which says: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” If I want mercy for my life – and I do! – then I must lay down the stones I hold in my hands to punish my transgressors. It’s called letting it go.

God’s love will compel us to be merciful. Mercy is love with legs, running to do the right thing when our heart is broken. It is an attitude of grace because it isn’t easy to do! It may be difficult or even painful. Crucifying the flesh always is! Extending mercy goes against our flesh that so wants to punish the offender because we feel so justified! That is why we need God’s grace to do it. When grace enables us to be merciful, we are taking the high road of love and avoiding the dead end of holding offense in our heart. This thing called mercy is one of the most Christ-like qualities we can attain. Christ could have called a host of angels to come to His defense as the soldiers came to arrest Him. (Matthew 26: 53) But, not once did He retaliate against His abusers. (I Peter 2: 24) Instead, on the cross He cried “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23: 34) May we bear our cross and show mercy to those who are undeserving as well. We are all undeserving apart from His grace but God is faithful to show us His mercy.

Blessings to you and those you love,
Myra Woodbridge, August 2011
Visit www.MyraWoodbridge.com to make comments on this devotional. Also available on the website is the teaching series “The Book of Ruth – A Woman of Diligence”. Click OnLine Bible Study to listen.

             If there is anything I do not miss about getting my education, it would be the required tests.  I don’t think I’m alone in this perspective. Tests can be intimidating and stressful.   But, without tests, teachers would not be able to correctly determine when a student should graduate from one grade to the next, from one school to the next.  The teacher’s goal is to ensure that the student has a balanced knowledge to survive in this world.  So, even though they were not enjoyable, each test I ever had was valuable, even beneficial – not only in reflecting what I had learned but each test reinforced to me (and to the teacher) how much I needed to learn so as to excel because my future was at stake!  I have since realized after being out of school for several years – I use the term “several” loosely here – that simply because I am out of school, does not mean I have stopped learning.   The Teacher has changed, however, and He uses only one (Holy) Book.  Life has become my classroom.  So far, graduation has not been mentioned!

             Once I began walking with the Lord, the Holy Spirit initiated His life-lesson plan for me from His Word.  He has taught me about grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, and the true nature of God’s love – all those essential qualities that distinguish the Lord Himself and that are to develop in the lives of His children.   His plan also includes tests, whether He gives them or permits them; His wisdom authorizes them; they can not be avoided.  They are a part of our spiritual growth so that we mature as His disciples and reflect His glory, not our own (II Corinthians 3: 18); and He increases in our lives and we decrease (John 3: 30); and that we bring a sweet fragrance into the lives of others (II Corinthians 2: 14) with His life emanating through ours.  He is shaping us into soldiers of the Cross (II Timothy 2: 3).   It’s all about our life in the present and in the future!

             The scripture declares in I Peter 1: 6 -7 that our faith is tested by “all kinds of trials”!  I have to say, that tends to give me a bit of a sinking feeling!  But, I have to read all the verses!  This passage conveys to me that each test is not to bring me down but to “grow me up” in my faith so that I have a balanced faith!   There is a holy purpose in the test!  It is to refine our faith – to separate the negatives from the positives so that our faith works in real life!   “All kinds of trials” means there will be different means employed in the testing process.   Each test proves the validity, the strength, the purity of our faith – and any weakness.  The test results give us a great indication of our learning scale in our spiritual growth – the areas we have improved upon and the areas that still need attention.  The Teacher is mindful of the test results and He will never “throw in the towel” on any of us.  Nor should we!  He patiently works very tenderly, very carefully with each of us so that our future is better than our present.

             We should all be encouraged today that if we feel like we have flunked a test – the Holy Spirit will extend His grace to us and enable us to see beyond the “less than favorable” test results, to actually learning from our mistakes.  Only the Lord can turn a bad score into something beneficial for His children!  As we lean upon Him and put our hope in His Word (Psalm 130: 5), He will help us to do better on the next faith-test and one day we will graduate with honors when the Father says “well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of the Lord.” (Matthew 25: 21)  By His amazing grace, we will make it!

Blessings to you and those you love,                                                     

Myra Woodbridge,

 July 2011

Visit www.MyraWoodbridge.com to make comments on this devotional.  Also available on the website is the teaching series “The Book of Ruth – A Woman of Diligence”.  Click OnLine Bible Study to listen.

Lesson Series by Myra Woodbridge

The story of Ruth presents to us a marvelous example of redemption overcoming despair and loss. It is the Old Testament mirror of the work of Christ accomplished in the New Testament. This is evidenced through the diligence of an unlikely woman, who puts commitment and devotion ahead of her own needs. This study explores the great truths that Ruth’s story holds that will encourage us to face our life circumstances with greater diligence than ever before!

God is the God of the impossible.  You can read of the many ways He did extraordinary things for people in the Holy Scripture.  With one word, with one touch, the impossible became possible. The people change and the circumstances change in each story.  Only one thing remains the same:  The Lord Himself.   God never changes! (Malachi 3: 6) He delights in involving Himself in our lives and proving His power is greater than any other.  However, it doesn’t have to be an oppressive Pharaoh, or a Red Sea or a fiery furnace to get God’s attention in our lives to help us, to intervene for us, to strengthen us.  God is also the God of the “every day need.”

I recently faced an occasion of needing God’s strength in a way I had never experienced.  A very dear and close friend of mine of many years passed suddenly from this life to life eternal.  Shock and sorrow filled the hearts of all who loved her.  I was honored to be asked to participate in the service but it meant I actually had to show up and say something that was meaningful to hurting people, including myself!  I needed God’s strength in a way that was “special order” just for me; tailor made for the occasion.  Of course, the Lord did not fail me!  He fulfilled His Word from Deuteronomy 33: 25b: “…as thy days so shall thy strength be.”  God gives us the strength we need today; not strength in advance; but in the day we need it.   He gives it in the measure that fits the circumstance.  I found His strength to be amazing that day and every day.  I find Him amazing!

The Psalmist David wrote of how God blessed him to overcome obstacles when he wrote in Psalm 18: 29: “With your help, I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.”  He needed God’s strength to accomplish a task greater than he was, to succeed against a stronger enemy and God graciously gave it.  And, it was strength enough for that day, for that need.  It was a perfect fit.  David won battles impossible in his own strength but possible in the strength God gave him.

Circumstances may seem impossible in your life but not from God’s viewpoint.  “All things are possible with God.”  (Mark 10:27)  God will never change His mind on that!  This means I need to align my thinking to His!  If the walls seems like they are coming in on you today, God will target His strength to your weakness, to your point of need, so that you rise above it all.  His word declares in Habakkuk 3: 19: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.”   Claim His promise of strength that gives you the secure footing you need when things are unsettling around you and to move with confidence in the direction you are to go.  We will always find it truly is strength enough because God never measures incorrectly.  Remember, as your days, so shall your strength be as well.

Blessings to you and those you love,
Myra Woodbridge
June 24, 2011

Visit my website at www.MyraWoodbridge.com to make comments on this devotional.  Please feel free to share this devotional with others.  You can also listen to the audio version of my new teaching series: “Three Things Our Adversary Hates” on the website.   Click “Online Bible Study”.

There was someone else in the boat with the disciples.  The Lord Jesus was near, in the stern of the boat – sleeping.   Now, this is amazing because He was sleeping in the very area of the boat that was taking the hardest hits during the storm!  However, the winds that were rocking the boat and the waters that washed in never disturbed his sleep.  Perhaps He was able to sleep because He could, crisis or not, because Jesus had a confidence in His Father that was greater than any threatening circumstance.

While the boisterous storm didn’t wake the Lord, the cry of the disciples did.  When the disciples saw how futile their efforts were as they struggled against the storm, they rushed to Jesus to wake Him up.  Their cry was not one of great faith in His power to subdue the forces of nature.  It was a cry of fear and doubt.  They anticipated going under!  And that is what they spoke!  They asked the Lord, “Master, don’t you care if we drown?”  The storm was not just around them.  It was now within them.  Jesus simply arose, took control of the crisis, and spoke three words to the sea. Then the scripture says there was a great calm.

The disciples were on a spiritual learning curve.  Jesus was teaching them storm survival: hold fast to your confidence in the Heavenly Father even when passing through rough waters.  Jesus rested in the assurance that the Father was at all times in control, and that it was the Father’s purpose that would prevail in His life.

Hebrews10: 35-36 encourages us:  “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”  Confidence in the Lord is maintained through persevering in faith in His Word and rejecting those thoughts of doubt and fear. Then the storm that happens around us is not able to come within us and we enjoy the great calm He alone can give.

Blessings to you and those you love,

Myra Woodbridge

May 6, 2011

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Hagar, another Biblical figure, was a woman that had been taken advantage of by people who were called of God. She sought to escape them and the circumstances and soon discovered problems only get worse when you try to run from them. The angel of the Lord found her near a well – alone, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders and without any direction for her life. She heard the Lord’s voice and received a promise for her son’s future. She learned that day that God is aware about her and that He cared about every detail of her life. She named the well Beer Lahai Roi which means in Hebrew “You are the God who sees me.” She came to realize that God truly saw the hurt and disappointment in her heart and cared enough to be there for her. He sees us all as we are; He knows us completely; He cares deeply for us and He is always there for us without condemnation.

At times our circumstances paint a picture that seem to say that we are facing things all alone; that no one else understands what it is to walk in our shoes. It may even look as desolate and forlorn as a desert. That picture is a distortion of the truth! The Bible gives us a much clearer picture. Psalm 46:1 assures us “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Do you feel in trouble today? Run to your refuge! Draw ever closer to Him and receive His strength! He hasn’t left you and He never will. He is closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24) Let Him hide you in the shadow of His wings. (Psalm 17:8) Your desert place can be the very place where God shows up and brings the refreshing that you need. He gives us this promise in Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” He is your God, holding your right hand and He has a very strong grip on you and on the situation! You are never alone!

Blessings to you and those you love,
Myra Woodbridge
March 24, 2011

www.MyraWoodbridge.com

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