Bible League: Living His Word Give your worries to the LORD,and he will care for you. He will never let those who are good be defeated. We are always looking for release from the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life. We are always looking for the trouble-free and perfect place of peace. David expressed the desire in this way: "Oh, I wish I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and find a place to rest. I would go far into the desert and stay there" (Psalm 55:6). Instead of properly confronting the troubles of life, our desire is to flee from them. Instead of properly dealing with our worries, our desire is to have no worries at all. Trouble, however, is not so easily avoided. We don't have wings like a dove and we can't just fly away into the desert and stay there. Besides, this side of the next life there is no desert to fly to; there is no trouble-free and perfect place of peace. Instead of flying away, then, we must somehow face the troubles of life and we must somehow deal with the worries life engenders. Our verse for today tells us that the proper way to deal with our worries is to give them to the Lord, rather than hold on to them. Instead of trying to figure out our problems, we must let the Lord figure them out. The life we live is not a life lived on its own. We are not self-contained, individual units of existence that are responsible for our own well-being. We are creatures dependent upon our God. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we will find the peace that we desire. Further, the Lord does not resent having to take our worries from us. He is a God who cares for us. He wants to help us. Isaiah quotes the Lord as saying, "I am the LORD your God, who holds your right hand. And I tell you, 'Don't be afraid! I will help you'" (Isaiah 41:13). Our Lord is the Father in heaven who leads us by the hand through the troubles of life. Further yet, the Lord will not just lead us through the troubles of life, He will see to it that we overcome them. He will never let us be defeated. Indeed, in all our troubles "we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us" (Romans 8:37). The Lord cares for you. He is waiting for you to give Him your worries. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 124-127 Psalm 124 -- If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, let Israel now say, NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 125 -- Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which can't be moved NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 126 -- When the Lord brought back those who returned to Zion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 127 -- Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 1 Corinthians 7 -- Paul's Instructions on Marriage NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.Insight When a vine bears “much fruit,” God is glorified, for daily he sent the sunshine and rain to make the crops grow, and constantly he nurtured each tiny plant and prepared it to blossom. Challenge What a moment of glory for the Lord of the harvest when the harvest is brought into the barns, mature and ready for use! He made it all happen! This farming analogy shows how God is glorified when people come into a right relationship with him and begin to “produce much fruit” in their lives. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Acts 8:37 If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.These words may answer your scruples, devout reader, concerning the ordinances. Perhaps you say, "I should be afraid to be baptized; it is such a solemn thing to avow myself to be dead with Christ, and buried with him. I should not feel at liberty to come to the Master's table; I should be afraid of eating and drinking damnation unto myself, not discerning the Lord's body." Ah! poor trembler, Jesus has given you liberty, be not afraid. If a stranger came to your house, he would stand at the door, or wait in the hall; he would not dream of intruding unbidden into your parlour--he is not at home: but your child makes himself very free about the house; and so is it with the child of God. A stranger may not intrude where a child may venture. When the Holy Ghost has given you to feel the spirit of adoption, you may come to Christian ordinances without fear. The same rule holds good of the Christian's inward privileges. You think, poor seeker, that you are not allowed to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; if you are permitted to get inside Christ's door, or sit at the bottom of his table, you will be well content. Ah! but you shall not have less privileges than the very greatest. God makes no difference in his love to his children. A child is a child to him; he will not make him a hired servant; but he shall feast upon the fatted calf, and shall have the music and the dancing as much as if he had never gone astray. When Jesus comes into the heart, he issues a general licence to be glad in the Lord. No chains are worn in the court of King Jesus. Our admission into full privileges may be gradual, but it is sure. Perhaps our reader is saying, "I wish I could enjoy the promises, and walk at liberty in my Lord's commands." "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." Loose the chains of thy neck, O captive daughter, for Jesus makes thee free. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.Psalm 34:1-3 A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. • My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. • O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. Psalm 84:11,12 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. • O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 103:1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Ephesians 5:18-20 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, • speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; • always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Acts 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 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