Lent devotional 25
‘We are persecuted, not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed, blessed beyond the curse for our promise to endure, and joy will be my strength, though our sorrows may last for the night, joy comes with the morning. I’m trading my sorrow, I’m trading my pain, I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord. I’m trading my sickness, I’m trading my shame, I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.’
Okay, admit it, you sang that😉
If you didn’t sing this song at a kids youth group and have no idea what I’m talking about I recomend looking it up, it’s a fun song. But it’s based on a powerful scripture.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 Cor. 4:7-10 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.4.7-10.NIV
It is easy to feel like the world is pressing against us. It is easy to feel like the devil is clawing at our Faith and trying to steal it from us. But we have the power of Jesus in us. He died so we could live, and so that we would have the power to fight against the demons that rise up to tempt us. The devil prepares us for the plunder by making us feel small and afraid, but Christ Jesus died so that we would share in His kingdom and His power. He said to His disciples that He would give them the power to cast out demons, that also gives us the power to cast evil spirits away from us. The devil wants all of us to belong to him, that’s why this world is so hard to live in. But Jesus promises a better life, in Heaven, if only we can endure. Fight on and have faith. Because we have traded our fear, and sickness, pain and shame for the joy that the Lord brings. Amen!
Carried in the cross 