Devotion
for Friday December 23, 2016
Topic: WHEN
ALL HOPE IS LOST
Text:
Jonah 2:1 – 10
We know Jonah as one who ran away
from his call but here is an important lesson Jonah learnt which he shared with
us. The lesson is what we should do when we seem to have lost all hope. He
tells us that when we are in despair and hopeless situations, there is a place
to anchor our hope, trust and confidence. That place is in Christ Jesus (Hebrew
6:17–20). See Psalm 18:6, 118:5; 120:1 and 2 Samuel 22:7. Can you notice the
similarities in all? They all cried and God heard them. Note that Jonah prayed
when all hope was lost and God heard him.
Are you in distress and hopeless
situation? Have all people you hoped on, disappointed you? Are you
contemplating of quitting or committing suicide because you have not achieved
what you thought you could achieve this year? My dear, you can still anchor
your hope on Him that cannot fail; Christ who died that we might have life. The
courage of Horatio G. Spafford, the writer of the hymn “It is well with my
soul”, who lost his four daughters in a single day, with the wife escaping
death by whiskers, should encourage you when you come to hopeless situation.
Sing that Hymn “It is well with my soul” before prayer.
Food
for Thought: Church Hymnal 363 – It is well with
my soul
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
A song in the night, oh my soul! (Source - Wikepedia)
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
A song in the night, oh my soul! (Source - Wikepedia)
Memory
verse: Jonah 2 verse 7
Prayer: Lord God, as I meet with hopeless situations
in life, may I lift up my voice to you because you are the only hope I have.
