Mark 14:49,50 - Dealing With Hard Times.

Mark 14:49,50 - Dealing With Hard Times.

Mark 14:49-50 (NLT) Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I 
was there among you teaching every day. But these things are 
happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me." Then all his 
disciples deserted him and ran away.  

  There are times when, in the darkest moments of your life, the 
only comfort left for you is a word from God. Jesus faced the cruel 
injustice of a hostile world, but an even deeper pain came when His 
closest friends deserted and betrayed Him. What could possibly sustain 
Him at such a dark moment? Jesus found His comfort in prayer and the 
Scriptures. The Scriptures kept everything in perspective for the Savior, 
holding Him steadfast in the knowledge that everything He was 
experiencing was according to His Father's plan. Jesus could proceed with 
confidence because the Scriptures assured Him that the Father was in 
control. 
  The word of God will guide you in the same way. There will be 
times when events around you will confuse you. Those in whom you've 
placed your trust will fail you. Others will abandon you. You will be 
misunderstood and criticized. In these times of distress, when your devotion 
and obedience are put to the test, you must let prayer and Scripture 
guide and comfort you. Never let the faithlessness of others determine 
what you do. Turn to prayer and the Scriptures; and allow them to 
reorient you to God and His activity. 
  Even as a young boy, Jesus was already well acquainted with 
the Scriptures. He was never surprised by events; He lived with 
confidence because the Scriptures had prepared Him for everything that He 
would face. 
  If you will immerse yourself daily in prayer and the word of 
God, you will not be caught off guard when crises come. Your focus 
will already be on God, and He will safely guide you through your 
difficult moments. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard 
Blackaby re Mark 14:49b-50 mod.] 

GOD'S WORD - THE BIBLE

The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in 
the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every 
command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it 
brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature 
and re-creates the soul in the image of God.  ED126 

Every day I have the honor of sitting down with a book that 
contains the words of the One who created me. Every day I have the 
opportunity to let him give me a thought or two on how to live. If I don't 
do what he says, he doesn't burn the book or cancel my 
subscription. If I disagree with what he says, lightning doesn't split my 
swivel chair or an angel doesn't mark my name off the holy list. If I 
don't understand what he says, he doesn't call me a dummy. In fact, he 
calls me "Son," and on a different page explains what I don't 
understand. by Max Lucado [Inspirational SB] 

Read it through, pray it in, live it out, pass it on.  by George 
Gritter [Spirit Filled Life Devotional SB] 

PRAYER

  The most important part of the Scriptures for the Jew is the 
Shema.  It consisted of three short passages of Scripture - Deuteronomy 
6:4-9; 11:13-21; and Numbers 15:37-41 - and had to be recited in prayer 
fashion by every Jew every morning and every evening. 
  The Shema wasn't the only prayer the Jews had to recite every 
day. They also had to recite what became known as The Eighteen, which 
consisted of 18 prayers. The Eighteen had to be recited three times a day 
- once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the 
evening. 
  The Jews were a people of prayer. They took their praying 
seriously. Not only did they have the daily Shema and The Eighteen, but 
they had prayers for nearly every event in their lives. Thus they had 
prayers before and after every meal; and there were prayers connected 
with such things as light, fire, lightning; on seeing the new moon, 
comets, rain, storms; at seeing the sea, lakes, rivers; on receiving 
good news; on using new furniture; on entering or leaving a city, and 
so on. Everything had its prayer. 
  As Christians we have something to learn here. We need to also 
see the sacredness of everything that exists or that happens in our 
lives. We need to have a sense of God's presence constantly. We ought 
also to live lives inundated with prayer. [Walking with Jesus by 
George Knight re Deu.6:4-5 mod] 

Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual 
power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of 
the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate 
contact with the Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and 
muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or 
engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and 
you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their 
vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor. It is only at 
the altar of God that we can kindle our tapers with divine fire. 
GW254,5 

PERFECT PEACE

Peace is the possession of adequate resources, and those 
resources come from the Lord when you yield heart and mind to Him. 
[Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Isa.26] 

  Isaiah spoke of knowing peace - not just any peace but perfect 
peace. In fact, he said that if we trust in God and fix our thoughts on 
him, he will not only give us perfect peace, but will keep us in 
perfect peace.  
  The key to knowing God's peace in a violent world is to fix 
our thoughts on him and trust him. When we fix our thoughts on him, 
the dizzying tornado of stress and confusion fades into the 
distance. Circumstances may change, but God doesn't change. He is "the 
eternal Rock" (Isaiah 26:4)--immoveable, unchangeable, firm, and steady. 
We can entrust ourselves to him.  
  No matter what circumstances you face, keep your thoughts on 
and your trust in God. He will give you peace. [The One Year Bible 
for New Believers re Isa.26:3, 4]