CrossReads Weekly Devotional: Thank the Lord in Spite of Whatever Circumstances You Are Encountering

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by Rebekah Beene

I read the incredible story of Julianne Koepka. She and her mother were on a flight in 1971 that was struck by lightning. Julianne, 17, strapped into her plane seat, plummeted 2 miles through the air into the Peruvian rainforest below. When she woke up, she then had to walk out of that rainforest without her glasses and with only one shoe. For 10 days she traveled through the forest with infected injuries, finding other passengers from the plane who were dead and avoiding wild animals. She survived.

Oh beloved, I don’t know about you, but there are times I’ve had such a rough go of it that I thought I might not survive. There are times, if we all tell the truth, that we aren’t sure we want to survive. But when I read about this young girl, two things come to mind. She had incredible courage. And God had a plan for her.

You can wake up this morning and thank the Lord you are not strapped to a plane seat in a Peruvian jungle as the lone survivor of a plane crash. You can also thank the Lord in spite of whatever circumstances you are encountering. Though this young woman’s ordeal was horrendous, every one of us feels the horrendous pain of our own ordeals. What we can thank the Lord for, no matter what, is that we are more than survivors. You, precious believer, are going to thrive. You have a story to tell and it will help others. You have a life to live – given to you by the Lord. You have been given the gift of courage and faith to walk through your personal jungle and come out with praises of God on your lips. Don’t ever think that your hardship is nothing, it is immense and your struggle is real. But you are full of the promises of God – who says when you pass through these events you will make it. You aren’t the sum of the things you’ve done that caused a crash, nor the things done to you. You are God’s masterpiece, protected, defended and ordained!

God loves you and He’s for you. Don’t spend all your time thinking about those who did not survive. This is between you and the Lord. Run to Him this morning and thank Him for the gift of life. Ask Him to renew your faith in this life and then walk in the power of Jesus, through Holy Spirit, as you venture into the Light and out of your troubles this day!

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Daniel 3:25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”

1 John 4:9 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

About the Author:

Rebekah Beene

In a Christian Women’s meeting in 1983, Rebekah was given a prophetic message that she would write books. Several years ago she began writing stories about special holiday memories and travels, sharing God’s love and care through each story. God has gifted Rebekah with the ability to look at the natural and see the supernatural. Both Rebekah and her husband Danny have a heart to share the Gospel and the riches of life in Christ to everyone they meet. They have served in the local church and in ministry to motorcyclists. Danny is an ordained minister and they both have been Bible study teachers for many years. Rebekah also speaks at women’s retreats and conferences. Her tag line says it all “God loves you and He’s for you”.

My website is http://rebekahbeene.wordpress.com

My first book in print is Oh Beloved! Live in the Light of His Word.
Link to buying the book via paypal is on the website.
As well a link to purchasing the ebook on Amazon is there too.
I’m also on twitter @rebekahbeene, tumblr http://rebekah-beene.tumblr.com/
and of course facebook as Rebekah Beene (Warren) I included my maiden name for old friends.
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