Happy Wednesday! Have you ever been in a situation where everything appears like it is pure chaos? Or like things will never turn out right? Then after a little while you see everything worked out fine or just as it should have. Join me today as we read Acts chapter eight verse twenty-five as the chaos from the believers scattering begins to settle down.

Bible verse:

“²⁵ After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.” – Acts 8:25 NLT

Key points:

• Apostles Peter and John did not lose momentum. They continued to preach and testify about the Good News of Jesus Christ.
• While Peter and John had accomplished their mission, on their way back to Jerusalem they did not miss an opportunity to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Reflection:

The apostles were encouraged by the lives that were changed in Samaria. Had Philip kept silent, the people in Samaria would not have heard about the Good News of Jesus Christ and the apostles would have remained in Jerusalem. However, because of Philip’s faithfulness to the ministry, the apostles saw the work of the Lord before their eyes.

Just a few chapters ago we read about the persecution, jailing, etc., that happened to apostles Peter and John. With each encounter of opposition the apostles got bolder in faith and God proved himself faithful.

Sisters and brothers, sometimes God will allow us to experience some uncomfortable and sometimes painful situations, but we are reminded here to never lose hope – God has a greater plan.

With the pandemic and/or the fight for racial reconciliation and justice you may have or currently feel scattered, maybe not physical like the believers who were in Jerusalem but mentally. Maybe your thoughts are being consumed by what you read, see, hear or have experienced.

May I challenge you to take a moment today to find out where you are? Are you fleeing from God? ______ Are you so afraid you can not think clearly? ________

Let us try to reset. Close your eyes, count slowly to 20. Begin to think about God’s faithfulness in your life. Can you see the work of the Lord before your eyes?

• If yes, continue to trust Him. Trust that while you are on this journey that you will see His work accomplished, lives will be saved and changed, that His word will continue to be preached across the nations. Let God use you right where you are and wherever He takes you from there.
• If no, keep praying for God to reveal Himself to you. Keep praying for His Holy Spirit to heal your mind and heart from the mental and emotional trauma of the past few months or this entire year. Ask God to stable you and use you for His purposes.

Prayer:

Father God, we thank you for another day that we are able to see your mercy and grace in the land of the living. Father God, we need you in our world today. We need you to begin changing hearts, especially our own. Father God, teach us to love one another, to care for one another, to encourage one another and walk in your ways. Father God, develop us into the people you have called us to be. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and make us bold and brave representatives of you. Lord we pray for the sick – those with kidney, heart, arthritis, cancer and other ailments and ask for your healing. Lord we pray for those who have medical appointments, those who have had procedures delayed due to COVID-19 and ask that You be the great physician in their lives today and remove the pain and worry from them. Lord, touch and heal them all in the Mighty name of Jesus. Lord, continue to cover us. Rid us of the things the enemy is trying to distract us with. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You. Fill us up with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In Jesus name, amen.

Event:

Registration for our next women’s retreat is open.

Theme: Hope Anchored by Faith – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19

When: Saturday, July 25, 2020
Time: 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time
In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 the retreat will be held online as a virtual retreat. Register in advance:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_h8mL9soyReqwrVZGjMx1gg

Do you have a prayer request? We would love to pray for you. Send your prayer request to: prayerrequest@maryewhiteministries.com

Bible Reference: http://biblegateway.com

Copyright 2020 Mary E. White Ministries, all rights reserved.