A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse July 2, 2018 In His Hands Scripture Reading – Psalm 46:1 - 4 (NLT)"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High."

 The Psalmist understood, most simply because he lived in the same world that we live in that the times of trouble and tribulation will come. However, when they do for those of us who are daughters and sons of the living Christ, God will most certainly be there. He is never asleep at the switch, but He is always prepared to be our helper in times of need.

The earthquakes will come and the mountains will crumble into the sea, the oceans will roar and foam as the mountains shake at the surging of the waves. This is the condition of the world and the reason that we pray: 'Thy kingdom come, and Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven'.

Amongst all of these and even more we as children of God can stop, pause, breathe, and praise God that truly we are, 'In His Hands'. In fact everything that comes into our lives as His children is, 'Father Filtered', and God is always and in each and every circumstance working out His greater purpose both in and through us, as we place our faith, hope and trust in Him.

The result by faith is not that we only will make it, barely able to hang on. But rather and in spite of all and any circumstances we will have God's joy in our life. Understand the Psalmists image here as Jesus also spoke of the life of the Holy Spirit in each of us being a river of joy.

Now why would you or I or even our family including all of our relatives need a river? The answer is - that we simply do not! But God has purposed that His rivers of joy in the Holy Spirit would in fact flow through our lives and touch others in the precious name of Jesus. 

Prayer Thank-You Father for Your mighty hands of grace, provision and protection that are over my life. May Your rivers of joy flow through me to others I pray in Jesus name. 

Memory Verse:  2 John 1:3a NLT"______, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ – the Son of the Father…”