2 Corinthians 1:1-11 KJV 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

he day of faith is the day when you begin to understand about the God of all mercies and all comfort. The day of repentance and kneeling before the throne of God to ask for forgiveness of sin, is the day that mercy is given from God and first received if you have faith in Christ Jesus. The comfort of the Holy Spirit is given and the joy of the Spirit is given on the day of salvation. Yet most would agree probably if asked if you understood on the day of salvation the joy and comfort of the Spirit was a gift of God to you. The comfort was a gift to you so you would know your sins were forgiven and that God had shown favor with you by allowing you to receive his Son Jesus. Either one is going through a crisis at the time of salvation or some time after salvation. A crisis is a part of the trial of faith, but it also has a purpose. That purpose is to learn in trust in God in all situations and also to be able to be a better witness for God because you know the suffering of the human race through your own trials and tribulation. What is a trial from God it can come in many forms. One dealing with people different then you that get on your nerves. It can be with dealing with financial burden. It can be with a death in the family, or any hardship that does not easily have a reason why it happening, but it is. It not that one can not handle many situations on their own for God gave mankind the ability to endure, but when God is in your life and you allow Him to have His way, things happen that one might not expect. God is working on your particular case. You not alone, and God see the impossible situation of your situation. We see from a human perspective, and God sees the panaromic view of your life and knows how best to enable you in your situation and crisis. In other words you got the best counselor in the business to help you. Now that does not mean you do not get help from different sources or friends. Your brothers and sisters in Christ have often gone through similiar situations and how they dealt with it might be or might not be the way you will deal with it. Friends might be even be the encouragement of faith needed to help you seek God and pray about the situation. They may pray as well to see you strengthen and enabled in faith. Faith always means action. Noah built an ark, but could not imagine the storm probably coming. He chose obedience. Abraham went to the promise land on faith that he have a home there. God wants to use your crisis to strengthen your faith. It does not mean you not going to go through a battle in life, it means that old devil is trying hard to destroy you. And best thing is tell him to leave. See God will be glorified through your testimony of faith you share of his work of grace and mercy in your life. The enabling of His Spirit is to help you to over come a crisis. You fix the problem yourself it does not mean that problem is fixed or it won't come unglued. What it means that you did not use the super glue that God wanted to fix the situation with. God's way is best and all other solution you follow you will hit pot holes and stumbling stones. Allow God to heal your situation and do what you think He wants you to do. First thing he wants you to do is pray about it. However if you need 911 please call first and pray at the same time. In fact some crisis God intends for you to have help not only from Him, but others. One way God comforts us is putting people around us at our time of need. Paul definitely felt the prayers of the saints that prayed for him on his travels. He barely escaped out of Asia, no one knows the full story concerning this but one thing is God had told him not to go. It was not time for Asia to hear the Gospel or not from Paul anyway. If you go out of the will of God, He is still will be there but he going to allow you to fall and perhaps even know why this path is wrong. I believe there is a short portion in Acts that speaks of the God's warning not to go to Asia. God has a reason for not sending Paul to one place or another. It does not mean another witness will not go and share the Gospel, it just not Paul's calling. We should "trust in the God that can raise the dead" Paul states he had faced a death sentence in Asia and had escaped. Paul messed up but God still delivered, because God purpose for Paul was to eventual go to Caesar in chains. See God's purpose might not be yours, but God's plan will be fulfilled even when you try and do your own thing. When you deal with the crisis or situation God's way he wants to settle, strengthen and establish you in faith. You are following God and not the way of the devil. You listening to God and following His Spirit as God opens doors. It does not mean you do not do anything about your situation yourself, it means you listen to the Spirit of God in the direction to go. If you follow God's pathway, you will know you are in the will of God. Pray To God about the problem and seek the solution to the problem. Dear Heavenly Father thank you for being the God of all comfort and God of all mercies that when we try and do it our way, you will show us we need to do it your way. That your way is like the super glue and the rest is a human solution to the situation. Help to always choose your way. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: 1 Peter 5:1-1 KJV 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. http://www.turtle30cshell.com