NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 56 - Week at a glance Scripture focus: The steps of a man are established by the LORD; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong; because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24 NASB Sometimes suffering is the result of remaining faithful. When we think of suffering as a result of faithfulness - it is a difficult principle to grasp. People throughout history have found it easy to blame self, God or others for suffering - but that doesn't make this simple and shallow understanding right. The experience of suffering is not just the result of physical loss - but also the by-product of mental pressure and the effects of misery on the mind. If how we think and perceive can increase our experience of suffering, then maybe if our minds are given a new way to understand and perceive suffering - perhaps we can find some relief from our pain. Regardless of the reasons for suffering: our faithfulness, our fickleness, or fate - we must prepare ourselves for battle. Cyclical suffering happens when we distract ourselves with the "whys" rather than asking God the better question - "What do you want me to do now?" The basic toolkit for recovery from suffering must include: eight hours of sleep per night, nutritious meals, daily exercise, a daily commitment to strengthening our spiritual muscles, and active participation in a community whose values match our own - or, whose values are those we long to accept as our own, and, last but not least - relationships that encourage our training. If we do this, day in and day out, when it's convenient and when it's not - in a few days, weeks, months, or years from now - we may find ourselves living in the middle of a thriving, vibrant community of fellow athletes - being transformed, renewed, restored - and growing strong hearts in the process. Never under-estimate the power of one small act of kindness; it may be the hand God uses to nourish the faltering faith of a wounded warrior and provide the next right step towards restoration. Mere mortals tend to define their experience by looking around; we will need to develop the ability to look up if we're going to learn how to suffer productively. This completes the first fifty-six steps of your 365 step journey; I pray you are nearer to God as a result of the steps you've taken this week. Recommended reading: Leviticus 17 and 18 in the morning; Mark 8 in the evening Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 TNIV Click "Comments" Below to Join the Discussion Scroll down to the Archive Section to View Previous Devotionals.