Scripture: "Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.'" Acts 28:1-4 "But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects." Acts 28:5 Application: We might as well prepare ourselves for the simplest of plans to crumble for some unknown reason. Technology breakdowns are the #1 cause of missing deadlines. Then there's the no-show contractor, co-worker, or buddy. How about the bank balance blues? A clock alarm that somehow didn't get set? And don't forget missed travel connections. Setting aside our own reletively small inconveniences, there are many examples of scripture where things just seemed to go against a plan designed to give God glory. But as with the Apostle Paul's shipwreck and snake bite, God is never robbed when our motives are good. So take a deep breath and release the tension. Instead of focusing on the immediate failure, anticipate the long-term victory. Prayer: God, it's hard to say "thank You" for the setbacks, but we trust in You, not our circumstances. You knew these problems were coming, so please give us the grace, in advance, to deal with them admirably. Amen. Comments are closed.
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