Turn to Jesus for He is the bread of life!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”
(Revelation 6:6 (NIV))

like this as they become a reality for far more people than isolated instances. Two years ago it was toilet paper and other paper products. Recent events see us facing infant formula shortages. A large number of large food processing plants have burned. International trade is uncertain with many of the countries that are the leading producers of grain unable to yield a crop. When was the last time that you actually walked through a grocery store that was fully stocked? When was the last time that you filled up your cars? Everyone is experiencing sticker shock and there appears to be no end in sight!

When this was written, wheat and barley were the basis of the diets for the common people. Oil and wine were a necessity, but many scholars believe this reference to mean that the wealthy will not be as impacted as everyone else. Still, shortages and prices are going up. I don’t believe that we are truly at the point that this passage speaks of, but just how close are we?

What do you see unfolding right before our eyes?

Are we having first hand experience of the beginnings of the events foretold of in this passage?

No one truly knows the exact unfolding of the events that God has planned. All that we can do is keep our eyes focused on Jesus! He is our rock. He is our fortress. He is our firm foundation no matter what we may face.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
(Matthew 4:4 (NIV))

When it takes all that you have to simply survive, look up!

Turn to Jesus for He is the bread of life!

Copyright 1998 – 2022 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are your heart and mind guarded by the peace of God?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:7 (NIV))

With everything that has been happening and is happening in the world, what is the state of your heart and mind?

We have all seen the news. We have all seen the shortages at the grocery stores. We have all seen far more than we care to want to experience, yet, some people are at peace while others are experiencing panic and much worse. Where do you fall in this wide array of responses? Are you at peace during all of this?

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
(John 16:33 (NIV))

Think about that for a moment. The whole world has been having trouble. Jesus has overcome the world. He has overcome the trouble. He brings peace in the midst of trouble to all who proclaim His name as their personal Lord and Savior. This doesn’t mean that the trouble goes away. It does mean that we get a better understanding of the world and its troubles. We realize that this world is not our home and that we have something so much better to look forward to. Think about this concept in this context. You are going on vacation to your favorite place in all of the world. Along the way, you end up sitting in some traffic. Does the traffic make you take your eyes off of your destination and the joy that you will experience once you have arrived at your destination? Since the promises of God are so much better than any earthly vacation that we may take, our joy should be so much greater. All that we have to do is keep our eyes on Jesus, after all, we have God’s promises of paradise for those who believe.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16 (NIV))

I don’t know about you, but the promise of eternal life gives me complete peace. Please don’t misunderstand me. I sometimes worry. That is human nature, but I have a Savior who helps me overcome human nature. All that any of us need to do is take our eyes off of the world and forever place them on Jesus and the peace of God will continually amaze each and every one of us.

Are your heart and mind guarded by the peace of God?

Copyright 1998 – 2020 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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