Through a Season of Grief
You can’t stay here.
The journey of grief is one that you must ultimately decide to complete. You cannot remain where you are right now. Time moves forward, and so must you.
“You can’t stay here because God’s Word is always going forward,” says Dr. Ray Pritchard.
In Philippians 3:14 Paul says that he moved forward toward “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. The Christian life is not static. It is a walk with God that moves you forward into a larger life with God.
The Lord’s plan for your life is pure and simple during this time of grief:
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8.
Prayer
Lord, may I simply walk with You. Take my hand and guide me through every moment of this day. Amen.
The journey of grief is one that you must ultimately decide to complete. You cannot remain where you are right now. Time moves forward, and so must you.
“You can’t stay here because God’s Word is always going forward,” says Dr. Ray Pritchard.
In Philippians 3:14 Paul says that he moved forward toward “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. The Christian life is not static. It is a walk with God that moves you forward into a larger life with God.
The Lord’s plan for your life is pure and simple during this time of grief:
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8.
Prayer
Lord, may I simply walk with You. Take my hand and guide me through every moment of this day. Amen.
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Go Forward with God
When it’s hard to look forward and it’s painful to look back, you need a new perspective, a new focus. Look to the Father and keep your eyes on Him. Every time your thoughts drift away from Him, repeat these words, “Focused on You, Jesus. Focused on You.”
If you keep yourself centered in God, you will be able to move forward again. Cindy offers a suggestion from her own experience. She says, “What is at the center of your life? Just for an hour or two hours, put God at the center of your life and see what happens. Then do it for half a day. Then do it for a day, and see what happens. I think you’ll start feeling that you’re going to be okay, that you can trust God, and that you can do the things you need to do.”
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day… So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. — 2 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 4:18
Prayer
Thank You, God, that I don’t have to strive in my journey, because You have already provided the grace I need to make it. Amen.
Excerpted from Through a Season of Grief by Bill Dunn.
This is our bestselling 365-day devotional on grief that is used by churches and grief support groups nationwide to help in the hardest season after losing a loved one.
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If you've lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend, you've discovered that few people understand the deep hurt you feel.
Where do you turn for daily comfort and help? Where do you find the tools to move forward? Through a Season of Grief is the first 365-day devotional designed to support and uplift you in the first, most difficult year of bereavement. These devotions offer biblical comfort and practical teaching that will enable you to take steps forward each day toward healing. You will better understand the grieving process and will receive needed encouragement along the way. More than thirty respected Christian professionals – including Kay Arthur, Jack Hayford, Elisabeth Elliot, Norman Wright, Barbara Johnson, and Luis Palau – share their insights on how to walk through the devastation of grief toward wholeness and hope. You will also hear from people like you who have lost a loved one and have found God's healing presence in the midst of despair. This unique devotional is based on GriefShare®, a national grief recovery support group program that has helped more than 100,000 families. There are 360 more devotions in the book. If you or someone you know would be blessed by this devotional, don't miss this deal. |
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