Changes comes when we cry out to the Lord

Pastor Craig Moore, the senior pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, FL, wrote in his church’s newsletter:

“But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer…” (Judges 3:8-9)

If you invest time into someone who has not yet come to the place of wanting a spiritual solution to their problem, you will become emotionally exhausted. The apostle Paul understood this principle when he actually turned such people over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh (I Cor. 5:5).

The people of Israel were finally in enough pain to cry out to God for relief from their oppression. Like so many times throughout the scripture, God answered by raising up a deliverer. “But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.” (Judges 3:8-11)

Are you in a difficult place in your life? Are you only talking about changing or are you really ready to cry out to the Lord for a solution? Start now the process of changing your situation for the better and asking for help if needed.

Sincerely, Pastor Craig Moore

Change is never easy. We always hold out hope that things will pick back up and return to “normal”, especially if you have been let go from your job. Speaking with a church leader, husband and father, some months ago, who after a lengthy career in one industry with excellent pay was laid off, he shared, “It is very humbling to have to take a job at a much lower pay than what you were making or what you think you need in order to survive. Change is always difficult and too often, painful.”

Reinventing oneself is never easy, but in the process it is possible to discover new things about ourselves, face new challenges and, in many situations, actually end up in a better place than if we had stayed where we were. As the old saying goes, “God never closes a door without opening a window … but why do some of the windows have screens?”

Welcome to the world of change … and new discovery. It comes to all of us at one point or another … and if we are patient enough, praying ourselves through the process, we will be stronger as we grow into the new person God’s wants us to become.

Also included in St. Luke’s newsletter was this quote from Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer:

Today is in God’s hands and so are you.
His hands are strong and will uphold you;
His hands are great and will enfold you;
His hands are gentle and will embrace you;
His hands are protective and will cover you;
His hands are reassuring and will quiet you;
His hands are powerful and will defend you;
His hands are parental and will train you;
His hands are masterful and will comfort you;
His hands are compassionate and will care for you;
His hands are healing and will renew you;
His hands are claming and will comfort you;
His hands are giving and will bless you.