Finding Peace and Guidance Through Faith in Turmoil

Devotional

Day 1: Focus on What You Can Control

In life, we often face circumstances beyond our control, leading to frustration and bitterness. Roman's story from Ukraine is a powerful reminder that focusing on what we can control and leaving the rest to God can bring peace even in the most challenging situations. By concentrating on our actions and attitudes, we can navigate turbulent times with a sense of calm and purpose. This mindset not only helps us maintain our peace but also strengthens our faith, as we trust God to handle what is beyond our reach. [15:47]

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel overwhelmed by circumstances beyond your control? How can you shift your focus to what you can control and trust God with the rest?

Day 2: High and Holy Responsibility of Parenting

Parenting is a sacred duty entrusted to us by God, requiring us to nurture our children to realize their God-given potential. This involves creating environments where they can thrive spiritually and emotionally, recognizing that they are fearfully and wonderfully made with unique purposes. The responsibility of parenting is second only to the marital relationship, emphasizing its importance in God's eyes. As parents, we must be intentional in guiding our children, helping them grow in their faith and understanding of God's love. [33:01]

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create a more spiritually nurturing environment for your children this week? What specific steps can you take to help them realize their God-given potential?

Day 3: Honest Lament as a Statement of Faith

The Psalms teach us the importance of being brutally honest with God about our pain and struggles. This honesty is not a lack of faith but a profound expression of it, acknowledging God's presence and sovereignty even in our darkest moments. By lamenting openly, we demonstrate our trust in God's ability to handle our deepest emotions and bring healing. This practice of honest lament can strengthen our relationship with God, as we learn to rely on Him more fully in times of distress. [44:26]

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!" (Psalm 130:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: When was the last time you were completely honest with God about your struggles? How can you practice honest lament in your prayer life today?

Day 4: God's Guaranteed Protection and Guidance

Psalm 91 assures us that God is our shelter and shadow, providing safe passage through life's trials. His angels guard us, and He promises to rescue and protect those who acknowledge His name. This divine protection is a guarantee, not just a possibility. By trusting in God's unfailing protection and guidance, we can face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that He is always with us. This assurance of God's presence and protection can bring immense comfort and peace in times of uncertainty. [50:22]

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust more in God's protection and guidance? How can you remind yourself of His promises daily?

Day 5: The Shepherd's Safe Passage

Psalm 23 portrays God as our Shepherd, leading us through the valley of the shadow of death. This passage assures us that we lack nothing, are comforted by His presence, and are guaranteed safe passage through life's trials. The promise of safe passage is a cornerstone of our faith, reminding us that God is always with us, guiding and protecting us. By embracing this truth, we can navigate life's challenges with a sense of peace and assurance, knowing that our Shepherd is always by our side. [53:22]

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you lean on God as your Shepherd in your current life circumstances? What steps can you take to feel His comforting presence more deeply today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Crossland Community Church! Today, we celebrated the profound privilege of partnering with individuals as they accept and declare Christ, exemplified by Roman from Ukraine, who despite his challenging circumstances, focuses on what he can control to live in peace. This attitude is a powerful lesson for us, especially in turbulent times.

We also dedicated children to the Lord, emphasizing the high and holy responsibility parents have in nurturing their children to realize their God-given potential. This responsibility is second only to the marital relationship, and it is crucial to create environments where children can thrive spiritually and emotionally.

Our journey through the Psalms continues, focusing on the themes of orientation, disorientation, and reorientation. The Psalms teach us to be honest with God, even in our deepest agony, as Christ himself did on the cross. This honesty is a profound statement of faith, acknowledging God's presence and sovereignty even in our darkest moments.

Psalm 91 and Psalm 23 were highlighted as powerful reminders of God's protection and guidance. Psalm 91 assures us that God is our shelter and shadow, providing safe passage through life's trials. It speaks of God's angels guarding us and His promise to rescue and protect those who acknowledge His name. Psalm 23, on the other hand, portrays God as our Shepherd, leading us through the valley of the shadow of death, ensuring that we lack nothing and are comforted by His presence.

The message is clear: no matter the disorienting circumstances we face, God's sovereignty and presence guarantee our safe passage and ultimate deliverance. We are encouraged to declare these truths boldly, trusting in God's unfailing protection and guidance.

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Key Takeaways

1. given potential. This involves creating environments where children can thrive spiritually and emotionally, recognizing that they are fearfully and wonderfully made with unique purposes. [33:01]
3. Honest Lament as a Statement of Faith: The Psalms encourage us to be brutally honest with God about our pain and struggles. This honesty is not a lack of faith but a profound expression of it, acknowledging God's presence and sovereignty even in our darkest moments.

4. God's Guaranteed Protection and Guidance: Psalm 91 assures us that God is our shelter and shadow, providing safe passage through life's trials. His angels guard us, and He promises to rescue and protect those who acknowledge His name. This divine protection is a guarantee, not just a possibility.

5. The Shepherd's Safe Passage: Psalm 23 portrays God as our Shepherd, leading us through the valley of the shadow of death. This passage assures us that we lack nothing, are comforted by His presence, and are guaranteed safe passage through life's trials. This promise of safe passage is a cornerstone of our faith.

### [33:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:47] - Roman's Story: Focus on What You Can Control
[16:31] - Baptism of Roman
[31:38] - Dedication of Children
[33:01] - High and Holy Responsibility of Parenting
[34:19] - Commitment of the Church
[42:57] - Introduction to the Psalms Series
[44:26] - Honest Lament as a Statement of Faith
[45:43] - Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation
[47:15] - God's Secret Service: Safe Place and Safe Passage
[50:22] - God's Guaranteed Protection and Guidance
[51:57] - Declaring Reality in the Midst of Trials
[53:22] - The Shepherd's Safe Passage
[56:13] - Reclaiming God's Identity
[59:08] - Psalm 91: Shelter and Shadow
[74:01] - Psalm 23: The Shepherd's Safe Passage
[84:53] - Call to Repentance and Salvation
[85:52] - Closing and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Psalm 91:1-2 describe about God's role in our lives? How does it portray His protection?
In Psalm 23:1-4, what are the different ways God is depicted as caring for and guiding us?
According to the sermon, what lesson can we learn from Roman's story about focusing on what we can control? [15:47]
How does the sermon describe the importance of being honest with God about our struggles, as seen in the Psalms? [44:26]

Interpretation Questions

How does the imagery of God as a "shelter" and "shadow" in Psalm 91 help us understand His protection during difficult times?
What does it mean for God to be our "Shepherd" in Psalm 23, especially when we are going through the "valley of the shadow of death"?
The sermon emphasizes the high and holy responsibility of parenting. How does this responsibility compare to other roles in life, according to the sermon? [33:01]
How does the concept of "honest lament" as a statement of faith challenge or affirm your current understanding of expressing pain and struggles to God? [44:26]

Application Questions

Roman's story teaches us to focus on what we can control. What are some areas in your life where you need to shift your focus from what you can't control to what you can? [15:47]
Reflect on your role as a parent or mentor. How can you create an environment where children can thrive spiritually and emotionally? What specific steps can you take this week? [33:01]
The sermon encourages us to be honest with God about our pain. When was the last time you were brutally honest with God in prayer? How did it affect your faith? [44:26]
Psalm 91 speaks of God's guaranteed protection. Can you recall a time when you felt God's protection in a difficult situation? How did it change your perspective?
Psalm 23 assures us of God's guidance through dark times. What "dark valley" are you currently walking through, and how can you lean on God as your Shepherd during this time?
The sermon mentions the importance of declaring God's truths boldly. What is one truth about God's character that you need to declare over your life this week? [51:57]
How can you support someone in your community who is going through a disorienting time, based on the principles discussed in the sermon? [50:22]

Sermon Clips

1. "And so he's determined to just do what he can while he can. So that he can live in peace. Amen. Amen. And what I told him is, there's a whole lot of us American citizens that should have your attitude. We should begin to look at each other in this election season the way you look at your home country and a nation invading it. And yet, you want to live in peace. And I think you inspire us. You inspire me." [15:47] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Well, you are the greatest evidence that anybody could ever be given that life matters. And in this world, we desperately need to be reminded that as bad as things can be and as tragic as things seem to be, life matters. Love matters. And love wins and life wins. At the end of it all, it always wins. And for some eternal purpose, God chose you." [31:38] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And what we have to understand, the psalmist began to realize, is that, and not in some stupid, mystical, I don't mean stupid, just a weird would be the word. There's always another reality that surrounds the reality that we're in. There's always another layer. There's always another level. There is this world of God's presence and power that is not tangible, touchable, seeable, smellable. You can't, it's not something the sick senses can experience, but that doesn't mean it isn't. It isn't right here, right now, around you. It is always with the children of God." [50:22] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And what we do hope for, what we do know is going to happen for the people of God. And it's great news today because this is guaranteed. This is guaranteed. You're going to come through it. You are going to come through it. Not necessarily unscathed, but you're going to come through it untouched, untouched by the powers of this world. And you and I are given multiple opportunities in life to enter into a reorientation that we don't get the old compass back broken and try and dial it back in." [45:43] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God is our Secret Service, and He never fails. You're never vulnerable. Never. Whatever place you are in, you are safe. You're never safe. Whatever passage you need, you are safe. From place to place, you are safe. You will always be in a very safe place, and you will always receive safe passage. And the Bible doesn't mean that to mean just to heaven. It means from one disorienting experience all the way into a reorienting encounter with a new way of seeing life and the reality that is out there." [48:49] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "And here's the truth. That king of glory is God and father. Go back to the relational reality that that positional, positional authority is actually personally related to you. And he's a good, good father. He's only got good plans for you. And when we climb into that, I can feel it in my bones right now. My compass is getting recalibrated. I can feel it in my bones right now. I can feel it in my bones right now. I can feel it, okay? Because now you know the true north is really God Almighty." [57:45] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "And if you dwell in him, dwell in him, dwell in him, dwell in him, dwell in him, dwell in him, dwell in him, dwell in him, dwell in him. Not in your circumstances. I will say of the Lord, he's my refuge and my fortress. So this is more war terminology, okay? This is wilderness terminology. This is war. Refuge is basically the word that's used for cave. That there's times, you know what we got to do? We got to hide from the elements. We can't just be fully and completely exposed in the battlefield." [01:03:28] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "And here's the cool thing. He's with me. It's his presence. That's the most important thing in that Valley your rod and your staff that comfort me and he goes from being a Shepherd to a servant. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows surely surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. This is here. This is to pursue like a mad dog. It's coming after you baby. It is coming after." [01:21:34] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "And I would say part of the time when God gets redefined in the midst of our experiences is because we're so afraid of God. We're so afraid of God. We're so afraid of God. We're so afraid of God. We're so nobody told us that we're allowed to speak to God from the visceral, guttural, absolute angst that we feel because he didn't do something about it in the first place. But just because he didn't stop it doesn't mean he isn't over it, okay? He either ordains everything or he allows it. There's only two options." [56:13] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "And what we want you to know is we have absolutely no doubt. It may not be okay, but we're going to be okay. He's going to bring us through it. He's never denied us. He's never doubted us. He's always been there. We've never not had him in that whatever Valley we've been in. He's always there. Always his presence is guaranteed in the midst of it. And because of that, I don't fear no evil. I really don't like I don't fear evil respect it, but I don't fear it because I know he's a different person. Defeated phone." [01:21:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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