{"id":35251,"date":"2023-04-14T03:30:20","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T10:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=35251"},"modified":"2023-04-06T15:30:18","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T22:30:18","slug":"april-14-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2023\/04\/14\/april-14-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"April 14, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Press In More Deeply<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”\u00a0<\/em>Ephesians 3:17,18<\/p>\n

I shared recently about enduring and persevering.\u00a0I was taken aback by the responses I received from all over the world, young and old, male and female.\u00a0It broke my heart as I thought of so many of you going through your own trials and sufferings.\u00a0What probably impacted me the most was that quite a few of you said you had felt like quitting.\u00a0I’m not even sure what that would mean to each one, but it touched me deeply.\u00a0I’m so very sorry that things are so hard.<\/p>\n

But may I encourage you? Don’t quit! Instead, press in more deeply to Jesus.\u00a0Keep your eyes on Him.\u00a0Let Him carry you and lift your burdens.\u00a0He has done that for me over and over again. I wouldn’t still be standing except for His grace, strength, help, mercy, and love.\u00a0He has carried me through the storms. He has given me His strength when I’ve been so very weak.\u00a0He has comforted my heart when I’ve been overwhelmed with sorrow.\u00a0He has been by my side when I’ve been lonely.\u00a0He has provided when I’ve had times of need.\u00a0And the wonderful thing is that He’ll do the same for you!<\/p>\n

I’ve realized that when I focus on the problems rather than on Him, the problems seem to be bigger.\u00a0When I focus on Him, the problems lessen.\u00a0I’ve had to learn to pour out my heart to Him, even when I’m low and weak.\u00a0He is my refuge.\u00a0I can turn to Him with whatever I am facing. When I’m wrapped up in my need\u2014whatever it may be\u2014it takes an effort of my will to turn instead to look at Him… but as I do it over and over, it becomes instinctive. I don’t have to think about it\u2014my heart just immediately turns to Him.\u00a0And He is always there.<\/p>\n

You have faithfully prayed for me.\u00a0I am also praying for you! As we celebrate His death and resurrection this coming weekend, I pray that you will feel the power of what He’s done for us. There is victory because of what Jesus endured for us. I’m humbled every time I think about it.<\/p>\n

So many Scriptures are the “lifelines” that I hold on to when I’m going through a difficult time.\u00a0I speak them out as statements of faith and promise. I pray them and ask the Lord to apply them to my situation.\u00a0He who has promised is faithful, and He will help each of us persevere and endure!<\/p>\n

Father, we cling to You in our darkest days. Help us persevere in trial and endure hardship. May Your risen Son give us courage today. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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