OUR DAILY BREAD : GROWING THROUGH GRIEF

[cimi]

February 15
Friday



GROWING
THROUGH GRIEF

READ:
Psalm 119:65-80
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It is good for me that
I have been afflicted,
that I may learn Your
statutes.
__Psalm 119:71
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A woman who lost her husband of 40 years to a sudden heart attack said that the resulting grief had caused her to value love more. When she heard couples arguing, she sometimes spoke to them, saying, "You don't have time for this." She noted that the wasted moments in all our lives become more precious when they cannot be repeated.

Grief changes our perspective on life. It is trite but true that how we deal with sorrow will make us either bitter or better. In a remarkable statement, the psalmist actually thanked God for a difficult experience: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word....It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes" (Ps. 119:67,71).

We don't know the nature of the psalmist's affliction, but the positive outcome was a longing to obey the Lord and a hunger for His Word. Rarely can we use this truth to comfort those who hurt. Instead, it is the Lord's word to us from His compassionate heart and the touch from His healing hand.

When we grieve, it feels more like dying than growing. But as God wraps His loving arms around us, we have the assurance of His faithful care. __David McCasland
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```````````I have been through the valley of weeping,``````````````
`````````````````The valley of sorrow and pain;``````````````````
`````````````But the God of all comfort was with me.```````````````
``````````````At hand to uphold and sustain. __Anon```````````````
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Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death
of His saints. __Psalm 116:15

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 119:65-80*************

65 You have dealt well with
Your servant, O LORD,
according to Your Word.

66 Teach me good judgment
and knowledge, for I believe
Your commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I
went astray, but now I keep
Your Word. 68 You are good,
and do good; teach me Your
statutes. 69 The proud have
forged a lie against me, but I
will keep Your precepts with
my whole heart. 70 Their
heart is as fat as grease, but I
delight in Your law. 71 It is
good for me that I have been
afflicted, that I may learn
Your statutes. 72 The law of
Your mouth is better to me
than thousands of coins of
gold and sliver.

73 Your hands have made
me and fashioned me; give
me understanding, that I
may learn Your
commandments. 74 Those
who fear You will be glad
when they see me, because
I have hoped in Your Word.

75 I know, O LORD, that Your
judgments are right, and that
in faithfulness You have
afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray,
Your merciful kindness be
for my comfort, according
to Your Word to Your
servant. 77 Let Your tender
mercies come to me, that I
may live; for Your law is my
delight. 78 Let the proud be
ashamed, for they treated me
wrongfully with falsehood;
but I will meditate on Your
precepts. 79 Let those who
fear You turn to me, those
who know Your testimonies.

80 Let my heart be blameless
regarding Your statutes, that
I may not be ashamed.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
abounds through Christ" (2 Cor. 1:5). The comfort of God grows
in response to the duration and depth of the pain the believer
experiences. __HDF