Serenity for the Soul
Applying God's Word to Everyday Life
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In our text, faith is attacked by fire. The blazing furnace was stoked seven times hotter than usual. Watching from a distance was a demented extremist. Yet God stood with all three men in the furnace. Twenty-six hundred years later, there was another attack, a terrorist attack. On Sept 11, 2001, thousands perished in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. The high-rise infernos were seven times hotter than usual fires – from fully fueled, hijacked airliners. Gloating from far away was a demented extremist. However, America was awakened, not weakened. Our motto was "United We Stand!" Instead of dousing liberty’s flame, the terrorists ignited her fuse. Instead of bending a knee in fear, we fell to our knees in faith. When your soul is tested by fire, refuse to bend your knees to terror. Let pain ignite your fuse of faith. In the midst of your furnace, you are not alone. United He stands with you! Jesus . . . , that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst – John 19:28 No surprises here. Every part of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion was prophesied centuries before He was ever born. Even this little detail of Jesus’ request for Himself was prophesied in Psalm 69:21: "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." Out of all the statements that Jesus made while nailed to the cross, this is the only statement where He showed any personal concern for Himself. Jesus was dehydrating and losing fluids. This is a moment of divine humility and transparency. Every other statement demonstrated His relentless concern for others. This is so noteworthy because God has legitimate personal needs that He asks you to fill. As Jesus thirsted on the cross, God thirsts today. He thirsts for your attention. He thirsts for you to spend time with Him. He thirsts for communion with you. Before you ask God to meet your needs, meet God’s needs. Love Him. Adore Him.
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About the Book
Finally, a daily devotional that guides you through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation – filled to the brim with relevant insights and strategies for daily living! Serenity for the Soul contains 365 inspirational meditations that are easy to read, in large print, and to the point. Get in it, get out of it, and get on with your busy day. From the pages of this devotional, you’ll rediscover how relevant and refreshing God’s word is to life. This book is written for readers of all ages – encompassing all life issues and seasons. Inside, you’ll find an optional Bible reading guide for a more thorough read-through of God’s word. Either way, discover the satisfaction of studying the entire Bible, start to finish, through the year. You can do it – without getting stuck or feeling it’s all over your head. As a pastor, Brian Buriff brings to each meditation his belief that every chapter in the Bible is relevant and inspirational for real-world living. This dynamic devotional resource will help you establish and preserve the daily habit of strolling along that shoreline where the shuffle of life intersects the surge of the sacred. There, your soul will find serenity.
About the Author
Brian J. Buriff is a pastor at the Winton Road First Church of God in Fairfield, Ohio. He received his B.A. degree from Anderson University and both his M.A. degree in Pastoral Counseling and his Master of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary. He is an experienced devotional writer for Pathways To God (Warner Press) and other publications. The author contends that the Bible isn’t boring but breathtaking – there’s something relevant for daily living in every chapter. It’s an inspirational source for hope and wellness – chock full of practical strategies for real-world living. The reader should find this devotional to be a useful, down-to-earth, inspirational resource to help navigate life in the real world and find ultimate serenity for the soul.