outcome Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

Strength, Courage and Salvation

Strength, Courage and Salvation by Kirk Hunt

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.

Psalm 27:1-2 NKJV

Godly men and women have enemies and foes, just like everyone else. What is different is that we live in the grace and protection of our all-powerful God. God is our strength. Always.

Can God’s people be battered and bruised? Perhaps. Can God’s people be beaten and defeated? Not until after they beat and defeat God. But we must operate in God’s strength, not our own.

King David, experienced and understood unjust treatment and persecution. Yet, here in this Psalm, he sang in victory about the light and salvation of God. Whether hiding in a cave or living in a palace, David understood that God was greater than his enemies.

David fought battles. More than once, his life was at risk. Still, his courage came from the source of his strength. He found grace and protection in all-powerful God.

Whatever you face today, consider where you find strength. No matter how battered and bruised you feel, you are not beaten. Not if you operate in the strength, light, and salvation of God. Find your courage in His strength.

Think: “God is my strength and salvation, therefore I can have courage.”

Pray: “Lord, help me to remember my courage comes from Your strength.”

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Not Forsaken

Not Forsaken by Kirk Hunt

I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.

He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.

Psalm 37:25-26 NKJV

Quill, scratching on parchment, David remembered his long, eventful life. “The righteous are not forsaken. Ever.” I wonder if some of the ink was smudged by teardrops.

Do not confuse hard times with being forsaken. God’s people face difficult circumstances, just like everyone else. The difference is that we know that God Himself guards us, and our folk.

David, hunted like an animal by his own father-in-law: not forsaken. David, betrayed by his own son and fleeing for his life: not forsaken. David, offering an atoning sacrifice because of his own sin: not forsaken.

You may cry hot tears, or bleed profusely, or go desperately hungry, but you remain a son or daughter of God. And in all of that, you are not forsaken. God guards you and yours. Stay faithful to our God who has already proven His faithfulness to you.

David lived to appoint his son, Solomon, to the throne with peace and prosperity. Messiah, Jesus Christ, is a king in David’s dynasty. David was never forsaken.

Son and daughter of God, your children and grandchildren will live in the peace and prosperity God gives you. Others will live better and longer because of your generosity and kindness. And all of it because you are not forsaken. Ever.

Think: “No matter how it looks, I am not forsaken.”

Pray: “Lord, help me to remember I am never forsaken by You.”

Work For Good

Work For Good by Kirk Hunt

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

It is hard, from the middle of the chaos and confusion, to remember that God is working it out for good. Remember that “good” is not always “what I want or think.” God is always faithful to His Word, and to His fretful son (or daughter).

Events and circumstances happen to God’s people. Some, without doubt, hurt. Yet, God makes it work together for good. For mortal men and women, that can be hard to see, and harder to remember.

Sometimes we have to look past something. The legal decree is not the last word. The broken relationship is not the final chapter. The closed casket is not the end of the story. Tears, too often, are an ingredient of triumph.

No one wants to hurt, but aches and pains are part of the journey. Your heartache and soul cry are real and seen by God God’s love for you, and faithfulness in everything, is promised. No one (reputable) said we would understand on this side of eternity.

Are you fulfilling His purpose in your life? Are you pursuing your calling in His kingdom? Then it will be good. Keep working and trust how He works it out.

Think: “If it has not worked out, this is not the end.”

Pray: “Lord, help my faith and trust that You will make it good.”

Despite Your Outcome

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“Despite Your Outcome” By Kirk Hunt

Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”

1 Samuel 24:5–6 NKJV

David had gotten close enough to Saul to have taken his life. The cloth cut from Saul’s robe proved the operation was a success. The cut in David’s heart proved the outcome was a failure.

Saul unrighteously sought David’s life. The common wisdom is that a new king would rescind the execution warrant against David. David’s action represented an assault against a leader appointed by God. David’s own conscience convicted (not condemned) him about this.

Sometimes, God’s people produce the wrong outcomes. Provoked, we can respond the wrong way. Threatened, we may take matters into our hands, rather than wait on God. Worst of all, simple willfulness leads us down the wrong path.

When a skilled soldier has a “silver platter” opportunity to kill a known enemy, you can assume the outcome. When a servant of God has an opportunity to serve a known enemy, you should assume that outcome also. The difference is that God’s people should only deal in blessing and service.

David confessed, and made right, his slight against the king. Perhaps you need to confess and redeem a poor outcome in your life. Prayerfully, the Holy Spirit will convict (not condemn) you until you do.

Think: As a servant of God, I must make sure my outcomes are correct.

Pray: “Lord, help me live, speak and act per Your heart.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

He Thinks Of You

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“He Thinks Of You” by Kirk Hunt

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

(Please read Jeremiah 29:1-7)

The leadership of Judah and Jerusalem trudged along in the chains of their Babylonian captors. The march to the capitol of Babylon had only just started. Behind them, Jerusalem still burned. Before them, Judah’s towns and farms lay in smoking ruins.

At the first rest stop, a whisper ran like wildfire among the captives. “Jeremiah has a prophesy for God’s People.” With desperate attention, they listened to every word of the prophet they previously persecuted.

Despite the justice and judgment He had allowed to come against them, God’s People were never out of His eye or heart. His mercy had protected them from paying the full price of their sins. Already, plans were in motion to return Judah and Israel to Canaan and self-rule. Even those who would not live to return, could live out their lives in peace and prosperity.

Consider the plan God has for your life. No matter what has happened before, He intends to bless you, yours and others through your life. You have never been out of His eye or heart.

His mercy continues to shield you. His grace advances you. His peace blesses you.

Wherever you are, good times or bad, God has enacted His Plan for you. Choose to see the end He wants for you. Deliberately live the life God intends for you.

Think: God has plans for me.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see and follow Your plan for me.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

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