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| FRIDAY | January 14 |
| “Utterly wearied, he [Elijah] sat down to rest under a juniper tree. And sitting there, he requested for himself that he might die. . . . A fugitive, far from the dwelling places of men, his spirits crushed by bitter disappointment, he desired never again to look upon the face of man. . . . Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement—days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earthborn children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life. It is then that many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God's providences we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills, and new faith, new life, would spring into being.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 162. |
Have you ever had times during which you clearly saw the hand of God working in your life, and your faith was strong, only right after to sink low and find yourself filled with doubts about God and His leading in your life? What have you learned from that kind of experience that could help others who might be facing the same thing? 
What is it about helping others that makes us feel better? Why is that so often the case? At the same time, why is it so hard to give of ourselves to others? How can we learn to be more willing to die to self in order to serve the needs of those around us better? 
Take a good look at your own health habits. What are you eating and drinking? What kind of exercise program are you on? How much leisure time do you have? What changes can you make that could help you feel better emotionally, as well as physically? Though in some cases, people have very serious psychological needs that must be professionally addressed, many times a change in lifestyle habits can make a big difference in how we feel. 
How much “spare” time do you have? What do you do with that time? How could you better utilize that time to enhance your relationship with God? | I N S I D E Story | ||
| The Prodigal by ALBERTO VILLANUEVA As a youth growing up in Mexico, I found no reason to live. I was deeply into alcoholism and was having problems with my family. Then I met a Seventh-day Adventist man who gave me an old, wellmarked Bible. I read the Bible, especially the marked verses, and was amazed that God's Word was so alive, so vital! I began attending church with the man and continued reading the Bible. God rescued me from my hopeless life and gave me a ministry to help people who are living as I once lived. I met a family who was distant relatives of my wife. The husband and I became friends, but when I asked him for permission to study the Bible with his family, he said no, explaining that they were members of another faith. As we talked, I prayed that God would open this man's heart. As I prepared to leave, he said, "Come back soon and share the Bible with us!" When I returned to study with this family, Jorge, one of the sons, stomped angrily from the room. Whenever I went to visit the family, Jorge would leave the room. But we continued studying together, and the family members accepted the Bible truths they discovered. Then one evening Jorge joined the Bible studies. And when seven members of the family asked to join the church, Jorge was among them. Only later did I learn that Jorge had been so angry about the Bible studies that he had plotted to kill me. I shared the gospel with people in a mountain village some distance from my home. One day I noticed that some men were following me to the home of an interested family. The man I was visiting saw the men and warned me to be careful, that these men were dangerous. Then he told the men who had followed me, "Leave him alone. He's a missionary who has come to share God's love with us." The thieves didn't bother me again. Eventually, seven people in this village joined God's church. I love sharing the gospel with others as someone shared it with me. I praise God that He has led me to some 50 people who have committed their hearts to Christ. Please pray for those who still live without hope. And remember ALBERTO VILLANUEVA shares his faith in Morelos, Mexico.. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org |
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