When my wife, Amy, passed away after a 13-month, no-holds-barred battle with cancer, I thought I was ready.<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t ready.\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Honestly, I\u2019m still not\u00a0<\/span>ready<\/span>, but I have found comfort each day in God\u2019s promises of old. May I share a few of those with you now?<\/span><\/p>\n Here are 31 days of God\u2019s ironclad promises for widowers; I pray they help your soul as they have strengthened mine.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know the Lord is always with me. I will not\u00a0be shaken, for he is right beside me.\u201d\u2014Psalm 16:8<\/a> NLT<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Lord Jesus, my mind knows you\u2019re with me today. Please help my heart to\u00a0know\u00a0it as well. (I struggle with that sometimes.) Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.\u201d\u2014Psalm 27:13-14<\/a> NASB<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Oh, Father! I will<\/em> despair unless your goodness visits me here in the land of the living. Please be good to me today\u2014all day. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHave mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. I am dying from grief; my years\u00a0are shortened\u00a0by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.\u201d\u2014Psalm 31:9-10<\/a> NLT<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Have mercy, Jesus.\u00a0Have mercy on my soul today.\u00a0Please have mercy. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits\u00a0are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.\u201d\u2014Psalm 34:18-19<\/a> NET\u00a0Bible<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Holy Spirit, it must be\u00a0obvious\u00a0to you that I\u2019m brokenhearted. It\u2019s not so\u00a0obvious\u00a0to me\u00a0that you\u2019ll come to my rescue. Will you show me that today, please? Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCreate\u00a0in me\u00a0a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with\u00a0a willing spirit.\u201d\u2014Psalm 51:10-12<\/a> ESV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n O God! Today, in me, please: Create. Renew. Keep. Restore. Uphold. I trust in you, Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God I will praise His word,\u00a0In God\u00a0I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?\u201d\u2014Psalm 56:3-4<\/a> NKJV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Jesus, I didn\u2019t expect that losing my wife would make me feel afraid, but I\u2019m so scared.\u00a0Help\u00a0me to trust in you and not to fear today. Please. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?\u201d\u2014Psalm 56:8<\/a> NKJV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n How funny, Father,\u00a0that you\u2019d\u00a0collect my tears in your bottle! But also very kind. Thank you for remembering my sorrow today. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, I must find rest in God\u00a0only,\u00a0because my hope comes from him! Only God is my rock and my salvation\u2014my stronghold!\u2014I will not\u00a0be shaken. My deliverance and glory depend on God. God is my strong rock. My refuge is in God.\u201d\u2014Psalm 62:5-7<\/a> CEB<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Dear God, my soul struggles to rest; my heart longs to hope again. Today, in some small way, would you show me how to\u00a0hope\u00a0and rest? Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.\u00a0You need not fear the terrors of the night\u2026\u201d\u2014Psalm 91:4-5<\/a> NET Bible<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Holy Spirit,\u00a0it\u2019s so hard to face\u00a0the night without her near me anymore.\u00a0So hard. When I close my eyes tonight, please let me feel the shelter of your wings. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!\u201d\u2014Psalm 116:1-2<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Dear Jesus, dear, dear Jesus. As long as I\u00a0have breath, remind me that you bend down to listen! I need you today, so thank you for being near. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPrecious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.\u201d\u2014Psalm 116:15<\/a> NIV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Ah, Father. Her death was precious to me, too. Thank you for sharing that with me today. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.\u201d\u2014Psalm 119:28<\/a> NKJV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n What else can I\u00a0say,\u00a0today, Lord? My soul also melts from heaviness. Please strengthen me according to your promises. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThose who sow in\u00a0tears,\u00a0Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.\u201d\u2014Psalm 126:5-6<\/a> NKJV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Well, God, here are my tears! Now it\u2019s up to you. How about we reap joy\u2014at least a little bit\u2014sometime today? Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLet me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I\u00a0am trusting\u00a0you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.\u201d\u2014Psalm 143:8<\/a> NLT<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Precious Jesus, I am<\/em> trusting you today. Oh, Lord Jesus, I give myself to you today. Amen. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads\u2026The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.\u201d\u2014Psalm 145:14<\/a>, 18\u00a0NLT<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Lord\u00a0of all, I\u2019m calling on you now; I feel so bent beneath this sorrow. Will you help and lift it? Will you be close\u00a0today? I can\u2019t wait to find out. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBe careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.\u201d\u2014Proverbs 4:23<\/a> NCV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n All right, God, I get it.\u00a0This\u00a0is a good reminder because my thoughts\u00a0so\u00a0often go to anger and despair. Today, help me turn my thoughts to you and to hope instead. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.\u201d\u2014Isaiah 40:29<\/a> NKJV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Power to the weak? Oh, how I need that, Holy Spirit! I am so weak. So weak. If you\u2019re giving power today, I\u2019ll take as much as you want to hand out. Thank you. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe was despised and rejected\u2014a\u00a0man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down\u2026\u201d\u2014Isaiah 53:3-4<\/a> NLT<\/em><\/p>\n Praying\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>God\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0Promise:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus, I do so quickly forget that you know\u2014intimately\u2014what I\u2019m going through. Sigh<\/em>. Lord, I\u2019m sorry for your sorrow. Yet, I am also thankful you know it and me so well. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGood people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.\u201d\u2014Isaiah 57:1-2<\/a> NLT<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Father, I don\u2019t know why my wife passed away before I did, but I trust that you are giving her peace to rest. Please give me a measure of that peace today, too. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor no one\u00a0is abandoned\u00a0by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.\u201d\u2014Lamentations 3:31-33<\/a> NLT<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Lord, I struggle with the idea that you might\u2019ve brought me this grief. It\u2019s heartbreaking! But I still long for your compassion and unfailing love today. Help me to see that, please. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him\u201d\u2014Nahum 1:7<\/a> NIV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Lord God, you are<\/em> good. Even lost in grief, I still know that\u2019s true. Today, will you be my refuge? Help me experience your care, for I trust in you. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBlessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.\u201d\u2014Matthew 5:4<\/a> NET Bible<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Jesus, so often lately, this promise feels untrue for me. How about if you and I work together today, so I can testify that it is<\/em> true\u2014regardless of how I feel right now? Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCome to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.\u201d\u2014Matthew 11:28-29<\/a> NKJV<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Ah, Jesus. Here I am. I\u2019ve come to you, hands open to receive. Give rest to my soul today, please. I\u2019ve been waiting for that. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.\u201d\u2014Romans 8:26<\/a> HCSB<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Holy Spirit, I have no words today, so I\u2019m just going to cry for a while. Please intercede for me now. Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor I\u00a0am persuaded\u00a0that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!\u201d\u2014Romans 8:38-39<\/a> HCSB<\/em><\/p>\n Praying God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Wow. Not even death? You are impressive, Christ Jesus.\u00a0Please grant my heart nearness to your love today when I feel\u00a0so,\u00a0so alone.\u00a0Amen.<\/p>\n God\u2019s Promise:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut he said\u00a0to me, \u2018My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.\u2019 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my\u00a0weaknesses,\u00a0so that Christ\u2019s power may rest on me.\u201d\u20142 Corinthians 12:9<\/a> NIV<\/em><\/p>\nDay 1<\/span><\/h2>\n
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