Page 4 - 16 May 2025

PAGE 4 · THE REPORTER 16 MAY 2025

You can download the free app EDWJ via Play Store. They have Matthew 5:2-11: He said:
included two versions of daily reading on the App, Contemporary 'Blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the
(New authors and a new format) and the Classic (The original Selwyn
kingdom of heaven. Blessed
Hughes devotionals):
are those who mourn, for
I was born into a communist A prayer to make: Lord they will be comforted.
family in Iran, so religion was God, thank You for all that Blessed are the meek, for
not a part of our home at all, You have done for me, that they will inherit the earth.
Him are radiant; their faces but my parents were loving, You promise to be with me Blessed are those who
are never covered with and we were happy. Then, always, especially in times of hunger and thirst for
shame. This poor man when I was nine years old, trouble. I give You of all the righteousness, for they will
called, and the LORD heard my parents were arrested for situations in my life where be filled. Blessed are the
him; He saved him out of all their communist beliefs. things are hard; I give up merciful, for they will be
his troubles. The angel of the That single event changed control. Do what You will shown mercy. Blessed are
LORD encamps around everything for my family. The through this season. Amen. the pure in heart, for they will
It shouldn't be a surprise to receive the covering of His those who fear Him, and He pain, fear, and loss shaped Further Study: John see God. Blessed are the
us that following Jesus goodness. We can 'taste and delivers them. Taste and see my life in ways I could not 16:31-33 'Do you now peacemakers, for they will be
comes at a cost. The world see that the LORD is good' that the LORD is good; escape. By the time I was believe?' Jesus replied. 'A called children of God.
and the enemy are in always, but when we choose blessed is the one who takes nineteen, the weight of that time is coming and in fact Blessed are those who are
o p p o s i t i o n t o H i m ; to take refuge, to see His refuge in Him.' suffering had become too has come when you will be persecuted because of
therefore, they are also in goodness despite the much. I was so filled with scattered, each to your own righteousness, for theirs is
opposition to us as His darkness surrounding us, we Philippians 4:6 7: Do not be depression and anger home. You will leave me all the kingdom of heaven.
people. But even if we are are worshipping Him in an anxious about anything, but towards the world and alone. Yet I am not alone, for
ready to suffer for Christ, we even more beautiful way and in every situation, by prayer everyone in it, that I had my Father is with me. I have Blessed are you when
can still experience the receive even more blessing a n d p e t i t i o n , w i t h made a plan and was ready told you these things, so that people insult you, persecute
feeling of fear. from it. thanksgiving, present your to end my life. in me you may have peace. you when people insult you,
requests to God. And the But then I encountered In this world you will have persecute you and falsely say
I spent many years in Iran The truth is, I would not peace of God, which Jesus. In the darkest trouble. But take heart! I all kinds of evil against you
planting house churches, change my story, or the time t r a n s c e n d s a l l moment of my life, He met have overcome the world.’ because of me'.
aware of what price I might that I spent in prison. I understanding, will guard me, not with empty Romans 5:3-5: Not only so,
pay if I was discovered. experienced the peace that your hearts and your minds promises, but with truth: 'In but we also glory in our 2 Corinthians 4:8-10: We
surpasses understanding are hard pressed on every
But the fear I felt when I was (see Philippians 4:6-7) so in Christ Jesus. this world you will have sufferings, because we know side, but not crushed;
imprisoned for my ministry deeply during that season, Isaiah 41:10: 'So do not trouble. But take heart! I that suffering produces perplexed, but not in
was startling. I faced harsh and it became a new fear, for I am with you; do not have overcome the world' perseverance; perseverance, despair; persecuted, but not
interrogations, and the be dismayed, for I am your (John 16:33). character; and character, abandoned; struck down,
threat against myself, my foundation for my faith and God. I will strengthen you Though my suffering was hope. And hope does not but not destroyed. We
an
friends, and others suffering and help you; I will uphold real, I did not have to put us to shame, because always carry around in our
in prison for faith in Jesus investment into future you with my righteous right become a slave to it - Jesus God's love has been poured body the death of Jesus, so
was overwhelming. But in ministry to Iranians. hand.’ had already won, and I could out into our hearts through that the life of Jesus may
the darkest moments of my be free. the Holy Spirit, who has
l i f e , I e n c o u n t e r e d Memory Verse: 'In this world Romans 8:38 39: For I am been given to us. also be revealed in our body.
something greater than fear you will have trouble. But convinced that neither death All of us have stories that are
- the presence of God. take heart! I have overcome nor life, neither angels nor painful. Persecution, loss,
the world' (John 16:33). demons, neither the present and hardship touch many
As we read in Psalm 34, journeys on this earth. They
when we call on the name of A Prayer to Make: Father nor the future, nor any can mark our hearts and
God, He not only hears us God, thank You for Your powers, neither height nor colour our lives. But they do
but answers us with His Spirit that dwells with me. depth, nor anything else in not define us: Jesus does.
presence. He delivers us, Thank You that You never all creation, will be able to We are invited to share in His
although not always by leave, nor forsake me. Give separate us from the love of victory, to find peace in His
removing the cause of our me strength in my weakness God that is in Christ Jesus presence, and to take heart -
suffering. to remain rooted in Your our Lord. because He has already
Word, so I may taste Your overcome.
Deliverance comes through goodness always. Amen. Psalm 91:1-2: Whoever
the experience of His dwells in the shelter of the No matter what you are
presence and love, which we Further Study: Psalm 34:4 Most High will rest in the facing today, know this: your
can encounter in any 8: I sought the LORD, and shadow of the Almighty. I will suffering is real, but so is the
circumstance. When we He answered me; He say of the LORD, 'He is my peace of Christ. Take heart
choose to remain in Him delivered me from all my refuge and my fortress, my and trust in Him.
rather than remain in fear, we fears. Those who look to God, in whom I trust'.
An action to take: Write
down an example of a hard
situation or season that
J e s u s o v e r c a m e o r
redeemed in your life. When
things get hard, remind
yourself of this story.
Commit today's verse to
memory this week: 'In this
world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have
overcome the world' (John
16:33).