July 4, 2026

Just For Today Day 4 Putting Off by SGLY Ministry

Just for Today I will put off all…DESPAIR
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NKJV)

Today’s Thought:
As believers in today’s world we may find ourselves under a lot of pressure, however, we need not let ourselves be overcome with despair, for we know the One who is our Strength and Hope in time of trouble.

During times of stress we need to remind ourselves to: Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24(NKJV)

When we are perplexed we need to call out to the Lord and say:…“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV) and He will surely help us.

Despair is not an option for us believers. We need to put off any inkling of it in our lives by reminding ourselves that we belong to the Lord and He will never fail us.

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness Lamentations 3:21-23 (NKJV)

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord, Just for Today, with Your help I will put off all feelings of Despair.
Just for Today I may be perplexed, but I will have hope because I have You.
I may not know what to do, but my eyes will be upon You.
I may have doubts, but I will trust in You to help me.
I may be a bit confused, but I will seek Your word to bring direction and order into my life, for In You, Lord, I have Hope, not Despair.

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD…Psalm 71:5

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1 Peter 2:9 'But you are a chosen people...'

- You have been chosen by God Himself and His hand is on you.
- You have been chosen by God to fulfil a special purpose and plan.
- You are not here by accident or by fate.
- You are here for such a time as this and the Master needs you.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You that You have a plan and purpose for my life. You have chosen and hand-selected me to do what You have pre-prepared for me to do. Help me to fulfil that blueprint You have for my life. Amen.

Kind Regards
Pastor Andrew Roebert

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God's ways brings freedom

I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Psalm 119:45

When you are driving and find you are driving under the speed limit there is a sense of freedom. There are no worries of wondering what the speed limit is, if you will get caught, or feeling guilty for speeding. Devoting yourself to knowing and honoring God's ways brings freedom in the same way. You can walk confidently with God.

Daily Bible Devotion

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The Lord is our Rock

Psalm 18:2 'The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.'

- The Lord is your Rock - the firm place on which you can stand.
- The Lord is your Fortress - the safe place where you can feel secure.
- The Lord is your Deliverer - the One who rescues you from trouble.
- He is all you need. Find your strength and security in Him.

PRAYER: Lord, You are my Rock, You are my Fortress and You are my Deliverer. I will trust and not be afraid. I will abide in Your peace and not be impatient. Amen.

Kind Regards
Pastor Andrew Roebert

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"Slow me down, Lord"
I can identify with the plaintive prayer of the poet who cried, "Slow me down, Lord, I'm goin' too fast!" How often we jam our lives so full of projects and duties that we grow weary and disheartened. We lose our enthusiasm and zest for living. Each day becomes an endurance contest, which we survive only to collapse in bed for a few hours, then get up to start the rat race all over again.
We may even be convinced that what we're doing is important -- we can even be in the midst of serving God, doing His work. But if our good works cause us to lose personal contact with Him -- if we don't take time, individually, to communicate with Him -- we're missing it.
Has this ever happened to you?
Then it's time to STOP! Make time in your day to look and listen to God's handiwork around you. Take time to let God speak to you through the wonders of His creation. Don't forget that Jesus himself often took time to go away from the multitudes. He would walk out along the seashore or go up onto a mountain to pray and commune with God. And I'm just sure He took time to look and listen to what was around Him!
If Jesus needed to spend time alone in God's presence, how much more you and I need to do so. Yet, how easy it is to put off our Bible study and cut back on our prayer time until it becomes an empty ritual -- or we lose daily contact with the Lord altogether. God has provided everything we need to fulfill and enrich our lives...and if we're not careful, we can rush right past it all every day.
Summer is vacation season for many people -- perhaps you're planning some time away. Don't make the mistake of scheduling your vacation so full of travel and activities that you come back home needing to rest from your rest! Take time to relax -- be still for a while. Stop! Look! Listen!...and let God recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your mind and spirit.
Hear and obey the words of our Lord in Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.
But don't wait until your vacation to get started. Right now is a good time to re-open the lines of communication with God. Take time every day to enjoy the beautiful things the Lord has placed all around you. Read the Word. Talk to God. Listen for His voice.
I promise you -- when you Stop! Look! and Listen! you will see God as you've never seen Him before. You will hear the voice of the precious Holy Spirit within you who speaks so tenderly and gives such strength! It will change your whole world and make your life a rich and glorious experience again.

SLOW ME DOWN, LORD
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. Steady my hurried pace. Give me, amidst the day's confusion, the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep. Teach me the art of taking "minute vacations"...slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to read a few lines from a good book.
Remind me of the fable of the hare and the tortoise; that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than measuring its speed.
Let me look up at the branches of the towering oak and know that it grew slowly and well. Inspire me to send my own roots down deep into the soil of life's endearing values...that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
Slow me down, Lord. --Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Slow me down lord,
I’m going to fast
I can’t tell a friend
When he’s going past
I can’t tell a blessing
When it’s coming my way
Slow me down lord
For another day.
--Author Unknown

Slow me down, Lord!
Steady my hurried pace
With a vision of
the eternal reach of time...
Teach me the art of taking
minute vacations. Of
slowing down
to look at a flower...to chat
with an old friend...or make
a new one...to pat a stray dog...
to watch a spider spin a gossamer web...
to smile at a child...or to read a few
lines from a good book.
Remind me each day
That the race is not always
to the swift;
That there is more to life
than increasing its speed.
Slow me down, Lord!
And inspire me to send
my roots deep
Into the soil of life's
enduring values.
--Orin L. Crain

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Habakkuk 3:17-18 ‘Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.’

- Our attitude always determines our altitude in life.
- Things may not look good, but we can still rejoice in the Lord.
- Despite how things may look, keep your eyes on Him.
- He is the great Restorer, and He is the great Deliverer.

PRAYER: Lord, I choose to rejoice in You. I choose to be joyful and have hope in You, my God and my Savior. You know my circumstances and my situation, and I believe that You will be faithful to me. Amen.

Kind Regards
Pastor Andrew Roebert

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Bible Verses

"Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31-32)

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2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

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Exodus 15:2a – The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

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1 John 4:16b-17 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

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Prayers

All through this day, O Lord, by the power of your quickening Spirit, let me touch the lives of others for good, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I speak, or the life I live. Amen.

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Prayer for our Country

Heavenly Father, we thank you for our country, the United States of America. We are Your people who are called by Your name. We humble ourselves by praying, seeking Your face and turning from our wicked ways. Thank You for hearing us as we pray with a contrite heart. We ask forgiveness for our sin. Have mercy on us, O Lord, and heal our land in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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God our Father, I can think of mistakes I have made and the attitude that I have sometimes had. May I not become so independent that I think I know it all and no longer need others, but may I always have true friends around me who are willing to point me in the right direction. May I be ready to apologize when things go wrong, and be ready to learn from my mistakes, finding humour in my situation and having the ability and good sense to laugh at myself. May I grow in wisdom each day. Amen

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Dear heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us to work. It is a blessing to labor and then receive the fruit of our labor. Help us to overcome any laziness and procrastination that would keep us from receiving the things You want us to have. Lord, we also ask You to give us a spirit of discernment so that we might not be fooled or manipulated by others. Also, help us to recognize Your voice in Your servants who have godly counsel and wisdom that we should heed. I ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

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Lord our God, our Father in heaven and on earth, we ask you to bless us, your children, for we want to be your children and nothing else. We want to have our joy and delight in knowing that we belong to you, the almighty God, who began and who will complete redemption on earth through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Bless your Word in us. Give us courage in suffering and distress, for we are allowed to serve you in all circumstances, even when we find it bitterly hard. Your name shall be honored in us, your kingdom shall come. As surely as the earth endures, everything shall happen in accordance with your will, on earth as in heaven. Amen.