“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13, KJV).

Several years ago I led an online study. During one of the sessions, I invited participants to share a time when they experienced the powerful presence of God in the midst of a difficult situation.

Liz Brown subscribes to this devotional and was one of the participants. She shared the following story then, and gave me permission to share it with you now. I hope it will encourage you, and that it reminds you about the goodness and powerful presence of our God even in the midst of difficulty.

“My Mom lived with us, and when she got cancer I naturally became her caregiver. It was so hard to look after her physical needs while dealing with her acute suffering. I ached all over every day. My heart was breaking. She started to lose consciousness, and whenever she woke up she would whisper, “the power and the glory.” It happened time and again, and I started to finish it for her each time: “forever and ever, amen.”
Those words started changing me. Forever and ever God’s power and glory. Forever. I was lifted, triumphant, knowing that God was waiting for my Mom. She was going to be okay.
She lapsed into a coma, and I thought she was gone. I had not said good-bye, and I had not told her all the things I really needed to say. I was devastated and I pleaded with God to make her know these things. She woke up one day—completely with it and able to talk to me. We laughed and shared and bared our souls to each other.
The next day she was gone. I have never forgotten the blessing of that brief time, and I know God is with me and He cares about me forever and ever.”

Thank you, Liz!

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” (Psalm 23:4, ESV)

By Matthew Ruttan

—This Sunday (July 26, 2020) I will talk about “praying and not giving up” (as Jesus tells us to do in Luke 18:1-8). Some of you are doing well with prayer right now. Others, not so much. Jesus encourages us to be persistent! I’ll tell us why, offer some motivation, and also some practical helps. Go here at 10:01am on Sunday to watch live.

–[Send in pics!] Have you purchased and received your copy of my new book Turbulence in the mail? If so, take a picture of you holding it (you can include your face or not, or up against a background that you like, or not) and email it to me. I’m putting them all together in a collage to be used on the internet!

–“Up!” is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on July 27.