Our Daily Bread Devotional 12 August 2022 ODB Today Titled Drawn by Disaster

Our Daily Bread Devotional 12 August 2022 ODB Today Titled Drawn by Disaster

DAILY BREAD DEVOTION OF THE DAY 12TH AUGUST 2022

Read today’s Our Daily Bread Devotional 12 August 2022 ODB Today titled Drawn by Disaster for our spiritual daily bread for growth and development today.

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TOPIC: DRAWN BY DISASTER

Our Daily Bread Devotional 12th August 2022 ODB Today || Bible Verse

Lord, help us! – Joel 1:19 nlt

Our Daily Bread Devotional 12 August 2022 ODB Today || Today’s Scripture: Joel 1:1–7, 19–2

READ || Our Daily Bread Devotional 12 August 2022 ODB Today || INSIGHT

In 1717, a devastating storm raged for days, leading to widespread flooding in northern Europe. Thousands of people lost their lives in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. History reveals an interesting and customary—for that time—response by at least one local government. The provincial authorities of the Dutch city of Groningen called for a “prayer day” in response to the disaster. A historian reports that the citizens gathered in churches and “listened to sermons, sang psalms, and prayed for hours.”

The prophet Joel describes an overwhelming disaster faced by the people of Judah that also led to prayer. A massive swarm of locusts had covered the land and “laid waste [its] vines and ruined [its] fig trees” (Joel 1:7). As he and his people reeled from the devastation, Joel prayed, “Lord, help us!” (1:19 nlt). Directly and indirectly, both the people of northern Europe and Judah experienced disasters that originated with the effects of sin and this fallen world (Genesis 3:17–19; Romans 8:20–22). But they also found that these times led them to call out to God and seek Him in prayer (Joel 1:19). And God said, “Even now . . . return to me with all your heart” (2:12).

When we face difficulties and disaster, may we turn to God—perhaps in anguish, perhaps in repentance. “Compassionate” and “abounding in love” (v. 13), He draws us to Himself—providing the comfort and help we need. By:  Tom Felten

Bible in a Year: Psalms 84–86 Romans 12

Our Daily Bread Devotional 12 August 2022 ODB Today || REFLECT: Why do people often turn to God when they face disaster? How can He use difficult times to draw us to Himself?