CONVERSATIONS
WITH GOD
The Valley of the Shadow of Death: Betrayal
Archived Conversations with God
Day 1
Getting Help
Where can we turn when we feel betrayed? Check out this devotional to find out:
https://www.touchinglives.org/devotionals/betrayal-to-blessing
Verses: Ephesians 6:10-18, Matthew 6:14-15, Psalm 41:9-13
Prayer Topics: Forgiveness, Peace, Comfort
Day 2
Ultimate
Jesus faced betrayal in a way we can scarcely comprehend. To find out more, check out this devotional:
https://billygraham.org/articles/will-graham-devotion-the-agony-of-betrayal
Why was it important for Jesus to face betrayal? Can the love of God defeat or overcome betrayal? How can this defeat of betrayal be made real in your life?
Verses: Mark 11:25, Micah 7:5-7, Psalm 23:1-6
Prayer Topics: Hope, Renewal, Love
Day 3
Response
How should we respond to betrayal? Check out this devotional to learn more:
https://in.thegospelcoalition.org/article/healing-from-the-sting-of-betrayal/
Verses: Hebrews 4:15, Psalm 109:4, Romans 5:6
Prayer Topics: Grace, Trust, Compassion
Day 4
Forgive
Check out this devotional on betrayal:
https://truthappliedjs.com/jesus-dealing-with-betrayal-mark-1410-11/
Have you ever been betrayed? How did you respond? Was forgiveness difficult? Impossible? Have you ever betrayed anyone? Have you betrayed God? Were you forgiven? How does this fact change how you deal with betrayal? Why was the betrayal of Jesus such an important part of the crucifixion? Why is that important to you?
Verses: James 5:16, Psalm 103:10-14, Proverbs 10:12
Prayer Topics: Healing, Joy, Strength
Day 5
Thanks to Sylvester Warsaw, Jr for our devotional today
Many people don’t understand that the physical world we live in is first spiritual because the Author of creation is God who is a Spirit. Scripture teaches us that our battle isn’t with the physical but that which is spiritual. This battle didn’t just happen by chance but was put in motion by the disobedience of Adam and Eve while in the garden of Eden when they listened to the voice of Satan instead of obeying God’s instructions. When man chose to rebel against God, God looked for a Seed that bears His image and likeness and carries His presence. In Genesis 3:15 God spoke these words to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Even when man chose to rebel against Him, God never took away man’s freedom of choice. When God spoke to Abram while he dwelt in Haran making him promises of what He would do in and through him, he still had the choice of obeying God’s voice, Genesis 12:1-8. We like to think that families are havens shielding us from the danger of the world, however, that’s far from reality as we see in Scripture with Joseph in Genesis 37 with not only his brothers but his father as well. You would think that Jacob would have understood Joseph’s dilemma given the fact what he had done to Esua before being reconciled to him but he didn’t. When Joseph told his brothers the dream God had given him you can somewhat understand their hatred of him especially since he was Jacob’s favorite. Favoritism is a dynamic that has the ability to destroy families, a tool used by the evil one. But when Joseph told his father Jacob and by him being his father’s favorite I don’t think he expected his father to react the way he reacted by rebuking him, Gen. 37:10. Genesis 37:11 tells us that Joseph’s brothers envied him and envy is a poison that affects the body and even more devastating the family. None of us choose the family we’re born into and unless your parents reverence God with all their heart their eyes won’t see God’s hand at work because their vision is jaded. The beautiful sobering reality is even though none of Joseph’s brothers nor Jacob knew God's plans He had for Joseph just like He knows the plans He has for us because the family we’re born into doesn’t determine God’s plans for those called by Him. Within the African American Religious Tradition there’s a song that was always sung when I was growing up that simply said “somebody prayed for me had me on their mind took the time to pray for me.” I find myself singing this song often because I know the power of prayer and I can testify that on July 9, 1978 four days after my 22nd birthday I accepted Christ and if I were a betting man when I told my mother all of Los Angeles knew because she couldn’t contain herself because she had friends praying for me because God had answered my parents prayer. Even though I’ve known since I was three or four that God had a call on my life I had chosen a different path to go down but my parents refused to let the evil one have me especially since I was the answer to their prayers after years of trying for children and I’m their first of the seven God gave them. My parents kept us in prayer before the Lord. God never promises children won’t stray, but He does promise we’ll return to Him, Proverbs 22:6. The fact of the matter is God has a call on all of life because He desires that none should perish, 2 Peter 3:9. We all have the opportunity to bear His image and carry His presence so that He’ll be glorified and honored before men in this world through all called by His name.