The Light

Pastor Chuck Swindoll surveys the entire book of Mark, spotlighting its key verse, Mark 10:45

From the Series: Jesus: The Servant at Work, Volume One, A Study of Mark 1:1–6:13

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Learning is lifelong, and ignorance is not bliss. Just because you don’t have formal education doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Education comes from all sorts of places. Seek it out, don’t settle for anything less.

What does it mean to say, “The Lord is my portion”? When life feels uncertain, we can be tempted to measure security by what we own, accomplish, or can control. But Scripture points us toward a deeper source of contentment: God Himself. When we recognize the Lord as our portion, we can find hope and stability even when circumstances change or the things we depend on are taken away.

Making God our portion means trusting that His presence, faithfulness, and promises are enough. It does not mean we will never experience loss, disappointment, or uncertainty, but it gives us something circumstances cannot take away. Instead of placing our hope in temporary possessions, relationships, success, or earthly security, we can turn our hearts toward God and remember that He remains faithful in every season. When the Lord is our portion, we have reason to hope, persevere, and rest in His goodness.

Highlights

• What it means to make the Lord our portion and source of hope

• Why earthly possessions and circumstances cannot provide lasting security

• How trusting God can bring contentment during seasons of uncertainty or loss

• Why God’s presence and faithfulness are greater than anything we can gain or accomplish

• How to shift our hope from temporary things to the promises of God

• Why recognizing God as our portion helps us persevere through difficult seasons

• Encouragement to find lasting hope and stability in the Lord rather than in circumstances

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Full Transcript Below:

The Lord Is My Portion 

By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I wait for Him.” (Lamentations 3:24 NASB) 

Life was going well, and I had been assigned to write an article called “10 Ways Your Life Looks Different When God Is Your Portion.” I read through every verse in the Bible about God being our portion, our refuge, our reward. And I prayed that God would make me a person who saw Him as my portion. 

As I was writing the article, I also prayed for insight about the hurts and disappointments people would be experiencing as they read the article, so it would be a comfort and encouragement to them. I thought of my mother, who was sinking into depression as her husband was sinking deeper into the disease of Alzheimer’s. I thought of a reader who had just lost a dear friend. I thought of someone who may just be receiving the news that they’d lost their longtime job.

 “God, give me Your words that people will most need to read for their hearts to be encouraged,” I prayed. 

I turned in the article and didn’t think about i

God often works most powerfully through human weakness rather than worldly strength. Paul contrasts the impressive appearance of the false teachers with his own suffering, hardships, and "thorn in the flesh," explaining that God sometimes allows ongoing weakness to humble His servants, deepen their dependence on Him, and accomplish His purposes.

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