welcome to today's devotional reading from our daily bread I'm Tom Felton and I titled today's encouragement drawn by disaster
 in 1717 a devastating storm rage 4 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 Corona called for a Prayer Day in response to the disaster
 historian reports that the citizens gathered in churches and listen to sermons saying Psalms and prayed for hours
 the prophet Joel describes an overwhelming disaster faced by the people of Judah that also like to prayer a massive swarm of locusts had covered the land and laid waste its Vines and ruined its victories as he and his people real from the devastation Joe laprade Lord help us directly and indirectly with the people of Northern Europe and Judah experience disasters that originated with the effects of sin and this Fallen World but they also found that these times LED them to call out to God and seek him in prayer and God said even now return to me with all your heart
 when we Face difficulties and disaster may we turn to God wraps and anguish perhaps and repentance compassionate and abounding in love he draws is to himself providing the comfort and help we need
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from Joel chapter 1 verses 1 through 7 and 19 through 20
 the word of the Lord that came to jewels and up at 2 on here that to Elder's listen all who live in the land has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors tell it to your children and let your children tell it to their children and their children to the Next Generation what the locusts swarm has left the great Locust have eaten what the great Locust have left the young Locust have eaten what the young Locust have left other locusts have eaten wake up you drunkards and week Wale all you drinkers wine
 well because of the new wine for his been snatched from your lips a nation has invaded mile and a mighty Army without number it is a teeth of a lion the fangs of a lioness it has laid waste my Vines and ruined my big trees it is stripped off their bark and thrown it away leaving their branches white and now I'm picking up a first 19-2 you Lord I call for the fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and Flames have burned up all the trees of the field even the wild animals pant for you the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the Pastors in the wilderness
let's pray heavenly father thank you for being there when we Face the harsh realities of Life help us to call out to you and find the Hope healing and refine and you alone can provide in the face of difficulty in Jesus name we pray amen
 today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries