The "WORLD" would tell you that God does not want you to suffer... that you can have your "Best Life NOW"... it is only for those who don't know Christ that this "Life" here on earth will ever be "Your Best Life Now", because for those in Christ... this is NOT our BEST LIFE... this World does NOT hold our HOPE... it is the ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN that sets us apart and gives us HOPE!
It's when we accept the suffering and look to God for comfort while we're there and trust Him for the endurance to run the race that we find true PEACE. Philippians 4:7 says: "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything you can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Everyday trials of the past few months have kept me in my knees for God's Provision. Most people would say they don't want to "rely" on anyone... but oh the Peace and Comfort you can find when you surrender it all and rely solely on God. In Matthew 11:28-30 says: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my buren is light."
Each month unexpected financial burdens would crop up... bring with them the fear that if I tithed... I might not have enough to cover all the costs... but I was reminded of Malachi 3:7b "Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts." then says later in Malachi 3:10 "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." Each and ever month.. there has been enough... ever need has been met, without exception.
After receiving very trying news this week... again, as usual, my flesh was tempted to go back to it's old ways and cling to FEAR! Oh, how our flesh clings to the lies of the Enemy! Last night when I was feeling most troubled, weak an broken, a friend posted a short lyric from Natalie Grant... what an amazing reminder of what I needed to do:
"I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand...
I will NOT be moved!
I decided this morning, to do the one place I KNEW I could find TRUTH... God's Word. I decided to lay the fear down at the foot of the cross and confidently approach the Throne of Heaven and see what my God had to say..... WOW.... is all I can say! His Faithfulness NEVER ceases to amaze me!
I found myself in Psalms... which is often the place I go for comfort when my heart feels heavy and my spirit feels tempted to listen to the Enemy.... Here, today, God brought me right to Psalm 138:7-8
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the
wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands."
Psalm 139:10 then reminded me: "even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."
When we are IN HIM, we are never APART from Him. It it only in the moments that we separate ourselves from God, that we feel His absence from our lives. He NEVER LEAVES US, or FORSAKES us... if we are feeling separated from God... it was NOT Him that moved... it was US!
So today, I will return to how I know best to "Walk in Him".... I will pray through scripture and let God speak to me! I will pray Psalm 139: 23-24 in my heart, in my thoughts and in my spirit....
"Search me, O God and know my heart!
"Search me, O God and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me
and lead me in the way everlasting!"
It is our own thoughts that separate us from God. When you surrender them to God... 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
In the moments when we need Spiritual Strength the most, God gives us everything we need in His Word... The Truth is the Truth, and it's hasn't changed since the beginning of time... if you're needing strength today... open up the Word of God... and read: Ephesians 3:14-21
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen!"
So now, I will leave you with one of my favorite verses embellished a bit with The Message version:
Proverbs 3:5-12
"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go, he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friends, resent God's discipline;
don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that GOD corrects; a father's delight is behind all this."
Seek Him today ... it is in Him that you will find Comfort, Peace and most importantly... HOPE...
The only thing STRONGER than fear...... HOPE!
