We were challenged by our pastor throughout the season to seize the opportunites God gives us to trust Him to provide. I have discovered through this challenge that each piece of what appears like "bad news" is another opportunity that needs to be seized. Seize what? you may ask when things bad happen. It is an opportunity to seize to trust Almighty God for His provision. Bad news times are times to seize the opportunity to acknowledge that God is God and we are not. That His ways are so much higher than our ways. They are opportunities to say that His word says His plans are not to harm us but to give us a future and a hope. They are opportunities to take faith to the next step: to believe without seeing. To trust despite that what we see with our eyes screams run, fear. They are opportunities to take God at His word, to not fear because He is still on His throne, His plans have not changed, they are still to bring all things together for our good and His glory. They are opportunities to take a stand and say " I will follow Christ; Lord this is not what I think should be happening but your will be done. If you want this to be done we will not fall away. So even though we all fear the "bad news", challenges, and hard times, they come with them so many opportunities to seize! To partner with God, to lean on Him, to TRUST HIM, to NOT FEAR for He is with us, He will NEVER leave us or forsake us!!
A song we sang in church today spoke to my heart this is part of the chorus:
"There is no one else for me
NONE but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
(do I really, am I ready for what this may mean?)
All my delight is in you Lord
All of my hope
all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord
Forevermore
If I say I live to bring Him praise I must not run from these opportunities, I must not grieve as the world grieves who have no HOPE when I get "bad news", I must run to HIM, I must cry out to Him for help for more faith for strength to TRUST.
The last 100 days or so have brought with them MANY opportunites to seize, some I have and others I have ran from for which I am ashamed.
Father thank you for sending your Son. Thank you for His perfect life, thank you that He was crucified to set me free. Help me Father, give me strength to live to bring you praise! I TRUST in YOU.
1 comment:
Kandy -- I read your latest post and then came across this in my email and thought it reinforced your wonderful testimony:
"When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us:…peace." - Galatians 5:22 NLT
Calm in the storm
"The world is not terribly impressed with Christian T-shirts, billboards, and bumper stickers. In fact, truth be told, many unbelievers are turned off by these impersonal attempts at witnessing. However, the world is stunned when it sees a Christian overflowing with peace despite a personal crisis. "Her life is falling apart, but she isn't. How is that possible?" "If I were in his shoes, I'd be a nervous wreck, but he is so calm. Why?"
The peace that the Holy Spirit produces within us is supernatural tranquility of soul. Storms can be raging all about us, but within us is the calm assurance that God has already saved us from our worst predicament—sin and death. Would he rescue us for the world to come only to turn around and abandon us in this world? Of course not!
The Spirit-filled Christian is peaceful because he or she knows the perfect love that drives away fear (1 John 4:18). Ask God to give you his peace in the midst of the storms you are experiencing.
Praying God's Promise:
I want to be marked by your peace, Lord. I need it so that I don't worry myself silly. More than that, I need it for your glory—so that others might see the wonderful comfort and assurance that is available only in you. Teach me how to rest in the knowledge that you are in control. Amen.
(From Praying God's Promises in Tough Times by Len Wood)
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