In the fire
It was a crazy night... It was a typical Sunday at the store, and the store was massively tore up and I didn't have the coverage I needed either. There were times tonight that I just wanted to run away and cry. The good thing about all the pain and suffering and confusion I'm going through is that it is causing me to drawl closer to God because I know that I won't survive without Him and I need Him desperately.
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." -2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth, for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." -Colossians 3:1-3
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart." -Hebrews 12:1-3
"For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves..." -Ephesians 2:8-9
"...for we walk by faith, not by sight." -2 Corinthians 5:7
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." -Colossians 2:6-7
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil." -Proverbs 3:5-7
I know my situation looks bad, & maybe I am going through a tough time, but my faith in God will see me through because My God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. If I didn't have the faith that this job is God's purpose for my life right now, there is no way that I would have the determination to survive all of this. I must not lose heart but press on until I have accomplished by His grace that which I were called unto. (Eph. 4:1-3) I just need to not be shaken by what I see, but motivated by what I believe in my heart according to what God has done, and will do. When I feel as though I can't go on, I can't go by my feelings. I have to speak the Word of faith and say, "I am strong in the strength of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:10). "I will not fear for God is with me, He will strengthen me, and will uphold me with His righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10).
God wants us to mature in every area of life, but maturity doesn't come easily. There can be no growth without testing, and there can be no testing without difficulties. If our circumstances never changed, if everything would be predictably good and comfortable, we would never have to really trust God; the more predictable life becomes, the less challenge it presents.
Typically, growth is hard. It stretches us and often hurts and we naturally look for what is comfortable and easy.
Typically, growth is hard. It stretches us and often hurts and we naturally look for what is comfortable and easy.
God uses our trials to bring our faith to the surface and put it to work. Trials force us to turn from our own strategies of independence so we will lean upon the Lord. They also are GodÂs instruments to purge us from all impurity and burn out whatever is inconsistent with faith and Christlikeness. Trials, as heat used in the testing of metals, show the condition of our faith and the objects of our faith or trust. They quickly reveal our independent man-made strategies for living which are nothing more than our attempted routes to joy and satisfaction without God. And being religious does not mean we are really living by faith, for such can simply be a fig leaf, a cover up for living independently of God.
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." -2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth, for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." -Colossians 3:1-3
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart." -Hebrews 12:1-3
"For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves..." -Ephesians 2:8-9
"...for we walk by faith, not by sight." -2 Corinthians 5:7
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." -Colossians 2:6-7
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil." -Proverbs 3:5-7
posted by ENS at 2:07 AM
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