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It’s hard sometimes

It’s hard sometimes

1 Peter 5:8 -9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

This summer has seemed to bring much more stress and problems than usual. Everything that can go wrong has; odd problems, problems rarely seen, things that just don’t happen, seem to happen anyhow. I have gotten to the breaking point over and over again, ready to lash out at the world and just scream. The flesh inside of me screams “why me?” I have even found myself curse; which by God’s hand he delivered me from that sin early in the sanctification process of my life. By God’s mercy and grace, I have not snapped yet; only through his provision and my hearts desire to stay abiding as his disciple have I not. It has been very hard…….

I read this passage above in my daily devotional this morning. I do understand and see much of my life through a spiritual lens; a lens of discernment from which many of my problems arise. My adversary knows my heart for God and his goal is to keep my heart from God; to cause me to lash out at God; to return to my old sinful self that he was proud of. When you turn your life over to Christ, you do not get to press the “Easy Button”. Satan has a real reason to pursue you with increased diligence, for you have “switched sides”. It is a lie from hell being preached in the world today of a life of ease as a Christian. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that. We are taught to live for eternity.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. All that our outward man, that is all that we battle in the flesh, is the result of sin. Satan is in control of this world; the outward world, the one that is flesh and perishing. God has him on a leash, he can only go as far as God allows, but all his work is perishing. Only those that are in Christ are living for the world to come; a world perfect without Satan & sin, with renewed heavenly bodies, a world with Christ alone in his kingdom. Keeping our eyes on the eternal goal gives us the strength to understand all these problems are from a defeated enemy. Know that you are not alone in your struggles, but seek the brotherhood of faith to assist you in them.

My hearts desire

04 Jun

My hearts desire

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

Lord I need you, oh I need you. Every hour I need you.

I awake to find a new day, as the pressures of the day rush in, you are there to comfort me.

I lie there in thought, what will the day bring? What will you bring or allow Lord?

I awake with the enemy pressing thoughts of worldly demands; he tries to steal my focus & joy.

I lie there early in the day, engaged in the war of the mind; the demands press down.

But in my soul, you lift me up; you give me the strength and desire for you in each day.

You give me the expectation of meeting you early each day. You give me hope for the day.

You give me the desire to arise early and seek You with all my heart, mind, body, and soul.

You meet me in prayer and your Word; you give me words of encouragement as your child.

You give me the understanding that all my struggles are temporary; eternity with you awaits me.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

You give me the desire to share with others what I have in you; for hope lies in you.

You give me the desire to share what I have found in you; my prior life that was lost without you.

You give me that testimony to encourage others embattling the same struggles; the hope you freely give; the grace you give; the mercy you give; the love you give; the promises you give; the understanding you give; the love you give; the endless fountain of life as your child you give.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

You place the desire in me to preach your word to all that will hear; you direct my path.

You give me the breath for the day, you give me hope for finding you throughout it.

You give me the me that desire to love you with all my heart, mind, body, and soul.

All I have, all I need, all I want is found in you Lord. Lord I need you, oh I need you.

Hope Grows

22 May

Hope Grows

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Paul writes in the latter stages of Chapter 4 of both the troubles we will face, and that the size of them, in the bigger picture of eternity. He speaks of the power of Christ living in us; the strength that comes from that hope and promise of eternal life in Christ. How no matter what this world throws at us, we will have victory in Him. 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We are not promised a life of ease, but we are promised eternal life in heaven with the One whom created life. The strength found in that hope, is the strength to face anything the day may bring.

At your core you have a crutch you go to when you need help. It may cause you to be an introvert, handling your problems alone on the false power of your pride. It may sadly be a substance to numb the pain, or a habit to hide from it. It may be any means of escape, but there is only One who can carry the load and provide the hope that will get you through it; Jesus Christ. There are many right now after the horrific tornado in Oklahoma that are seeking comfort and hope. I pray that in all of this their faith grows in Christ. Even in, and through all of this pain, God can be glorified and draw others to himself. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It is in the normality that your heart is prepared for the trial. It is in the daily time with God that you are strengthened for the attack that will come. You prepare for war, by preparing for battle. You spend daily time with God developing an understanding of God by the revelation He reveals. He opens your eyes to a faith that only the heart understands. 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. The more time you spend in the pursuit of Him, the more He reveals himself to you, and the stronger your faith becomes. The stronger your faith becomes, the greater your hope becomes, and with that hope comes understanding of the trials you will face. They ALL are only temporary, and they all can point you, and draw you closer to the One you will spend eternity with.

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Tag Archives: light affliction

It’s hard sometimes

My hearts desire

Hope Grows

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