Since we are dead with Christ in God (Colossian
3:3), we daily surrender our life to His Divine Spirit. We rest in constant
submission to His will. Waiting on God, we confess our sins, request our daily
provision, forgive and ask for forgiveness from those we offend, and walk in
His statutes (Matthew 6:9-13). Then, as we go out into the
workplace, community, home and church, we face life’s distractions with the
peace of God that transcends all human cognition, and actually protects our
heart and mind (Philippians 4: 7).
Sometimes, we are so attached to certain aspects of the
world that God must prune them from our life (John 15:2).
However, with each snip of the shears, we bear more and more spiritual fruit
for His Kingdom (Galatians 5:22-23). We experience a fuller measure
of His Spirit with each passing day (Ephesians 5:18-19). Trials
come that mean to sever our connection to the Vine, but we abide still, through
every wind of adversity (John 15:5). We sink our roots deeper in the
fertile soil of Word of God (Hebrews 4:12).
I love the challenge of trials, because He is in us. I
enjoy watching the way God gives me wisdom to deal with the interruption in my
normal, daily activities; and then experiencing His deliverance for us from the
issues. It takes Him a while to rescue us at times, and He is rarely early; but
He is never late and He always works everything out for our good (Romans
8:28). Sometimes, the good is not obvious; but if we look closely, we will
always see His hand in our circumstances.
If nothing else, they make us a
little more like Jesus, which is our ultimate goal as Christians (Romans 12:2). The
apostle Paul went through tortorous events in his lifetime, which many of us
will never face; yet, he saw God's hand in every instance (Philippians 1:14; Romans 8:18). So in your
next trial, look for the good. It is there. God promises (Romans 8:28). We live in God’s presence
through every storm, riding the waves of adversity in His everlasting arms.
The longer we abide in Christ, the
more we experience an ever deepening confidence and quietness in our soul (Isaiah 30:15). God’s
ultimate purpose in sending the stormy trials is to teach us to rejoice in
tribulation (Romans 12:12-21) and to abide in the shelter of the Almighty (Psalm 91). There
comes a time and place in our life where the temptation of sin, the allurement
of the world and the deception of Satan have no more interest for us. We
despise anything that breaks the heart of God (Romans 12:9).
Prayer:
Father God, we thank You for Your
unlimited mercy and unfathomable grace toward us. We so enjoy our times of
communion with You, even if we do nothing but sit in companionable silence.
Keep us from sin, which dulls our spiritual awareness and discernment. Thank
You for making the world unattractive to us, for freeing us from our penchant
to wander away from You, and for allowing us to walk in the glorious freedom of
Your children (Romans 8:14-17). We rejoice only in the Rock of our salvation and pray
without ceasing (Psalm 62:2; 1 Thessalonians
5:17). We find our rest in Your shadow,
Almighty God (Psalm 61:4). You are our portion forever (Psalm 73:26).
Thought for the Day:
It is in the vilest trial
that we experience the riches measure of God’s presence. - Ephesians 3:19
