We live in a world that often
frightens us. Unexpected trials and trouble attack us from every side when we
least anticipate them; so we develop the mentality of fear and apprehension.
We constantly wait for the next
shoe to drop, anticipating trauma around every corner and never allowing our
self to believe in or hope for the best. This continues until we realize that
every day in Jesus is better than the day before.
As a melancholy personality, I
struggled for years to come to this place of total trust in God's goodness and
to have faith in His faithfulness and perfect peace in His will for me,
regardless of how bad the circumstances seemed.
Very few of the imaginary worse
case scenarios, which occupy our mind, ever materialize. We end up worrying for
nothing; and spending time, when we could be praising God with our thoughts, in
trying to be prepared for ever circumstance life may possibly throw at us.
Elections, terrorists, natural
disasters, financial strain and insecurity, disease, strained relationships,
etc. all dim in importance when we realize in our spirit and our soul that, if
we live in total surrender, God is in control of every aspect of our life.
Life as an authentic, Born Again
Believer teaches us that life in Christ is an adventure. We are already dead
with Christ in God, living in His abundant rest, walking in His Spirit and
enjoying His perfect will for our life.
Trouble is merely a tiny bump in
the road when we hide under the shadow of God's wings and allow Him to live
life in and through us. Fear, anxiety, insecurities and worry no longer
overwhelm our soul, and our spirit draws strength and life from Christ within
us.
We live, move and have our being
in Christ (Acts 17:28). God's Spirit controls all of our decisions, trials and
troubles. The shadow of darkness in this world is dispelled by the light of
Christ within us.
Prayer:
Father God, as we learn to trust
in You, the issues which formerly sent us into the pit of despair, no longer
rock our world. We learn over the days of our life spent in Your presence, that
You have a perfect plan for our life (Ephesians 2:10). If we pray without
ceasing, walk in Your Spirit each moment of our day and trust in Your unfailing
love and mercy, we have joy even in our trials (James 1:2-8).
Remind us to replace the negative
self-talk and lies straight from the pit of hell with the Truth of Your Word,
which is alive and powerful and able to separate the worries of our soul from
the faith in our spirit (Hebrews 4:12). Give us Your grace to see us through
the days when our faith wanes and the waters threaten to drown us (Habakkuk
3:7-19).
Thought for the Day:
Although the closets are bare, we
have no job, the garden is overcome by weeds, the grocery prices are way beyond
our means, our savings is depleted, and our relationships are hopeless, we can
still rejoice in the Lord, because He is the God of our salvation, our
strength, our provision, and our enabler in every area of our life. - Habakkuk
3:7-19
