We are either in a trial, just coming out of a trial, or about to go into a trial (James 1:2-8). God's
Word encourages us to get excited when we experience another trial.
Rejoicing
in misfortune is so foreign to our human way of thinking. It is one of the
Bible's most puzzling paradoxes; although, most paradoxes are puzzling to our
human mind.
Consider
that we must die like a seed planted in good ground, so that we can live; we
must give, so that we can receive; we must be last, so that we may be first,
etc.
God
has His purpose intertwined in each of our trials. He uses the most frustrating,
as well as the most devastating events in our life to mold our character into
Christ's divine nature and to work out everything for our ultimate good (Romans
8:28; 2 Peter 1:4).
As
we sit alone in God's presence (Psalm 16:8-11), He brings balance into our
life. He redirects our penchant to be too busy for our own good, and He changes
our perspective and focus about tragic and intrusive issues.
During
times of solitude, we write in our prayer journal. Jotting out our prayers helps
us to find God's perspective about the positive and negative issues that we face
each day.
As
we put our thoughts on paper, we see more clearly what our subconscious mind is
focusing on, and what is causing the negative emotions that plague our soul.
This
helps us to empty our thoughts and emotions of pent up stress and grief, to restore
a positive outlook on our life, and to better cope with the tribulation, which
threatens to overcome us.
God's Holy Spirit helps us to
know the will of God and to have the peace of God, so there is no more lunacy and
stress warring in our mind! Doesn’t that
sound wonderful?
Prayer:
Father God, the carnal mind is enmity against You, because it
is not subject to Your laws (Romans 8:7). If we live as carnal
beings, then envy, strife, and divisions are common among us. Help us not to
follow after the carnal thoughts, which fight against Your Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:3).
Teach us to walk by Your Spirit, and to be led by
Your Spirit moment by moment throughout the day. Remind us that performing good deeds
is a worthwhile quest (Romans 2:8-9), but only when they are performed in
balance with Your will for our life.
Thought for the
Day:
As we learn to censor our thoughts, we stop Satan from using them to
subject us to His deception; and we cooperate with God's Spirit as He gives us
the mind of Christ.
