Suffering on this earth comes in many forms: physical, material, financial, mental, emotional, etc. It may debilitate our body, depress our emotions, demolish our financial portfolio, diminish our mental stability, or rob us of our earthly possessions; however, none of that matters, if we trust solely in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Even if we suffer from the effects of persecution, calamity, or natural disasters, we may have to submit to the perfecting work of patience, but we experience no lasting damage when we totally surrender our life to the Lord. He works out everything for our eventual good (Romans 8:28).
God has plans for our life that rise above our circumstances, and that bring about much needed changes for our personality, thoughts, feelings, choices, and our future (Jeremiah 29:11). In the moment, His discipline seems severe and painful, but once He is sure that we are safely tucked beneath His wings, He pours out His continual blessings on us (Hebrews 12:11; Psalm 91)
Our Heavenly Father may change our address, but He never changes His. He is always on His throne, at the same time that He is abiding in our spirit. He moves in from the moment we submit to His will through salvation, and He sanctifies us as we allow Him to convert our thinking from earthly to eternal (John 3:16-18).
We commit our body and soul to our faithful Creator, for His safe keeping; and we serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37; 1 Peter 4:16-19). Even if we suffer persecution for living righteously, we are still blessed as heirs with Jesus of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10).
Our desire to sin diminishes as our love for God increases (Galatians 5:24). He showers us with daily rewards for our faithful commitment to Him. Each new day, the Morning Star rises in our heart (2 Peter 1:19). We no longer struggle to succeed in this life, because Christ is our whole life (Colossians 3:3-4).
Prayer:
Father God, we have confidence that Jesus crucified our carnality with Him and raised our spirit to walk in Your new life (Romans 6:4-6). We are no longer slaves to sin and the devil’s will for us, but we live as Your bondservants, with Your Spirit abiding within us (Romans 8:9-11). Your grace for salvation is provided for every person ever born on this earth; however, some people reject Your goodness, and they rely instead on their own human efforts (Titus 1:11-14).
Some people ignore You; some vehemently reject You; some have repented, but they were never converted in their heart and are simply “doing” church or following a religious format; and some have a form of godliness, but they deny Your power. As Your sheep, we joyfully hear Your voice and find comfort in it as we follow after You wherever You lead us (2 Timothy 3:5; Galatians 5:24; John 10:27).
Thought for the Day:
When world-wide tribulation comes upon the earth, we do not have to worry about what we will do, feel or say, because God’s Spirit within us attests to the fact that He is our “Abba Father;” and He will give us words to say, or an attitude of spirit that will serve as a living testimony of God’s power within us as His Saints.
- Galatians 4:6; Matthew 10:19-20
