A Seed for a Miracle

 


The trials of life are inevitable. Tribulation even comes to those who walk uprightly before the Lord (Matthew 5:45). Paul learned two secrets through the things, which he suffered.

First, he learned to be content whether he had plenty or when he had nothing, when he lived in comfort or when he suffered deprivation, and when he saw the fruit of his ministry or when he simply planted or watered (Philippians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Secondly, he learned to count every trial and tribulation as a joyous event (James 1:2-18). I never understood this insane view of suffering; until the day that I suffered the dissolution of my family.

This was by far the worst thing that could ever happen to me. I can bear physical pain and death, but I was inconsolable from the magnitude of my emotional loss when I was literally cut out of my family circle.

God previously tried through numerous trials to teach me to surrender all to Him, to enter His place of rest and to have faith in His faithfulness (Proverbs 3:5-6; Hebrews 4:10-11).

Yet, through every trail I struggled, often in vain, to use my own human resources to remedy the situation. However, this time there was no repairing the rupture of my family unit through divorce.

This is when I learned the Serenity Prayer. I had no recourse but to hand this devastating trial completely to God to do with as He saw fit. What I learned from this situation changed my life.

Now when I experience a trial, I view it as a sidewalk. If I focus on the details of the journey, I experience fear and insecurity. If I remember that there is a seed for a miracle in every trial, I feel only hope and anticipation.

I look toward the end the trial with the eyes of faith (Hebrews 11:1), expecting to see a miracle just up ahead. I keep my mind focused on God's Kingdom and His will for me in this trial.

I serve at the pleasure of our King Jesus. If He allows a loss or trial or tribulation in my life, it is for His glory and my good (John 9:3; Romans 8:28). I can count on Him, because He is always faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9).

God uses us in times of trial to share the Gospel with someone; to live through this storm as an example of Christ's peace within us; and for God to form His character, the fruit of His Spirit, and Christ's divine nature in us through the things, which we suffer (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 2:10).

I count trials as joyful experiences now, as I focus on the eternal consequences and not the temporal aspects of each one. I look forward to the ultimate miracle, which this trial shall birth in my life.

Prayer:

Father God, trials also taught me that as I continually live in Your presence and walk by Your Spirit, I will experience far fewer trials, than if You have to resort to trials to gain my attention.

Satan also uses circumstances to batter us with temptations and trials all throughout our life; but we thank You that Christ in us is greater than the god of this world (Job 2:3; 1 John 4:4). Remind us that Jesus already won the victory for us over every negative aspect of life (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Thought for the Day:

Trust your life to God's capable hands.

With Due Diligence

The world’s philosophy is that accumulating more is better than living with less. Life with “gusto” is often pictured by a man grabbing with both hands everything he can get from life. Unsaved humanity does not like to consider God or His requirements for their life. They are filled with every dishonorable activity known to mankind. They not only perform these degrading actions, but they also take pleasure in persuading others to join them in perpetuating these coarse practices (Romans 1:28-32).

God gives us both His Word and His ministers to teach us, as well as to show us by example, how to exchange this ungodly behavior for actions that give glory to God (Ephesians 4:11). We find rest for our soul in God alone. Our hope comes from Him, because He alone is our rock and salvation. He is our fortress, and He will never allow us to be shaken (Psalm 62:5-6).

The truth in the Bible states that one handful of quietness is better than both hands full of trouble and exasperation of spirit (Ecclesiastes 4:6). Solomon understood that a meal of vegetables where there is love is better than a meal with a fattened calf where there is hatred (Proverbs 15:17). We do not need to covet what others have, because the road to hell is slippery ground. Their unbelief casts them down to ruin. They are suddenly destroyed and completely swept away into eternal terrors (Psalm 73:18-19). However, God gives Believers everything we require for a satisfying life both now and in eternity (Psalm 73:16-17).

Since Paul gathered his strength from the Lord regardless of his circumstances, he learned to live in victory both when he abounded with plenty, as well as when he suffered deprivation (Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6). God provides for us as well. He fills us through all of our being with all the fullness of His presence (Ephesians 3:16-19). Then, He promises never to leave us nor forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). We find deep contentment in our relationship with Him rather than in the temporal provisions of life.

So often we experience first hand our deliverance from some awful circumstance by God’s miraculous hand, only to forget about it a few days later. We get caught up in the current situation and overlook the dynamic power of God just waiting to deliver us once again. We forget the Word of Truth we relied on to keep us in peace throughout the last trial we experienced (Deuteronomy 4:9-10). We also fail to diligently relate to our children the testimony of the astounding power, which God used in our behalf (Deuteronomy 6:5-10).

Worse yet, we receive God’s free gift of salvation and then fail to keep His commandments, walk in His statutes or share His love with those He puts into our life (Deuteronomy 6:17). If instead, we remember His blessings, share with our children the testimony of God’s provision and walk in obedience to His commandments, then He can deliver us again and again in an even greater capacity than ever before (Deuteronomy 11:22-23, 28:1). As we cling to Him and serve Him with our whole spirit, soul and body, He abundantly provides for us through all of the circumstances of life (Joshua 22:5; Psalm 77:6, Psalm 119:1-4; Proverbs 4:23)

In these trying times in which we now live, we may be tempted to give in to jealousy and bitterness toward people in the world who seem to have so much more than we do (Psalm 73). However, these temporal things only serve to defile their whole life (Hebrews 12:15). Instead, we can focus on the fact that God called us to a sure election and He will never fail us (2 Peter 1:10). Then, we will live our life in peace and present our self to Him without spot and blameless on the day of His appearing (2 Peter 3:14).
 
Prayer:

Lord God, without faith it is impossible to please You. Therefore, we trust in the truth that Jesus gave His life as a ransom for our freedom from sin and sin's penalty.  We know without a doubt that You reward those who seek You with due diligence (Hebrews 11:6). You never forget our labor of love, which we show in Your name as we minister to Your Saints and to the world around us. You give us the full assurance of a hope placed in You and You provide us with the inheritance of all Your promises throughout our life (Hebrews 6:10-12).

Thought for the Day:

What we often hope to accomplish with ease is often finished only by applying due diligence.

 

 

Securing God's Blessings

Read: Leviticus 27:29-32

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” - Proverbs 23:4

So many people today are stretched for cash. They have bills mounting higher than their income; and they have debt from consumer credit and college loans that would choke a horse.

What is the answer to this growing problem in America?

Well, millionaires will tell you to live within your means. They know that every penny they do not spend, goes straight into their savings account. It only takes 100 pennies to make a dollar; so they mount up fast. Before you know it, you have $50 in pennies sitting in the gallon jar in the corner of the room.

The Bible is full of so much great advice concerning this topic. Proverbs 6:6-8 exhorts us to consider the ant. It is wise even though it has no guide, overseer or ruler. The ant gathers her food in the harvest and stores some of it to provide food in the summer. David proclaims that from his experience, those who put God first are never forsaken and their descendants never have to beg for bread (Psalm 37:25).

Many people use so many excuses not to honor God with their income. "We are paying off debt and we will tithe when we are more financially stable;" or "We will tithe when the kids are in school and we can both work;" or “I just bought a new house (car, boat, etc) and I can’t afford to tithe anymore” (1 Timothy 6:7). Whatever excuse we have for that moment of our lives, we will use it. If we do not tithe, however, we are robbing God, and He cannot bless us (Malachi 3:10).

Solomon, the wisest man in Biblical times, exhorts us to budget our income into portions, because we never know when the unexpected misfortune will occur (Ecclesiastes 11:2). Lazy people who love money always want more, but they end up with nothing once the debt collectors come and repossess what they fail to pay for (Proverbs 13:4; Ecclesiastes 5:10). A hasty person makes unwise choices and ends up in poverty. They have no self-discipline and they constantly lose what they have (Proverbs 21:5 Proverbs 21:5). Some even brag about their carelessness (Proverbs 13:16). 

Yet the person who puts God first is content with what he/she has and lives a diligent life enjoying an abundance of God’s blessings (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6). They foresee lean times ahead and save for this financial drought during their times of abundance (Proverbs 22:3). They do not jump from one job or location to another, but they build upon what they have. This allows them to increase in wealth as the years pass (Proverbs 24:3-4). They use self-discipline and restrain from making unwise choices (Proverbs 25:28). They budget their income and they refrain from overspending (1 Corinthians 16:2; Proverbs 13:16). If we honor the Lord with the first part of all we earn, we will have plenty and our cabinets will overflow with God’s provision (Proverbs 3:9-10).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You promised to supply all of our needs according to Your riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). Convict us to walk in obedience and to give back to You ten percent of the first part of everything You provide for us.

Thought for the Day:

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.
- Proverbs 23:4