God is in Control - The Storms of Life

 

When we first come to Christ for salvation, we still feel like we need to maintain control of our life in case He messes something up for us. Life careens out of control sometimes, does not seem fair and is confusing at best.

God's plans do not always fit into our goals and we think He just does not understand us. His purpose for us does not feel right and often goes against what our heart is telling us to do.

What we do not realize at first is that our heart is desperately wicked and cannot tell what is truly best for us (Jeremiah 17:9). We often get into more trouble following our heart than when we follow what our head tells us to do.

We only need a small amount of faith to please God (Matthew 17:20); and we can even admit that we need help in our unbelief (Mark 9:23-25). God truly cares and will never ever leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

God does not always calm the storm (Mark 4:35-41), but He fills us with His presence within and guides us through the raging upheaval one step at a time. When skies are clear, we often forget all about God, taking credit for avoiding the rain.

Trials reveal the amount of carnality still lingering in our soul. We succumb to the tests of life when we trust our self rather than God. We struggle through trouble and trials and are buffeted by the storms inherent in life on this earth.

However, if we determine to believe God, to hold His hand during the valleys and to maintain our faith in His faithfulness, we discover that tribulation is simply an adventure and that God has everything in His control.

Prayer:

Father God, You cause our guardian angels to camp out around us in order to deliver us whenever we trust in You (Psalm 34:7). Even if we end up suffering for doing what is right, You lavish us with rewards; therefore, we never need to worry or be afraid of life's insecurities and dangers (1 Peter 3:14).

You are the first and the last, and You hold all the issues of life and death in Your hands (Revelation 1:17; Mark 5:36; Romans 8:2). You answer us when we pray and believe, and You fight for us as You rid us of all of our fears (Psalm 34:4; Deuteronomy 3:22). We praise You and give You all of the honor and glory that is due to Your name.

Thought for the Day:

I was young, and now I am old, and I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love, not even death or life, angels or demons, fears of the present, worries about tomorrow or the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. - Romans 8:38-39

 

Few That Find It

 

When we consider the parable of the sower of seeds, we realize that only one-fourth of the seed scattered actually falls on good soil and bears fruit (Matthew 13:18). That means that only a quarter of those who hear the gospel of Jesus Christ are actually converted.

When Jesus lived on this earth, a multitude followed Him; but just a few actually bore fruit from His ministry to them. Jesus, the personification of God Himself, presented a life and testimony of the reality of God's existence; yet it did not impact the lives of most of those around Him.

Noah preached the Good News for 120 years and even built a huge ark for the known world at that time to see; yet, only his immediate family boarded the ark and were saved.

The reason for this is that there are two gated roads in life. One is broad and many find it; yet it leads to eternal destruction. Then, there is the narrow gate and road, which lead to everlasting life; but very few actually enter it (Matthew 7:13-14).

This fact causes me to weep uncontrollable tears for those people who allow pride and rebellion to keep them from entering the straight and narrow road to salvation. I intercede for them day and night to have a change of heart.

The toll has already been paid by the shed blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It is a free gift of God (Romans 6:23). Yet the multitude of people born on this earth condemn themselves by refusing to take that fork in the road, which leads to eternal life (John 3:18).

This highway is called the Way of Holiness for those who walk on it; yet the wicked and foolish will not travel down it; they will avoid it at all costs, even the cost of their own salvation (Isaiah 35:8).

God gives everyone a choice to totally surrender their life to Him (John 3:16-17). However, just a remnant of those born into this world will take advantage of the opportunity to live in abundant peace and joy now and throughout eternity (Isaiah 11:16).

Prayer:

Father God, we commit to daily pray for those still alive and those who will be born in the future to have the desire to walk on the straight and narrow road. Strengthen their inner being to respond to Your Spirit and to accept the sacrifice of Your dear Son as their own (Ephesians 1:16). They will gain the pearl of great price, the treasure in the field and Your eternal life (Matthew 13).

So many hear, but shut up the ears of their understanding. They look, but choose not to see. Their hearts are fat with self-indulgence and heavy with the cares of this world. Their ears are dull from the false doctrine of the world (Matthew 5:18-19).

They close their eyes and sleep to avoid responding to Your Truth. They will not turn to You and allow You to heal them (Matthew 13:14-16). I pray for them to allow Your Spirit to open the eyes of their understanding, so they can enjoy the riches of Your pleasures forevermore (Ephesians 1:18; Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 3:16).

Thought for the Day:

Jesus made it very clear that He is the only way, truth and life; and anyone who believes in Him shall never die, but will live eternally with Him in our Father's Kingdom. - John 14:6

Searching Moral Inventory

A searching moral inventory is an intense evaluation of the thoughts, words and actions in our life at any moment of time. This is a very helpful practice, because it rids us of negative issues, which plague our life.

We ask God to search us and to examine our heart as if it is on trial, so that we can see if there are any wicked intents in our thoughts, which God needs to heal and redirect (Psalm 139:23).

The cauldron filters silver and the furnace refines gold in the same way that the Lord purifies the hearts of His people (Proverbs 17:3). He sanctifies our soul, so that we can speak as one approved and entrusted by God to share His Gospel message.

It is in our best interest to walk uprightly before the Lord, blameless before Him and in our testimony to the world (Job 31:6). We no longer need anyone else's approval, because God's opinion of us is all that really matters (1 Thessalonians 2:4; Psalm 26:2).

We cannot always know our hidden faults and failings, but God's Spirit will bring them to our attention if we take the time to listen (Psalm 7:9, 19:12). A searching moral inventory reveals negative emotions, thoughts of regret and revenge, as well as shameful deeds for which we need to make amends.

It will relieve repressed stress and it will cause new stress until we repent and surrender control of our life to God. Once we fearlessly confront our issues and submit our self to God's healing scalpel, we are free from the bondage in which the past held us captive all of our life (Hebrews 4:12).

When we commit our ways to the Lord, He judges us righteously, tests our heart and metes out vengeance on those who misjudge us. He rewards each of us according to what our deeds deserve (Jeremiah 11:20; 17:10, 20:12).

We confess the root cause of the destructive behavior, which once dominated our life and God sets us free to live in His victorious grace and love. We mend relationships and are ready to face the future in the center of God's will - the happiest place on earth.

Prayer:

Father God, at times we are afraid to search our heart too closely. We know that there are wicked thoughts, desires and attitudes lurking in the dark corners of our soul. We are often afraid of these emotions; preferring to ignore them rather than to ferret them out, discover their cause and find a resolution to these unresolved conflicts.

Help us to bless those who hurt and curse us, and to allow You to take vengeance on these ignorant people who do not realize to whom we belong. You are the King of the galaxies and You ride the wings of the wind to come to the aid of all of those who trust in You (Psalm 104:3).

Thought for the Day:

Let us take a frequent searching moral inventory of our soul, to repent of our sins, to return to the everlasting arms of the Lord from which we strayed and to ensure His blessings on our life both now and in eternity.

- Lamentations 3:40