Trials are something we can all share in, they are certainly no respecter of persons. In these critical days for the Kingdom of God, how we respond to our troubles, how we interact with other (believers and non-believers a like) in the midst of them, and how we view God through it all is more important than we can know. Things won’t get easier, the issues and enemies will simply change faces and forms. Our job is to remain hidden under the Shadow of the Almighty- inaccessible to the enemy. His power no foe can withstand. (Psalm 91 AMP) Stop and read Psalm 91 for a second. Then read Psalm 34 where David writes- “He who seeks the Lord (who inquires and requires of Him on the authority of His word) shall lack no beneficial thing.” I want to call your attention to the “on the authority of His word” part because that’s the secret. Not that we won’t lack good things, not that we must seek the Lord, but how we seek him. We seek him through our God given, blood purchased right, as we approach the throne of grace and mercy in our time of need (Hebrews something). We come to him because His word tells us to and we come to Him through His word. The word is working on our behalf, constantly, through all of the things we face, AS WE LET IT. It only works as we let it. Just like my hair dryer doesn’t dry my hair simply because it sits in my bathroom and is in my possession. No that would be quite silly (and actually pretty awesome if it worked that way). It works because it’s in my mouth, out of my tongue, in my spirit, in my heart. Go back to Psalm 34- those who look to You for help will be radiant with Joy. James 1- consider it PURE joy when you face trials….JOY JOY JOY. I’ve written about this before, it’s my favorite and only loved math equation. His presence is the fullness of joy and the joy of the Lord is our strength, therefore His presence=Joy. The joy we receive when we come to him for help, knowing he helps us (because he keeps us in perfect peace whose mind is fixed on him Isaiah something, when we set our eyes on things above Colossians something, when we ask him for wisdom knowing He generously gives it, James something) confident in our position as his children and therefore knowing our right to ask him for help and for his help , makes us strong and that is how we overcome. That is how we pass through. It’s all about Him, His word.
When I was a kid, I knew I was supposed to read my Bible but no one ever told me why. But John 1 tells me why- in the beginning was the Word and the Word was God and the Word was with God….. the Word is life- its Jesus. So when I need more of him- I read the word. When I need to know what to do- I read the word. When I need peace- I read the Word. When I want to know Him more- I read the word. The word the word the word the word. When we truly realize through his revelation power how powerful and alive the word really is, we will eat it like cold mint oreos from the fridge.
I am in a ramble-y mood today. I am just at peace. For the first time in 2 years. Peace that is not removable or just in my back pack. It’s in my heart. Because I’m looking at my King. And he is loving me so well through it all. I mean as I was flying back to Haiti on Monday I was sobbing, knowing it was about to be really hard and I was going to have to sacrifice my flesh- a good sobbing, like He was breaking part of myself to make me like himself. And I looked up out the plane window and there were a lot of clouds and rain but my plane was literally flying under and through a full rainbow. And I heard God say clearly “Jess, I am taking you directly through my promises, I have never left you and I never will” and His spirit continued to minister to me throughout the day and the days following.
And he is ministering to you. Those of you reading this feeling like you are about to crumble. I promise you wont. Though it definitely feels like it. You are a broken vessel. And His light is pouring through you, for all the world to see. Don’t hide what you are going through. Be transparent with someone, share with others what is happening, let them encourage you and see Christ working in you.
We know the ending- we win it all because He won it all. “Since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us STRIP OFF every weight
that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. (What slows
you down? For me its fear, pride, and being easily offended) And let us run
with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes
on Jesus, the CHAMPION who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the JOY
set before Him….” Hebrews 12:1-2 (and while you are in there, read Hebrews
11:33-35 too…that will really pump you up)
There it is again, Joy. You keep your joy by staying close to him. He is our Joy.
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