by David Brenneman
Life Principle 9: Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.
At some point, each of us will face what seem to be mammoth trials and difficulties. This is why we must know how to respond to every threat by laying hold of the kind of victorious faith that looks beyond what we can see to what God sees.
In times of extreme pressure, God stretches our faith and deepens our dependence on Him. Without a strong, abiding faith, we can quickly yield to temptation and fear, especially when the trial or difficulty is intense or prolonged. - Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles.
I have often used my life as material for posts as well as in talking to people in this world.
The whole of it all is that while people may argue or dismiss the Bible or Jesus they don't have much ground to stand on to argue what you know you went through.
Right now we are on the cusp of something coming to our lives here in our home that will indeed impact us. What it is, we know. What God will do about it, we wait and see. We will continue to do whatever God puts in front of us to be doing, no matter how it appears to us.
"Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:17.
Am reminded by the Spirit of God to review my life in order to bolster my stand in the coming days.
We had many instances in our 25 years of marriage to point to of when life was throwing a meteor at us and God's response was to call His shot and knock it out of the park.
The Lord always calls His shot.
The Old Testament is replete with example after example of the Lord calling His shot.
Israel wasn't paying attention nor were they believing. Look at the testimony of Stephen before he was stoned. Israel has always been stiff-necked and stubborn. We can be the same so don't go there in thinking you're not that way.
One good example was our living in my hometown in a rental when my Wife's house in a different city had a storm come through that damaged the gutters. We were over 2 hours away from dealing with it and I really didn't have the vacation time to take to go there. So we had to rely on friends of my Wife to help. In a short week we noticed we hadn't heard anything. We struck out looking for help on our end. She calls her friend and asks about it. They said they thought we changed our minds and had it taken care of ourselves. She told her we hadn't and asked what happened. Said a company had stopped by and put new gutters on the house. She asked if she got the name of the company. She hadn't but did remember the slogan on the van. "Doing awesome jobs for an Awesome God". Try as we may we couldn't find that company anywhere. A few days later we were told that the company got the wrong house. Was supposed to be up the road across the street. God put gutters on the house.
This is but one. There's others to tell if there were but time to tell them. These things are an essential part of a Christian's faith history. Remembering the distinct moments of our lives when we know with all the certainty that we can wrap our minds around that Jesus showed up to call His shot.
Scripture says that everything that the Lord purposes will stand.
There's been no place or time in history where Jesus called a shot and didn't get a home run.
People's perspective on what constitutes a home run and what Jesus says one is are often not the same thing.
What we are facing is a week without pay. We still have bills to pay. My employer says that this must happen for the best interests of the business.
It's a mountain of a problem.
As I was reading in "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23" last night was a chapter on the verse about the valley of the shadow of death. Fearing no evil is coming in tonight's reading. To get to the top of a mountain or to get around it or over it requires going through shady valley's. Questionable conditions. At risk of attack by people or by wild animals. The key being what was said is literal. Through the valley not there to take up residence. Not to get used to it. Not to worry about it.
I don't know how my Savior and Lord is going to fully care for us in that week that is approaching. I just know from my faith history that He's got a plan and we're covered. It doesn't matter what my eyes see. Already at least 1 opportunity has presented itself to make money that week. Someone else is sending money. I have a thing that's based on Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.".
We aren't to be sulkers.
We aren't to be worriers.
We aren't to be sitting on the sidelines.
We are to be people who pray.
We are to be people who trust in the Lord with all our hearts.
We are to be those who believe that the same God who saved us then will save us now.
We are to remember who's we are.
We are to remember all the great things that He has done.
The world wants to see before it will believe.
God says to believe before you see.
Jesus never fails.
Jesus is the promise keeper.
Jesus said that I am in His hands and nobody and nothing is able to take me out of it. Not even me.
Jesus said that He is in the Father’s hands and certainly nothing and nobody can be removed from there.
I don't know how Jesus will provide. I know that He will. He will do what He does and always has done. He will also give me some portion of His providing for me to be doing so that I remember it for the next time.
Adversity only lasts as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in our lives.
As that book "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23" has said so far...His purpose is to grow us in Christ and to rely on Him in an intimate relationship.
You may be facing something bigger than you. Embrace it in Christ Jesus. Be ready because the shots been called.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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