by David Brenneman
Here's another Life Principle.
Life Principle 18: As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances.
Life is not simple. We face many bumps and turns along the way. The race is real, the battle continuous, and the painful experiences may pierce our hearts. However, our circumstances should not define who we are or how we react. Rather, as believers our behavior in every situation should honor the Lord Jesus, and our identity should always be based on the salvation He’s provided for us.
God knows the Christian life isn’t easy. When you received the Lord Jesus as your Savior, He set you on your course. As your sovereign Lord, He mapped out all the bumps, turns, detours, hills, and valleys. He knew all the difficulties you’d face. He understood that you would continually clash with the world, the flesh, and the devil until you were home with Him. Yet He didn’t merely set you on the path, hoping you would find your way. He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell you, guide you, and encourage you. Endurance requires something that doesn’t come easily—trust in your unseen, sovereign God. However, with the Holy Spirit to remind you of His faithfulness and power (John 14:26), you can remain committed to Him.
When the going gets rough—and it will—you can’t run away. You can’t quit. The longer you faithfully obey the Lord, regardless of the circumstances, the stronger your faith becomes. You’re prepared for greater service and expanded ministry. You become strong, stalwart, and steadfast.
The One who endured the cross lives in you, so you’re fully equipped for anything He calls you to do. Therefore, ask Him to infuse you with His power and wisdom, then obey anything He commands of you. Remember, you are never a victim of your circumstances, for your sovereign God can use everything that happens to you for your blessing and His glory.
- Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles Devotional.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" Romans 8:28-31.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.
"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19.
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17.
Never in my life would I have ever thought that I would find myself in my current situation. No, this isn't some judgment of God upon my life or my Wife's. This isn't payback for actions we took with others in our lives and how they were towards us.
From long ago, from before the world was, the footsteps of all people were known by my risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mapped out before anyone was born. Known and accounted for.
Nothing surprises Him. He knows every single person and every single choice they will make or consider making and will adjust it to His purpose in Christ Jesus.
Satan's not permitted to thwart the Word of God, much less any human beings in history.
I don't know exactly what is coming and it's ok. It's a vast mix of excitement and trepidation but it's ok. I imagine those in the fiery furnace walking around felt much the same.
While the world sees things that they do, we're to look beyond these things in faith.
Indeed as the Scriptures teach, greater is He who is within us than he who is in the world.
What's on me to do is to be diligent in what is right before my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Just like those cast into that fiery furnace doing right before God is more important than doing right before men and women.
We may Indeed go through much but the point of what we go through isn't any form of punishment but rather to change our character to be more like Christ Jesus. To make us into what is new and better means letting go of what doesn't contribute to that growth. It may mean some painful moments. Painful situations where relationships are severed. Times when we aren't sure if we are walking on the water or sinking.
In any and all cases Jesus is there, fully aware, watching and directing our steps. Proverbs 16:9 "The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.".
We cannot see what hidden dangers are heading our way but Jesus does. We cannot know when or why some people turn on us but Jesus does. We cannot know many things but we know that Jesus does.
Nothing can do anything to our lives that isn't permitted by Jesus. We, in Christ Jesus, belong to God. We are His responsibility, His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.
While it's a different life principle it's related in that while disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice. I will admit that I am still wrapping my head around this one. I, in my current season of my life, am struggling with considering it all joy. As we read in James 1:2-4 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
I pray, I trust in God my Savior.
I pray, I trust in God my Savior.
Repeating often.
I pour out my heart in prayer.
I trust in God my Savior.
While each day has enough trouble of its own, as Jesus said, I pray and trust in God my Savior.
The aim in the life of a disciple of Christ Jesus is to become more like Christ. To then make more disciples of Jesus Christ. The overarching plan of God is the preordained plan in the Bible that spells out the return of Jesus Christ for His Church. Next is the Great Tribulation to come. Noah preached a hundred years of the coming global flood and it happened. We who are in Christ preach that Jesus is going to return for now over 2,000 years. Jesus said that no He’s not slow with this promised return but rather isn't willing that any should perish but that all might be saved. But, there is still yet a day set by His Father that these things will take place.
Being sure of your salvation is the first and most important thing. Living life in Christ as the Spirit teaches is next. We know He will return and we must be ready. The world would much rather us be silent and quit bringing it up. Just as the days of Noah.
God causes life to go the direction it is. But we choose to either live life in Christ through obedience or we don't.
The choice is ours. The consequences are real.
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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