by David Brenneman
He takes no pleasure in causing us grief or pain.
LAMENTATIONS 3:33 GNT
"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." Hebrews 12:11
"But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:7-8.
It is never God's goal to break your spirit or to cause you pain. Rather, your heavenly Father, the sovereign King of creation, always has a positive, crucial, eternal purpose when He allows bad to happen, and it extends not only to your life but to the lives of the many people you influence and help.
It is true that the Lord works all details together for the good of those who love Him. So whatever you may experience and however broken you may feel because of the trials that assail you, always
remember that the Father has a blessing in store for you. Never give in to the thought that this is the end or that there's a limit to God's ability to redeem even the worst, most pain-filled experiences in your life and turn them into something worthwhile. Instead, accept that He knows your pain, He is powerful, He loves you unconditionally, and He is at work in the unseen for you.
You may not be at fault for what has happened to you, but you are accountable for your response to it. So always ask yourself, How can I honor God in this adversity? How can I grow closer to Him from this?
Jesus, this is difficult, but I know You work for my good and Your glory. Amen.
Dr. Charles Stanley Trusting God with Today
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Life can seem hard and life can seem easy. Life can seem full of confusion or life can seem full of pain.
It's a radical departure from what the world thinks about life to rejoice always in the Lord.
Reading the letters to the churches in Revelation with study notes from four Godly men is enlightening. The church I grew up in Revelation was preached all the way through from first verse to last and today I am still learning something new.
No soldier becomes one simply by signing a few documents. By no means is he or she ready for the field of combat just because they said a pledge to the United States of America to defend it from all enemies both foreign and domestic.
No athlete makes a team and then is left to his or her own devices to perform in such a way to reach a championship level.
No person is going to go miss going through discipline to achieve a goal that hitherto was out of reach.
Sometimes the changes that befall our lives aren't of our doing. Back in June my employer chose to sever our relationship. Fully unexpected and in mere minutes I was trying to wrap my head around what just happened. As Dr. Stanley pointed out in this borrowed devotional, and I believe it's one of his Life Principles, I wasn't responsible for what happened to me but I am responsible before Jesus as to how I respond to it.
This abrupt employment status change didn't negatively impact my time studying God's Word at night nor did it stop these posts in the mornings. God didn't stop being God because of this happening. Jesus was never caught off guard by this happening in my life. He knows the truth because He was behind it. You see I have always held to the truth that I always work where I do until God makes it impossible to stay.
We read also of the very words of Jesus when He says we who are saved are in His hands and nothing will touch us that hasn't been allowed by Him.
Pain, grief, sorrows, joys, laughter, are reactions to what's been allowed to happen in life.
Scripture says that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Also that eye has not seen nor has ear ever heard all that God has prepared for those who love Him.
We are those bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Our lives are to be what the Spirit's discipline for us needs it to be in order to bring about the righteous life that God desires for us.
Our lives are likely going to see persecutions in one form or another. We are going to see loneliness. We read of the things that the Apostles went through so we shouldn't be surprised by the fiery ordeals we go through.
Giving thanks in all things is certainly counterculture. That's what the Bible says we're to be doing.
Seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness is what the Bible says that we're to be doing.
These steps and others are forms of necessary discipline in order to achieve God's will for each of us in Christ Jesus.
We may relate to Job n never understand the why's behind what we are going through until we see Jesus. We may be granted knowing the why's or only some of them.
The onus is on each Believer to take up their own cross and follow Jesus. Whatever that looks like, wherever it takes each one.
We are to trust and obey. We are to pray without ceasing. Pouring out our hearts before our personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are to love God with our everything and love others as ourselves. We aren't to go after the things of this world that divide our time between it and our training in righteousness.
I don't miss television or endless movie watching. I was never into sports so I can't miss what never interested me. I do find myself looking forward to each nights studying of God's word. I am grateful that keeping up with other's achievements and lives was never a driving force in my life.
I do want to do what's pleasing to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I also strive to not do that which a child of God ought not to be doing.
I want to respond to life as He would approve of even if it makes no sense.
What is going on in your life that isn't glorifying God?
What are you going through that you're not responding to in a manner that God would approve?
What have you put above your training in righteousness that shouldn't be there?
Do you have a love for the things of this world that are actually traps to keep you from growing in Christ?
We're exhorted to stand firm in the Lord. We are to be intentional in our building our relationship with Jesus. We are to endure the discipline brought to us in a way that honors our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Without grumbling or complaining.
Makes you look at "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6 differently doesn't it?
We as the one in training are responsible to show up each day ready for that training. We are to put forth our best efforts to satisfy our trainer.
We may not understand until later but we are to obey. Much as the lesson of Daniel in the first Karate Kid movie.
What needs to change in your life?
What idols have found their way into your life that need to go? The Bible wouldn't be telling us to beware of them if they weren't going to present themselves to us.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
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