by David Brenneman
"I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalms 16:8.
So often, we ask the wrong questions of the Lord. We say, "Where are You, God? Why don't You show up? Can't You see how I am struggling-the pain I'm in?" The Lord's answer, of course, is, I'm right here with you. I know exactly what's going on." Instead, our questions to the Lord should be, "What is hindering me from seeing You? What would you have me do and learn? Help me to see You and to experience Your presence."
Jesus is always with you through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. The fullness of His almighty, all-wise being is always present and active in your life-every minute of every hour of every day. He will never be more your Savior, Healer, Mighty Warrior, or Deliverer than He is at this moment. He is the same yesterday,
today, and forever. So no matter how exhausted, battered, bruised, devastated, or even dead you may feel inside as the result of your struggles, realize that Jesus has not abandoned you but is working
in you and for you. He is raising you up into the newness of the abundant life. So don't give up. Keep seeking Him.
Jesus, thank You for being with me in all I experience. Amen.
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34.
It would be really easy to turn and panic if I didn't know that Jesus was right now, rights here, in this season of my life.
That passage from Matthew 6 begins with a therefore...it's semi-hidden in the wording but it's there just the same. "For this reason" equals "therefore". So look before at what Jesus said. He was referring to those who those who were pursuing wealth and serving two masters.
We either live lives that are obeying God or lives that are going for what we want.
It's been a ride for sure these last 8 months learning much of saying no to wants and desires. Have to in light of attempting to make sensible decisions and choices to live through these particular times.
Throughout these 8 months we have yet still seen God's hands in our circumstances. Just like other times in our lives when we didn't know what to do or what was coming next. We've just been seeing it back to back sometimes day to day.
We sometimes just don't take God's Word personally enough...we don't realize it's truth applies to us.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.
We cannot live a wishy-washy, lukewarm, life in Christ. We either live believing He will do what He said or we don't. Look at what Jesus said to the Churches in the book of Revelation. He spits out such people.
We can't take God's truth, His grace, His mercy, as a half-measured, half-hearted, thing then wonder where is God in what we're going through.
We also cannot set out on doing something we see to be wanting to be doing then ask Jesus to bless it after the fact. We're to join Him in what He is doing.
We are to keep in mind during the times we struggle and are afflicted that this is for our sanctification in Christ Jesus.
Read a story about a woman wondering about her afflictions, the struggles she perceived she was going through. She walked down a country road and saw a vineyard that was getting overgrown. Wondering why it wasn't getting taken care of. It was then that God spoke clearly to her about the necessity of pruning. If the gardener chose not to prune then there would be no good to come of the vineyard. She was being reminded of the truth of God that He is the one who prunes to make His vine more fruitful...these were the things she was going through. God asked her if she wanted Him to stop. She, with this new understanding, cried out "No!"..
That story is another way to look at what Paul says "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5.
We need what God, through His Spirit, is doing in our lives whether or not we understand it.
We are not alone when we encounter various trials and tribulations.
Further, "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit;" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19.
"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:2-3.
So, my Dear Reader, take God at His word. I don't know where the money will come from for our bills and mortgage for the next month. I just know that God always has made a way where there was no way in these last 8 months and He's still on His Throne still intercedes on our behalf. "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.
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Trust and Obey, John H. Sammis 1887.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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