Lord, Teach Me to Let Go

He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. I Tim 6:15-17 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. Revelation 22:4-6 (NIV) Dear Lovers of God's word who follow the Crucified One, the Ancient of Days,  Night. Darkness. Absence of light.  Trials are dark times as we learn letting-go lessons from the LORD, our Everlasting Day He is purest Light and lives in unapproachable light. Wow! Let this truth move your heart! The first act of God and in the first recorded words of Genesis 1:1-3. He tempers the darkness by creating light. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God, in His Sovereignty, is teaching us to ‘Let Go’ in the dark and release into His hands the painful circumstances that we want to control. Our struggle may be our weight, an unfathful spouse, job loss or health crisis, but it drains us of energy and hope. We find ourselves standing in darkness, as if the sun has set and refuses to rise and gift us with light. Only those who have been locked into such a vise understand.  I have found myself stubbornly refusing to release the trial as I frantically look for a detour around it. This mirrors the process of our being like a kernal of seed corn; we may look beautiful on the outside like the shiney yellow kernel, but so hard. The germ of life is imprisoned within the shell and cannot get free thereby producing nothing. This is the reason so many ‘serving’ the Lord, be it pastor or layman, are so unfruitful. Few are soul winners.  Where there is no Cross there is no life. mjs When the grain of corn is buried in the dank, dark, earth, (circumstances which to the kernal seem unending and hopeless) it dies. The hard exterior softens and decays in order to give nutriment to the young sprout, which would die without it. We, like the kernel, must reckon ourself dead to the flesh, the selfish “I” before the softening influence of the Holy Spirit can operate, preparing the believer to serve God. The desire to serve God and do His work is wonderful, but most are unable because of the flesh controlling of their lives.  All that is not of Christ, no matter how nice in apparance and profession, is revealed for what it is- just self. mjs Our Savior understands and reveals there is much more to serving God than being saved and active. He is the Engineer bringing circumstances to bear to bring us to the end of our self-life and make us fruit-bearing. Some who are bright and clever are fooling others as they serve in the flesh, but it will all burn up, for it is not eternal unless it is God living through us. They have everything to make them saints except crucifixion, which would create the likeness of Jesus in them. Not until we accept our trial as part of our loving Father’s plan for us; is He free to employ it in shaping and changing us. Clutching it in angry hands, refusing to let go, we will continue to struggle without relief. Letting-go is acceptance and another way to say 'I am choosing to trust God'. At this point God sends exactly the trial designed to promote our growth. Whatever trial is our antagonist, it has been designed by our loving heavenly Father to work beauty in us and fit us to the purpose for which He saved us. So let Go, accept your trial for then the trial is not wasted. Rest in the One who is creating a hunger in you for Him and a beauty in you that will make a difference in this life and the one to come. He loves you so much immeasurably. Everlasting Day, Beautiful Light, I long for the day there will no longer be night. Trials will be over. You will be thee light. Will I miss the starry sky's beauty? I think not, for as beautiful as they are... greater, much greater is Your endless glory and astounding beauty, it is beauty beyond measure. I am in awe of You, Light of the world. You have so faithfully taken me through many a night and rewarded me with Yourself. Thank You for forgiving me for all the times I clutched my trial in self-dependence and stubborness. You are my Light and salvation and as I trust You there is no place for fear to rule my life, for You who carried me safely through these many years will carry me this day. Thank You. I lift up everyone who reads this, those You love and know intimately and I pray they will bump into Your amazing love and grace at every turn until they are in awe of who You are! I long for when I will see Your face. In Jesus most holy, beautiful Light, I pray. amen They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them. You are my King and my God. Psalm 44:2-4 Thank You for how You lift up Your children Lord, az

Disappointments or His appointments?

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Cor 5:15  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. II Cor 4:7-10

My Brothers and Sisters who walk by faith,

On  February 1st I began to pray about a family gathering  taking place at the end of June. I waited, excited to see how God would work out the details to be with family I seldom see. Surprise and disappointment replaced excitement, when things did not work out to attend. All was complicated by a family member who caused (my perspective) delays derailing the trip. I was hurt and angry. I wanted to withdraw from this person, harbor resentment for just a while! Did they not deserve a bit of ‘aloneness’? As I prayed God began to reveal my sinful attitude and work forgiveness in my heart. It was then words my mentor shared with me years before butted heads with my feelings. ‘Disappointments, are His  appointments’. She wrote it out erasing the ‘d’ in the word disappointment and replacing it with a capital ‘H’. This simple illustration challenged my faith. Do I believe there are second causes or is God absolutely Sovereign in my life? Was this His answer after months of praying? Then perspective rolled in: 

He is God, I am not.

He is good and my tendency is to trust my sinful flesh.

He is all-wise and never makes a mistake!

 He is trustworthy, He is faithful and all He does is from love.

Nothing can come into my life unless He allows or sends it. 

It usually takes more faith to receive a ‘no’ from God than a yes!

He works for my holiness, not my happiness.

To be earthly minded, moved by self-love, self-pity, self-will-- that trend of feeling which leads to self occupation-- is to close the shutters. (to the soul) ac

It is a choice of my will not to be offended by what God allows, simply  because it is not what I want or because I do not understand what He is doing. I must not lean on my own understanding. My option: trust Him !  Quiet submission to the Lord Jesus is a potent and important experience for the saint. WBY

It is a new day for your soul when you realize Christ is everything for you and you run to Him with your need. Do you lack love? patience? strength? faith? wisdom? courage? hope? Is He not all these things?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Gal 2:22-23 

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] Phil 3:10

It is a silent spirit. It suffers without advertising the depths of its suffering. It can be subdued, scolded, criticized, misunderstood, misrepresented, and checked and and hindered in a thousand ways without a groan, or a trace of threatening or imprudence. “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously” (I Peter 2:23)

It has calmly signed the death warrant of self, it can have a thousand little gifts and treasures, and harmless, earthly pleasures, and pleasant hopes and friendly ties snatched out of its hand, without clutching the fingers o hold on to them. It can obey God and be rushing at full speed on lines of service and duty for Him, and then at the touch of God’s providential air brake, it can be brought to an instant standstill without the least of jostling of the will from its perfect repose in Jesus. (unknown)


Believing, actually, is directing the heart’s attention to Jesus. It is lifting the mind to “behold the Lamb of God”, and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives. AWT
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”  Matt 11:6

Most High God, Sovereign and unchanging, Knower of my every thought and every word before it is on my tongue, teach me to walk today in the fullness of Your Spirit, counting myself dead to sin and alive to Christ. Thank You that sin does not have dominion over me, I am free in Christ Jesus. Let me not be offended by what a day brings. Disappointments are Your appointments! Give me faith to believe Your word and acknowledge that You watch over me in loving-kindness. Only You can strengthen me to do the impossible, to accept all I do not understand and release loved ones into Your hands. For You alone are the God of the impossible. Remind me I only have this moment and do not have to be discouraged over what life brings. The battle is Yours and I have no reason to fear, even when things never seem to change. Lord I do not want to resist your will in my arrogance. I love you Jesus and pray in Your most Holy and Precious Name! 

az

Green Beans

Matt 7:24-27

 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and act on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Fellow Believers who love our Lord,

Have you ever been foolish? I believe it is an international club to which all human beings belong by word or deed at some point in their life. God states the foolish are those who hear Truth but do not act on it and trust Christ Jesus; building their lives on Him. Instead they continue to trust themselves; caught up in their own ingenuity and cleverness they are trapped by love of the world. The storms in our life reveal which we have chosen to build on: sand or Rock, by which we stand or fall. 

Being God's children requires us to reflect the likeness of our heavenly Father on earth. A practical outworking of our heavenly position here on earth revealed in our daily walk. As we hear His still, small voice speaking to our hearts, I pray we would be quick to obey! I was poignantly and painfully reminded this week to disobey brings a regret which wants to eat you for dinner. Each Wednesday I come home from work on break, returning a few hours later. I attend to the cockatiels and Aurora my dog. As I am backing our of the drive I hear this still small voice, "go back and check the burners". I stopped and considered, then believing I had not eaten anything requiring a pan to heat, I continued on my way. Still uncomfortable I pulled to the side of the road until I again convinced myself of this and continued on my way. Two hours later I received a text from my husband, "How long were you planning to cook the green beans?" A moan-bursting regret escaped me and the words 'You could have' ....." roared through my thoughts. I could have killed the birds, I could have burned down the house... etc. 

The greatest regret pierced my heart, filling me with sadness, for I did not obey His still small voice. Yet His grace and mercy covered me even in my foolishness. How good He is even though I was foolish. More importantly I didn't do what was pleasing to Him. It is not a matter of right or wrong, for our standard is the Cross. The Holy Spirit is sent to produce Christ in us strengthening us with power through his Spirit in the inward man. Only a surrendered life built on the Rock will know Christ living through them.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:26-28

Think of all we have in Christ! 

 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,  so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” I Cor 1:30-31 (many words can be inserted: Hope, Joy, Peace, life, etc)                                       

 Our path ought to be the mold, the opportunity, for the expression... of Christ's life. Saints seek to use Him rather in order to get through their circumstances, instead of seeing in the circumstances the mold in which they are to be taught the strength and power of the Lord Jesus. May we grow in Him, know Him, not only as helping us through circumstances, but using the circumstances which He puts us through as opportunities for enlarging our souls in Himself. MJS

Jesus changes everything! The indwelling of the Spirit is to produce what is of Christ in us. He is to us what we lack. Christ, Himself is everything we will ever need. Do not be satisfied with less than hearing His voice as you read His Word. Listen for His still small voice in song, in the preaching of the Word and during times of prayer.   

Father, There is no place on earth where Your voice is not heard! The heavens declare Your glory. Your Word says, 'They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.' Psalm 65:8   I hunger for You and long to hear Your voice. How great You are, You who are the Holy Speaker of Truth, You who quicken my heart and soul through Your Word. How blessed I am to have a Bible. Thank You. Abba, make me quick to obey; filling me with a burning desire of please You. By Your Spirit Jesus touch others through me. Thank You for hearing my prayer and working in me to will and to do of Your good pleasure.You are so awesome. In Your Living Name I pray, amen.

From Him, Who loves me now so well,

What power my soul shall sever?

Shall life, or death , or earth, or hell?

No; I am His for ever. JGS

Have a week of responding quickly to His voice, much love my brothers and sisters,

AZ

He Became Sin for Us

I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Phil 3:8-9

Fellow Brothers and Sisters, There is no God like our God. None equal in power or wisdom or love. There is no plan like His plan. No god that is great like our God. The world's gods do not love or show mercy or have compassion. Contemplating the greatness of God, my thoughts turned to how uncanny, how mysteriously fantastic and personal He is. From my journal: "Jesus, you entered the human experience to the depth of hell, tasting my pain and carrying my sorrows. You became a torn and bloody sacrifice standing in my place owning my sin and guilt, yet You were innocent. You were tortured and shamed as you hung exposed and humiliated on the cross. As prophecy declared, You were so cruelly beaten you didn't appear human!  'his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human  being and his form marred beyond human likeness— Isaiah 52:14 niv' The greatest suffering was not the excruciating physical torture endured; but separation from your Father; as the sins of the world were placed on You. In His holiness He turned away, forsaking you at the point of Your greatest need. How does one divide omnipotence? Scripture states You actually became sin for me! God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. II Cor 5:21 How does the holy God become sin? The movie The Passion captured a measure of your physical suffering, but no screen play or finely written words can express the ghastly horror of being separated from Your Father or becoming sin. Never before had the Godhead known a division of their Oneness. This is beyond comprehension. You, Lord, lived the hell I deserved, tasting every heartache, sorrow, loss, fear and every degrading sin and my unfaithfulness, every lustful thought and unkind word- all my blatant sin and my hidden sin. You came, confining yourself to flesh and bone on this earthly journey; fulfiling Your destiny while purchasing mine. For this very reason You came, Lamb of God, shedding Your blood to cleanse sin. Holy, Holy, Holy" “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”John 12:27-28 He calls us to endure today. He calls us to trust Him. This is the only hell you will ever know. He who came to serve, not be served, has redeemed and delivered us for all eternity. We so easily have high minded opinions of ourselves and suffer the slightest humiliations with indignation. We say we want to forget the world, but in the depths of our hearts we do not want to be forgotten by it.  We are searching to no avail when we try to find a halfway point between Jesus Christ and the world. As the apostle Paul said, it is not enough for the world to be dead to us. We must also be dead to the world. FF Our old sin nature is crucified with Christ. If i take a dollar bill and place it in a magazine and then burn the magazine. The bill is also destroyed. As the magazine goes, so goes the bill. Their history has become one. So we are placed in Christ and everything that happens to Jesus also happens to us. Crucified with Christ is our history, written before we were born. Our deliverance from sin is not based on what we can do or even on what God is going to do for us, but on what He has already done for us in Christ. We know all too little of this in experience. When we rest on this truth we have found the secret of a holy life.  (gathering of thoughts by wn) May God give you singing hearts which overflow in praise of Jesus who was the perfect sacrifice. Now dear ones go out and be a living sacrifice, a singing sacrifice. Deliverer, Sin-bearer, Holy One, You are worthy to be praised and worshiped, blessed be your Name. I pray my precious brothers and sisters will see You in a deeper way as they count themselves dead to sin and alive to You. O God, You who became sin for us, may they be living sacrifices, living proof that You are God and You are good and You still love with a life-changing power. I pray we will stop playing at church, stop trying to live the Christian life in the strength of the flesh and begin to appropriate all You have provided. I ask that we would remember in our suffering that you Jesus change everything!! Let us refuse the natural human point of view where trials are concerned! Teach us to dwell in Hebrews 4:15-16. I pray in the Name above all names, Jesus, and for His glory. amen Singing off key praises to the Lamb of God! az

Keep on Seeking by Sitting...

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col 3:1


My fellow believers who love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and strength,


Don't you love it when scripture jumps from the page and your heart is warmed and encouraged? There is nothing this earth has to offer that compares to the sweetness of Him and His word. "Thank You Lord for this indescribable gift." Colossians 3 grappled with my mind; calling me deeper. A familiar, favorite overflowing with rich largesse. The verbs call my name... "Arlene keep seeking, Arlene set your mind, Arlene you have died and your life is hidden with Christ. We cannot be raised with Christ unless we died and were buried with Him. The word 'if' states this is conditional upon this fact. Our position is in Christ and His Spirit is continually working to create the likeness of Jesus in us.
Nothing can make us holy or set us apart for Him, except as the Cross is working in us, because it is the Cross alone that keep the hindrances to holiness in the place of death. G. W.


"Keep on seeking the things that are above..."  my identification with Christ gives me a responsibility to obey this instruction and 'keep on seeking'. I wondered how? Searching out its meaning helped: Gk: is habitually set your mind-- your attention-- on things above not on things of the earth! Wait a minute, i am earthly so how do I seek? The greatest source is the written word for it reveals the Living Word. We are given God's word that we might know God's Son not only as our Savior but as our very life! He is the basis of life and sanctification. We can know many Biblical truths and yet be almost ignorant of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our consuming desire must be to know Him intimately.


Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. John 17:17


In the beginning we mistakenly think we should walk in order to sit. We think we cannot reach a goal without walking, without effort. Sitting does not 'feel' right until we learn to walk by faith, not feelings.


But Christianity is a queer business! If at the outset we try to do anything, we get nothing; if we seek to attain something, we miss everything. For Christianity begins not with a big DO but a big DONE. WN


Walking implies effort on our part. It is not that we work for God, but that He works for us giving us a position of rest. Christians often come across as clever and strong and righteous... a little too strong and clever-- there is much of 'self' in their strength and often their righteousness is legalistic and critical. They have everything to make them saints, except crucifixion; which would mold them in to Christ-likeness and supernatural tenderness and love for others. For He brings His Son's finished work and presents it to us. To mature in faith first we must learn to sit; it is an attitude of rest. Think of Mary sitting at Jesus feet while her sister's complaints reigned down.


...a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.  But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me. But the Lord said to her "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42


My natural bent is to be a Martha. He is transforming my heart and drawing me to His word. How I stand and walk is determined by where I sit. Positionally I are seated on the throne with Christ because I am hidden with Christ in God! I just typed words beyond my comprehension!  This must set your feet to dancing or you are not hearing these words. This is a plan far beyond any that man could imagine or conceive. It is divinely orchestrated for His glory and our salvation. Ruminate on these Truths; refuse to let them be silent, mundane words! Hear the music and dance before His throne in utter joy. 

 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. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:2-4

On this point Christian experience proceeds as it began, not on the basis of our own work but always on that of the finished work of Another, praise His holy name. If these Truths do not provoke praise and awe you either do not know Christ Jesus personally or you are deaf. Has unbelief taken you to a far country because of deep hurts and trials? He understands and waits to forgive you and renew a right spirit within you. His love for you is immeasurable and He alone can fill your heart with praise for Him regardless of your circumstances. He is greater than your trials. Even now bring Him praise...

Father God, Christ of Calvary's Cross, You who cried "It is finished" complete, done! I bow in awe of You. Your greatness will forever remain undiminished and faithful. You have planned I shall sit at Your feet;  equipping me to come boldly to the throne of grace to receive grace and find help in time of need. Keep me seeking things above for my heart is Yours. Thank You for multiplying my faith as I praise You and delighting in my sacrifice. Teach me to sit at Your feet for I am seated with You in heavenly places in Christ (Eph 2:6)!  This Truth so huge I cannot truly grasp it. O beautiful One, Lover of my soul, keep me faithful and let me bring You glory. I love you Namer of the Stars, Righteous One. I cry out "Holy, Holy, Holy is Your name." In Your priceless name I pray . Thank You for holding me. amen


My precious brothers and sisters, my prayer for you is that you will learn to sit (Eph 2:6), walk(Eph 4:1-2), stand (Eph 6:10-18) and bring Him glory.


Seeking Him,
 az

Embracing God's Sovereignty

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.  Isaiah 40:25-26

 To my fellow believers who walk with the LORD,

 As we grow and mature in faith we see more clearly that our Father is Sovereign over every aspect of life, as surely as He is the galaxy-filled universe. Our loving Father uses trials to instruct us about who He is and reveal to us who we are.  At first, our old sin nature hides from us and then we try and hide from it. The testing God sends exposes our self-effort to improve ourselves; rather than humbly learn the grace of God. My grandson works to get fed by turning his head side to side in newborn panic, his legs and arms flailing in search of food, for he does not realize all his harried efforts are of no avail and likely delay things a bit. He must relax into his mother or father who holds the source of nourishment, then there is rest. What a picture we make trying to live the Christian life by our own efforts, flailing in our own strength and delaying our growth. There will be no rest for us until by faith we relax into our Father, embracing His Sovereignty.  He alone is rest and just as loving heart and hands were much busy to meet my grandson’s need before it arose, so also our Father provides for us, for He is no less loving

 Two things mark spiritual growth; one is a deeper sense of th sinful old nature, the other s a greter longing after the Lord Jesus Christ. The sinfulness is discovered and felt as the power of the Holy Spirit increases; for many a thought and act passes without pain th the conscience where the Lord Jesus is leass before the soul, which will be refused and condemned as the knowledge of the Lord increases in spiritual power within. JBS

 Just as God led Israel into the desert; causing them to thirst that they might drink from that Rock who was Christ. (I Cor 10:4)  God takes us into the desert leading us into trouble where we are required to cast ourselves on Him. Is there any god who compares to our God, Namer and Sustainer of the Stars? So we find out what we are in times of testing! We say we believe God is Sovereignty. Words easily spoken when life is not too stressful. Then a relationship is torn and our hearts bleed, a child makes a bad choice affecting him for years, or a loss in some area and feelings rampage our doubting heart, we feel devalued and ill used and life hurts and hurts. Trusting in His Sovereignty is at a whole new level! It is then we need to remember God is not only Sovereign, He is good. He is faithful. He is near. He is loving.

 Recently a wounded relationship pushed me to my knees. ‘Fear’ and the question “but what if” became a repetative dialogue in my mind magnifying ‘worst’ scenerios which play unbidden and in full color. Choosing faith is so hard when emotions rule the heart. It must be a deliberate, willful action. I needed to ask: do I believe what I spout? To believe in God’s Sovereignty is to believe He is in control, He is good and He is working in this situation. He is aware of every nuance and painful detour. This truly reveals whether I believe what I claim. Sovereign or not?  If God is sovereign and He is good, faithful and trustworthy.... then what room is there for fear or resentment of anxiety? Do I believe my circumstances are His will? If so then my choice is to die to my will and embrace His with praise. Yes, praising Him whether I feel like it or not, kowing the sweetest praise is when I exercise the sacrifice of praise ( Hebrews 13:15) not from a spiritual high but  from a surrendered heart that chooses Truth: I am crucified with Christ and I will exalt Him with a spirit of thanksgiving because He is worthy. Let this scripture instruct your heart, seeping in and filling you with awe, until you are prone before Him in tears!

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 

   How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! 

 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”

 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”  For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 

 I am fickle. My natural inclination is to make everything about me. When I operate in the flesh I look at divine things as they suit my thinking about myself. How often I cry out, “LORD, help me want Your will more than my own!” O to trust Him fully and find Him fully true! He is Sovereign and in His wisdom, He may deliver us from our trials or He may deliver us in our trials, either way it comes from who He is.  He cannot operate from anything less than His compassion and lovingkindness for us.

 Evil and suffering formed the crucible in which God demonstrated His love to humankind. His love comes to us soaked in divine blood. RA

Those who receive deliverance from their troubles never grow like those who get strengthened in the difficulties. How slowly one learns that His sympathy is not expressed in removing the affliction but in raising one above it to Himself, so that He becomes so endeared to the heart that He is more an object to the heart than oneself. JBS

Speak Truth aloud. “The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in fear, He is in control.

The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want of strength, for He is strength

The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want of peace, for He is my Peace.

The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want for Hope, for He is Living Hope.

Continue to speak aloud Truth when in the midst of your trial and praise Him with

truth: Praise the LORD my Shepherd who gives grace and wisdom to me.

 Father of all life and holder of all breath, there is no God but You. It is a fearful thing to come to You as Sovereign, Creator and Sustainer... Job struggled with his pain and loss and Your hand heavy upon him. He trembled at the thought of You. It is difficult to reconoiter the fierceness of Your being with the tender mercies of You, my Abba, my Daddy.  O that I would glorify You in every trial because You live through me. LORD, I want to be living proof  that You are alive and Sovereign and good.  Keep me from making this life about me. Open our eyes and remind us of Your goodness. I surrender...  to You the Holy One who reigns now and forever, in whose Name there is power Jesus. amen

His Sovereignty is my comfort and my good,

AZ