Author: ObtainingMercy

"In one thousand trials it is not five hundred of them that work for the believer's good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine of them…and one beside." ~George Mueller

Every time…every trial…every pain…God is working it for our good.

Can we trust Him with that?

It's easy to mentally agree with that truth, but when the waves of a crisis are coming fast at us, and we are losing our footing in the crash of the breakers around us…when we feel ourselves falling…out of control…can we emotionally practice that truth to which we have mentally assented?

It is not easy.  However, the more we practice, the more natural that reaction will become.

How, then, can we practice this reaction?

I'll tell you…start small.

• Did you wake up late?  Trust God with that.  Do not fuss and fume.  Peacefully acknowlege that He will work it out for your good.  (And tonight, be sure to set your alarm!)
• Did the child spill powdered sugar all over the kitchen floor?  Do not explode in anger.  Practice your "gratitude attitude" that the ants have not discovered it yet. (And place the sugar container out of the reach of the child…and correct the child with calmness…allow God to teach you as you teach your child.)
• Did you stub your toe on the doorjamb?  Don't mentally harrass yourself all day about being clumsy.  Deliberately decide that what's done is done, and thank the Lord that you didn't fall and break a limb when you stubbed your toe.  (And move more deliberately, with less haste…I have to do this a lot, as I get older…my body just doesn't respond as quickly as it used to.)

I know these are situations that can get under our skin and turn into what we commonly call "a bad day."  However, if this day is from the Lord, how can it be "bad"?  Even our terminology is not faith-filled!!!

As we practice acknowledging God's presence and control in every situation, our faith in Him grows.  Our responses to situations become testimonies of God's goodness, mercy and grace.  Then when the huge storm sets in, and we have lost all control, we have a seasoned response of faith in our God.

Practice your faith today…not by attending a worship service (although that is fine, too), but rather by recognizing your dependence on God in every situation as you go through the day.  

(***This devotional is a little late, but I'm praying it is a blessing to you today anyway…trusting God's timing with it.)

"No matter how dark it is, no matter what the trouble may be, a quick lifting of the heart to God in a moment of real actual faith in Him, will alter the sutuation in a moment. " ~Streams in the Desert

 

I John 5:4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

So many times, we become overwhelmed by the situation at hand.  Circumstances are often difficult, especially during times of physical pain and suffering.  It is really hard to focus our mind on spiritual things when our physical body is crying out for attention.

On those days, we must mentally, physically and literally throw ourselves on Him.  We have to let go of every bit of pride, self-will and self-pity; and allow God to hold us up and hold us close, being pleased with everything He allows because we actually believe He is working it out for our good.

I know by personal experience (due to a back injury) when the physical pain is overwhelming we can find relief when we surrender our wills to His.  I was amazed that I could feel peaceful while in so much physical pain.  I could even laugh (very carefully, of course, because too much laughter will add to the agony!) and make jokes with my family, even though it literally hurt to breath at times.

My bed of pain became a place of sweet fellowship with the Lord as I placed all of my faith in Him.

We can "overcome" the world with its physical, mental and emotional pain because of our faith in Him!

I encourage you today, no matter the pain that you are suffering, take "a moment of real actual faith in Him" and see just how He will alter your situation.  Perhaps you will find that instead of altering your situation, He will alter you…and that, my friends, is an even greater miracle!

Are you searching for peace?  

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

"Christ's life outwardly was one of the most troubled lives that ever lived…" 

Philemon 1:3 "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

"…tempest and tumult, tumult and tempest…"

Psalm 85:8 "I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly."

 

"…but the inner life was a sea of glass…"

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

"The great calm was always there…"

Psalm 29:11 "The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace."

"At any moment you might have gone to Him and found rest." ~Drummond, Streams in the Desert

The peace of God is at our disposal.  Why then do we live such lives of turmoil? 

It is because we do not recognize His peace.  We do not appropriate it for ourselves.  We do not rest in it. 

We do not choose to turn our backs on the "crazy" that is our life, and turn our face to focus on Him.

Are you drowning in the restless agitation of an ongoing trial?

Relinquish your hold on all the details, turn to the God of Peace, and allow His Words to comfort you and His Spirit to calm you there in the midst of your storm.

Isaiah 9:6-7a "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end..."

"Shining is always costly…Burning must come before shining…We cannot be of great use to others without cost to ourselves." ~Streams in the Desert

 

II Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…"

There's no crown without there first being a fight.

Our trial is working out a beautiful crown of witness to the glory of God our Father. 

"We are apt to feel that we are doing the greatest good in the world when we are strong, and able for active duty…But, if we are patient and submissive, it is almost certain that we are a greater blessing to the world in our time of suffering and pain than we were in the days we thought we were doing the most of our work." ~Streams in the Desert

 

The Lord does not want our strength.  He wants our weakness.

II Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

He has promised a rich reward for those who fight a good fight, finish the course and keep the faith.  Oh, I want to be numbered in that crowd, don't you?

So, let us shine brightly for Him…even if it means we are consumed in the burning.  It is my hope that others see Him in the reflection of my flame.

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine…

Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine."

II Timothy 2:24-26 "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves: if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

I really want to help people, don't you?  I would love to be an instrument of God to "instruct" those who have been taken captive by Satan, so that they can take advantage of the great mercy of God by repenting of their sin and turning to Christ.

So how can I become that kind of person?

According to the above Scripture, I must be gentle, patient and meek.

Galatians 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." 

Gentless is not a personality trait.  It is not merely being a quiet, timid person.  It is a fruit of the Spirit – a work of God – accomplished in our lives.

Think of a mighty horse, once wild and untamed, that has been "gentled" through hours of training and "breaking"…all of those incredibly powerful muscles now tamed to move at the rider's slightest touch.

I think of gentleness as "restrained power."

A gentle person has a reason for being gentle…it is not mere softness; but rather a purpose for being meek, a constraint of the will to be patient and kind.

This type of spirit is not easily gained.  It takes a literal "breaking" of our will, as a trainer will break the mightiest stallion to do his bidding.

"So few are willing to undergo the suffering out of which thorough gentleness comes.  We must die before we are turned into gentleness, and crucifixion involves suffering; it is a real breaking and crushing of self, which wrings the heart and conquers the mind." ~G.D.W. (Streams in the Desert)

As we walk through our valley of suffering today, let us remember that our Trainer, our Rescuer, our Saviour is doing a work of "gentling" us.  He is breaking our will that we might be willing to do His.

When this fruit of gentleness has been accomplished in our hearts, we are then ready to be used by our Master to reach those who need to be rescued from the snares of the devil.

To be His servant, we must be gentle.

"When God conquers us and takes all the flint out of our nature, and we get deep visioins into the Spirit of Jesus, we then see as never before the great rarity of gentleness of spirit in this dark and unheavenly world." ~G.D.W. (Streams in the Desert)

Will you allow yourself to be gentled by the Master today?

Psalm 107:27-28 "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses."

"Do not get discouraged; it may be the last key in the bunch that opens the door." ~Stansifer

Just when you think you can't take it any more, cry out to the Lord one more time. 

He will hear your cry and bring you out of your troubles.

  Psalm 107: 29-20 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven."