Godly Perspective for Hard Times

The trials we go through can be extremely painful, seem never-ending and feel completely overwhelming. Yet, as believers we know that because the Lord is all-powerful and always present that what we go through has passed through his loving hands. Therefore it is crucial that we have the proper godly perspective for the hard times we face or are currently facing. Dr. Charles Stanley offers these truths that we must grab ahold of:

• The Lord controls the timing and intensity of my trial.
• He has a specific purpose for allowing it.
• It may yield something in me that I presently lack,
• If I trust God with a joyful attitude, I'll benefit from adversity.
• Christ wants to demonstrate His ability to sustain me under great pressure.
• He walks with me every step of the way.
• Through the power of the Spirit, I'll come out of this trial victorious.

Plans For You

More times than I'd like to remember, I've surged ahead with my own plans and agenda and then asked God to bless what I was doing on the back end. Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of a much better way--- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Notice who has the plans and who they are made for. Notice the promised outcome. The Lord spoke these words through the prophet Jeremiah during a time when his people were in exile in Babylon. In the earlier verses, He urges his people to live where they are and be productive (v. 5-6), to pray for the land where they were in exile (v. 7) and to be aware of false prophets and not be deceived (v. 8-9). Then He promises to deliver his people home after their 70 years of exile has been completed (v. 10).

This passage of Scripture gives me great hope. God knows when I am in a dry season. He knows when I am suffering. He encourages me to keep on living and not let the present circumstances cripple me in fear. He commands me to hold to his truth and not be swayed by the lies of enemy and those who don't know Him. And best of all, He promised to deliver me safely home.

Patrick Morley, President of Man in the Mirror Ministries and a man who I respect greatly, shared these thoughts on how we can actually create our own gospel by surging ahead with our own plans instead of the ones that God has prepared for us before time began:

"When I became a Christian I already had a plan for my life. So when I read the Bible I was, in essence, looking for evidence to support the decisions I had already made. When I read a verse that went in the direction I was going in anyway, I would underline that verse--often memorize it. But when I read a verse that veered off in a direction I didn't want to go, I would figuratively smudge that verse off the page. Soon I was following the God I was underlining in my Bible. I had created a fifth gospel--Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Patrick. In due time God graciously and painfully rerouted me to the true gospel.

Jesus said, "The Scriptures cannot be altered" (John 10:35). Unless and until we accept the timeless authority of the Scriptures, we will never enter into the fullness of the "new creation." To read the Bible with an agenda is to seek the God we want. To surrender to the authority of the Scriptures is to seek the God who is. How many gospels do you have?"

Pre-meditated Murder

During a discussion today in Sunday school, a friend of mine said that the original sin in the Garden was pre-meditate murder on the part of satan. I've certainly had many thoughts about what Adam and Eve did in the Garden and the resulting devastation, but I must admit I never thought of it in terms of pre-meditated murder. But what an apt description.

What the enemy did was bring death upon the prize of God's creation. In John 8:44, Jesus himself calls him a murderer from the beginning. John 10:10 reminds us again that he comes to kill, steal and destroy. Because of his own banishment from the presence of God, the enemy knows that sin separates us from the Lord's presence as well; resulting in spiritual death.

Yet while satan is guilty of pre-meditated murder, we have a Savior who gives us pre-meditated salvation. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14) so that all who received Him would become children of God (v. 12) and see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).

The Power of Praise

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Camp out on this for a moment. We are to always rejoice; even if the situations and circumstances in our lives makes us want to do anything but rejoice. We are to pray without ceasing; meaning that our communication with God must be continual and constant no matter what we are going through or how we feel. We are to give thanks in all circumstances; even in the difficult ones knowing that everything passes through his divine hands and he promise to work all things for our good (Romans 8:28).

Hebrews 13:15-16 urges us to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God because it is pleasing to Him. And sometimes offering up praise is a sacrifice because of how sin and suffering wears us down but our Lord knows how much we benefit from the power of praise.

My man Pastor Dan Downey knocked it out of the park again with his devotional, "The Precious Power of Praise". Look at all the things that happen because of praise:

Praise - Honors God! Praise - Undergirds faith! Praise - Brings deliverance! Praise - Is the voice of faith! Praise - Is the language of heaven! Praise - Sets the stage for God to move! Praise - Releases the angels to minister! Praise - Fuels joy, which is your strength! Praise - Knocks down walls of resistance! Praise - Stills the enemy and the avenger! Praise - Dispels darkness and depression! Praise - Must precede, not follow blessings! Praise - Gives God the legal right to help you! Praise - Brings the presence of God onto the scene! Praise - Is a sure sign of acceptance of the Word of God! Praise - Is the highway that faith moves its blessings down! Praise - Is calling those things that be not as though they were!

Claiming Promises

He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He promises to sustain us when we give him our burdens. He promises to give us renewed strength when we wait on him. He promises to deliver us from our afflictions. He promises to renew us and uphold us with his righteousness. He promises to give us anything we ask according to his will. He promises us abundant life. He promises us an undefiled inheritance. The Creator of the Universe promises all these things to those who love Him. I’m claiming these promises.

The God Who Can Handle It

A friendly reminder from my friend James Ryle:

God does not sit in heaven wringing His hands in anxious concern over the alarming state of affairs in our baffled world — He’s in charge. He is not clueless to the scheming of godless people who seek to build a society without His blessings – He’s in charge. And He is not rattled by the bloated plans of overheated brains for how we here can save ourselves, needing no help from heaven whatsoever. He’s in charge – and He can handle it.

So, whatever it is that’s going on in your life, know this for certain – it is well within His reach. He can handle it. That’s why you need to let Him.

When doubts arise and fears dismay, when foes oppose you and friends forsake you; when the bottom drops out and you are left holding an empty bag, and your castles all crumble while your dreams turn to ashes – He is the God who can handle it.

Trust Him, and hold tight to your faith in His faithfulness – for He will see you through it all. And when the storm passes, as it surely will, the new day will be filled with His presence, and with the endless possibilities He provides for you.

While others around you are falling in fear – you stand firm, trusting the Lord. He is the God who can handle it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

A friend of mine recently posted this on Facebook. What a great reminder that the Father loves us; even in our wretched, sinful state. Our only boast is truly in Him as his strength is made perfect in our weakness:

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow.

Victory and Freedom

So once we as believers have settled on our identity in Christ, what happens next? The same question can be asked of someone who has been set free. Pardoned. Spared the punishment they deserved. We think about people who have been set free from prison. Some effectively turn their lives around. Sadly, most continue to do the same things that got them into prison in the first place and will land them a return visit. This is why settling our identity in Christ is critical. It is the foundation that we must have and build upon. We are no longer who we used to be. The power of Christ within us and the new identity we have in Him allows us to walk in a different path. A path of victory.

My friend Dan Downey shares this powerful truth: "I am free from the law of sin and death, and I am under the law of liberty in Christ Jesus. I'm redeemed from the curse of the law, and no weapon formed against me can or will prosper. I'm a Blood bought child of the King, Jesus paid the price for my salvation and for my victory and I will have it. He sent His Word and healed me, and I receive it, I believe it, it's mine now, I take it by faith and I'm not letting go of it. According to Jesus' work at Calvary, and according to the proclamation of the promises that are in the Word, I declare myself a free man. For the Word says that he who the Son sets free is free indeed. So I agree with the Word - I'm free from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I'm going on with God and I will walk in the blessing of the Word, and I will fulfill the number of my days, and I will do the works that God has ordained for me to do. I walk in love, I walk in the power of the Spirit of God, I am anointed by God to live in victory, and I will have it."