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By Elizabeth Prata
It's a beautiful day out there. The birds are singing, they're building their nests. They don't know there's a pandemic. They don't know to quarantine. But the Lord takes care of them, dumb beasts though they are. How much more does He take care of His children? He gives good gifts. He brings all things about for the good of those who love Him. He sent His Son for us so we could have a relationship with Him (if we repent).
Even the 'negative' things are to give us the gift of reflection so as to humble ourselves, rely on Him all the more. He gave the wandering Hebrews clothes and shoes that didn't wear out during Exodus. (Deuteronomy 29:5). He gave them bread when they were hungry. (John 6:31). He gave them water when they were thirsty. (Exodus 17:6). Will He do less for His children on the other side of the cross?
No, it is not so!
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26)
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:11).
God uses trials to toughen us. To make us self-reflective. To constrict us so that when we can't bear to look around, we look up. Trust God to be doing the right thing. Know that he does everything for two reasons: to bring Himself glory and to bring His children good. His definition of good is infinitely different than ours, but that is where trust comes in. After a while, we will know the good He is doing and understand it is all for our good. Meanwhile, be peaceful, calm, and content. I know that is hard to do when the kids need food, the husband is out of work, the cupboard stores are shrinking and making dinner seems ever more like an episode of Chopped. But that is where the rubber meets the road, isn't it?
The Olympian is confident at the start of the race, when she's all fresh, and pretty confident in the middle of the race, but toward the end, when energy is flagging and her legs seem like lead, is when the Olympian pulls out the inner stores of faith that her training will pull her through.
How much more when we have the Spirit as our stores of energy, and the Bible as our training manual?
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (Philippians 3:14-15).
And that is where faith comes in during trials. If you think you can't run the race any longer, it's too hard, to uncertain, ask God to reveal that to you. One of the hardest prayers to pray is to ask for humility or more weakness, so His glory can be primary is us. I quake at those prayers, often starting out to ask for it but then skittering away. I'm cowardly, but perhaps this season of isolation and uncertainty will give me strength to ask for weakness.
Above all, if you are a repentant child of God with a regenerated heart, remember, God loves you.
If you're not sure you're a child of God destined for eternal life with Him, ask the Spirit to help you find certainty or to repent if your faith is paper only.
If you know you're not saved, then why are you waiting? Mark 1:15 says it all
After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. "The time is fulfilled," He said, "and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!"
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| Photo EPrata |
It's a beautiful day out there. The birds are singing, they're building their nests. They don't know there's a pandemic. They don't know to quarantine. But the Lord takes care of them, dumb beasts though they are. How much more does He take care of His children? He gives good gifts. He brings all things about for the good of those who love Him. He sent His Son for us so we could have a relationship with Him (if we repent).
Even the 'negative' things are to give us the gift of reflection so as to humble ourselves, rely on Him all the more. He gave the wandering Hebrews clothes and shoes that didn't wear out during Exodus. (Deuteronomy 29:5). He gave them bread when they were hungry. (John 6:31). He gave them water when they were thirsty. (Exodus 17:6). Will He do less for His children on the other side of the cross?
No, it is not so!
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26)
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:11).
God uses trials to toughen us. To make us self-reflective. To constrict us so that when we can't bear to look around, we look up. Trust God to be doing the right thing. Know that he does everything for two reasons: to bring Himself glory and to bring His children good. His definition of good is infinitely different than ours, but that is where trust comes in. After a while, we will know the good He is doing and understand it is all for our good. Meanwhile, be peaceful, calm, and content. I know that is hard to do when the kids need food, the husband is out of work, the cupboard stores are shrinking and making dinner seems ever more like an episode of Chopped. But that is where the rubber meets the road, isn't it?
The Olympian is confident at the start of the race, when she's all fresh, and pretty confident in the middle of the race, but toward the end, when energy is flagging and her legs seem like lead, is when the Olympian pulls out the inner stores of faith that her training will pull her through.
How much more when we have the Spirit as our stores of energy, and the Bible as our training manual?
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (Philippians 3:14-15).
And that is where faith comes in during trials. If you think you can't run the race any longer, it's too hard, to uncertain, ask God to reveal that to you. One of the hardest prayers to pray is to ask for humility or more weakness, so His glory can be primary is us. I quake at those prayers, often starting out to ask for it but then skittering away. I'm cowardly, but perhaps this season of isolation and uncertainty will give me strength to ask for weakness.
Above all, if you are a repentant child of God with a regenerated heart, remember, God loves you.
If you're not sure you're a child of God destined for eternal life with Him, ask the Spirit to help you find certainty or to repent if your faith is paper only.
If you know you're not saved, then why are you waiting? Mark 1:15 says it all
After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. "The time is fulfilled," He said, "and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!"
Thank you for this.
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