March 9, 2006
Thank you Dear Lord for all that you put in our paths!
As you probably had noticed I haven’t written in a while. I was going through some frustrations and some unexplained anger. It was funny to hear that all along several other people were experiencing the same thing. A wise friend suggested that maybe that is when you are suppose to write. I think she is right. A lot of times we are experiencing the same uneasiness, frustrations etc. It occurs to me that we don’t see the devils schemes if we don’t reveal them.
Sometimes it takes a little patience to see what is happening. It could be an attack from the enemy to keep from asking for prayer and making us feel isolated. But I personally don’t like to give the devil credit for the chastening in my life that the Lord intends to use to grow me.
What I have learned is that there is no opposite to God, if you ask a child they will tell you the devil is opposite. But because there is nothing to compare to God to He cannot have an opposite. No, instead the devil is a counterfeiter, he is a sidler. (Think of him as a counterfeit $100 bill, to the untrained eye it appears real, but only when you study it do you find it was counterfeit.) He tries to be like God and usually doesn’t go against what God is doing in a straight forward fashion. He instead tries to mimic and take partial truths and twist them. This is a better disguise for him. You see the Bible tells us in James: Chpt 1:2-8
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The Lord does bring trials our way for a purpose…because God is love everything He does is because He loves us. But the devil will come along and side saddle what the Lord is trying to accomplish in us by bringing in discouragement, offense, bitterness…and soon our eyes are turned to the attack rather than the discipline that the Lord intended.
The Bible also tells us in Hebrew3 12:3-6 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives."*
Lord help us to recognize when you are doing something, help us to be slow to give the devil credit for the discipline You may be bringing. But help us God to recognize the attack that may come in during times of testing, that we may be able to have victory in the areas You are pin pointing. Let us recognize the schemes of the enemy and give us the strength to pray and dance upon his head, crushing his plans! Amen.
April 8, 2006
It is very easy to go through life if our character is never tested. Thank God He does test us though. This last week as been a difficult one for me; I have been given opportunity to judge, criticize, be offended, have anger followed w/lack of self control, gossip, hurt others. I have also been given the opportunity to love, forgive, humble myself, pray and apologize!
I know we all know these verses but I read them w/a different perspective this time, because of the verses that follow it.
Everything Has Its Time
3To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
A few verses down says this:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
There is a time for all these things to take place and what I didn’t apply to my life w/these verses that there is a time that God will allow me to walk in deception so that I may know His truth, He will allow me to walk in anger so I can understand His peace. He will allow me to be hurt so I can learn to also extend forgiveness; He will allow me to be haughty so that I can learn humility. Even if He didn’t CAUSE the situation, He lets circumstances happen in our lives that are not godly so that he can test and develop our faith, character and fruit.
I thank you Lord for making evident the things in my life that You are stilling working in, those places I thought I had given to you until my character was tested. I thank You Lord that you give us rest and you give us times of testing.
