As Children of *GOD*, as FOLLOWERS of CHRIST JESUS, we HAVE the tools, the power, and the will TO go through what the world sets before us, and remain whole! But, in order for this to happen, we MUST relinquish the self TO THE LORD, and TOTALLY RELY ON, and TRUST IN HIM, AS WELL AS, understand that we are no longer of the flesh, but OF SPIRIT! You see, it IS a journey; one which we OPEN up to, bit by bit, while TURNING TO HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS WORD FOR THE STRENGTH, and the necessary surrender unto HIM! As long as we feel, and view everything in human terms, we will struggle, and often be sucked into what is happening, despite our PRAYERS, and our intention of trusting HIM...
NO ONE said it is easy, nor is it without a bewilderment, or even confusion about HOW we can accomplish REMAINING IN HIM, void of THINKING we can do this on our own, or that we are on our own. We are perpetually REACTING to the world, and so, we get taken in by the rough tides. In other words, as soon as something happens, we react according to our emotions, when we COULD instead, TURN TO *GOD*, and wait ON HIM! Because of the ways of the world being embedded in us, we are USED to certain ways of dealing; all of which ARE in opposition TO THE LORD, but which are DEEPLY rooted within us! So, HOW do we get past ourselves, and what has been instilled in us by the world???
We are taught to have no anxiety, instead to cast our cares upon THE LORD (PHILIPPIANS 4 &; 1 PETER 5)! Yah, for sure, it IS easier said than done, after all we are like, backwards in our ways; still, IF we free our FAITH, and ALLOW it to thrive, and flourish, it becomes more natural, and common to our TRUTH! We KEEP our minds, and beings CENTERED ON HIM, and what IS OF HIM, not on matters of the world, albeit, we are in the world, and have to deal with what is of the world. We HUMBLE ourselves, and ALLOW HIM TO BE THE LORD OF our lives...
Joy in God is of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be again and again called to it. It more than outweighs all causes for sorrow. Let their enemies perceive how moderate they were as to outward things, and how composedly they suffered loss and hardships. The day of judgment will soon arrive, with full redemption to believers, and destruction to ungodly men. There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and agrees with a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of fear and distrust, which is sin and folly, and only perplexes and distracts the mind. As a remedy against perplexing care, constant prayer is recommended. Not only stated times for prayer, but in every thing by prayer. We must join thanksgivings with prayers and supplications; not only seek supplies of good, but own the mercies we have received. God needs not to be told our wants or desires; he knows them better than we do; but he will have us show that we value the mercy, and feel our dependence on him. The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in his favour, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction. Believers are to get and to keep a good name; a name for good things with God and good men. We should walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide therein; then, whether our praise is of men or not, it will be of God. The apostle is for an example. His doctrine and life agreed together. The way to have the God of peace with us, is to keep close to our duty. All our privileges and salvation arise in the free mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct. These are works of God, pertaining to God, and to him only are they to be ascribed, and to no other, neither men, words, nor deeds...
Humility preserves peace and order in all Christian churches and societies; pride disturbs them. Where God gives grace to be humble, he will give wisdom, faith, and holiness. To be humble, and subject to our reconciled God, will bring greater comfort to the soul than the gratification of pride and ambition. But it is to be in due time; not in thy fancied time, but God's own wisely appointed time. Does he wait, and wilt not thou? What difficulties will not the firm belief of his wisdom, power, and goodness get over! Then be humble under his hand...
Cast all your care; personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God. These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God. The remedy is, to cast our care upon God, and leave every event to his wise and gracious disposal. Firm belief that the Divine will and counsels are right, calms the spirit of a man...
Truly the godly too often forget this, and fret themselves to no purpose. Refer all to God's disposal. The golden mines of all spiritual comfort and good are wholly his, and the Spirit itself. Then, will he not furnish what is fit for us, if we humbly attend on him, and lay the care of providing for us, upon his wisdom and love?
The whole design of Satan is to devour and destroy souls. He always is contriving whom he may ensnare to eternal ruin. Our duty plainly is, to be sober; to govern both the outward and the inward man by the rules of temperance. To be vigilant; suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, watchful and diligent to prevent his designs. Be steadfast, or solid, by faith. A man cannot fight upon a quagmire, there is no standing without firm ground to tread upon; this faith alone furnishes. It lifts the soul to the firm advanced ground of the promises, and fixes it there. The consideration of what others suffer, is proper to encourage us to bear our share in any affliction; and in whatever form Satan assaults us, or by whatever means, we may know that our brethren experience the same...
Listen, we are not as comfortable, nor convinced as we COULD be IN THE LORD, because we are NOT as intent, nor as devout as we SHOULD be! FAITH IS FAITHFULNESS, which means we exist as wholly as is feasible IN our FAITH, which LEADS us ARIGHT, and ASSURES VICTORY OVER all which would mislead, or ensnare us!!!
UNTIL we get over the world, we WILL be conflicted IN our reverence, and piety! UNTIL we fully participate IN BEING the new person OF THE LORD, we will be thrashed about! It takes our fervor, fidelity, and diligence TO ALLOW *GOD* to finish in us what HE HAS started! We HAVE TO COMMIT TO BEING WHO HE MADE us to be! It IS a PROCESS, but one which REQUIRES our synergy! We ARE co-partners TO THE COVENANT, and HAVE duties, and roles therein!!!
No matter what is confronting us, we OUGHT to RAISE it UP TO THE LORD *GOD*, PRAY, and BE CONFIDENT IN HIS POWERS TO FREE us, and LEAD us through!!!
Believe me, I KNOW the difficulty of staying FOCUSED when all hell is breaking out, BUT I CHOOSE to LEARN, and IMPROVE my FAITH, THAT my FAITHFULNESS IS ALIVE, and MAINTAINED! It IS SO easy to be taken down, or entrapped BY the world, evil, and the wickedness therein, STILL, WHY would I concede to that WHEN I KNOW THE LORD, and THE TRUTH OF LIFE? Thus, though I am YET endangered, I WILL CONTINUE to learn, AND to ALIGN TO THE LORD, FOR ONLY HE LOVES ME, and WILL BRING me past what aspires to steal my soul!!!
LWINSOR © 2020
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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