Good Morning,
Today I was thinking on all of the latest fires of trials that the children of God are encountering. I remembered a lesson that I taught about going through the fire and coming forth as pure gold. I have probably taught that lesson at least twice in the years that I have been ministering, God reminded me that it was not just a good teaching, but as with all of His Word it is something that we must live out. "But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous]". (Job 23:10) I will start by reminding you to stay in the covenant with God, don't leave Him. "If you faint in the day of adversity, then your strength is small". (Prov. 24:10) "So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong". (Hebrews 12:12) Faint means to pass out from weakness or lose consciousness, it means to lack clarity or distinctness, to become dull, blurred, feeble; to be unclear, vague or stifled, to slacken, cease or abate; (because of adversities). Adversities mean tightness of trouble, affliction, anguish, distress and tribulation. I know we all know that we will have some troubles, for even Jesus said; "In this world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world..". Yet, when they come, most of us seem unprepared, or we want to ask God, why us? Instead of realizing that most of all we go through the fires of adversities to burn from our own hearts, impurities that hinder us from being 'pure gold.' We usually ignore or blur the verses that refer to troubles, trials, and tribulations. What do we do with this verse; "Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations." (James 1:2)? Well, I can honestly say that I ave been enveloped by trials of every sort and kind, still learning to consider them joyfully. In order to do that we must exercise foresight, to see the value and the worth of God working out any immediate troubles and bringing out the good in us and for us. But I have learned to do one thing well as a Christian, especially as of late, and that is to cast. "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully". (I Peter 5:7) Casting means to throw aside and to place upon; to boot and impel. I learned to do this, by God asking me this simple question, every time I try to handle the trials and troubles with my worrying and carrying them. Here it is: "What can you do about it, Debra?" Nine times out of ten, the answer is nothing. So, since it is out of my scope of fixing, repairing, restoring or straightening out, I turn it over to God and pray. Wow, that has made my life of faith and trusting God, so much easier. Now, I am not telling you that the enemy quit trying. You know how he is, he just keeps coming up with more twisted ideas to try and destroy. The only way to break this rut is to consistently keep casting over and over again, until it becomes more real to you than the problems. Keep booting the cares out and away from you. Don't you know that the enemy desires to use the trials to kill, steal, and destroy us, using the cares of this world to hinder our growth. Don't come under, arise over circumstances by letting God be your God. Remember, "this to shall pass." Utilize your faith and hone your confessions. "Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all". (Psa.34:19) God will defend, recover, rescue, and will do it without fail.
In order to succeed in the next year, 2011, we must stay with God's Word and not quit. Get up if you fall, and start running again. "So let us hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgment of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His Word." (Hebrews 10:23)
I shall come forth as refined gold
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 