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Good morning,
God is good. No matter what is going on in your life right now the truth is that God is good. His end plan is for your good. Now that I have said that, I must also say that according to the Word, no matter who we are we will have some form of tribulations, tests, or trials. "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" (John 16:33) So as you walk in God's goodness, know that the enemy is always trying to get us to take our eyes off of what God is bringing to pass in our lives. I have gone through several diabolical attacks from the enemy. The attacks where one after the other, but {except for the fact) the Lord kept and preserved me. We must understand that God does have a turn-around for us. We will all come to the end of that chapter [of testings], and we always win. So, we have to meditate on the Word of God in the midst of all circumstances, tests, trials, and tribulations, our help is on hand! "To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Aliens shall stand [ready] and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be called the priests of the Lord; people will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and the glory [once that of your captors] shall be yours. Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs. For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong with violence or a burnt offering. And I will faithfully give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with them." (Isaiah 61: 3-8) This is the good news! Read and meditate on these verses, your spirit will soar high above all of the troubles that the enemy is trying to get you to place your eyes and mind on. But we've been told to look not at what we see. Listen: "For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting." (2 Corin.4:17-18) Everything that is going on in your life as a Christian, is being turned around to bring you to a higher place in Christ. In fact it is producing, abundantly preparing, and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory. We will be receive a permanent recompense as we go through a momentary affliction, troubles, testing, and trials. Those things that we encounter, we endure only for awhile, only for a season, they are brief and fleeting. You will get a good harvest as you keep sowing to the Spirit and not to the flesh!
Anyway we look at it, we win as long as we stay in Him. "We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted to stand alone; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed."(2 Corin. 4:8-9) Sounds like no matter what happens in our life we will be still standing, if we keep ourselves hidden in Christ. The preceding verse sheds more light on how we are able to stand; "However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." (2 Corin.4:7) So I encourage you as the Lord encourages me; "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours."(1 Corinthians 9:24)
Love,
Pastor D.
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Daughters of Z 