As I Struggle

As I Struggle 

God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 4:19 

The prophet Jeremiah and the apostle Paul discovered the same thing about prayer: when our hearts are right, God delights to give us more than we asked for. In Jeremiah 33:3, the Lord said, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” In Ephesians 3:20, Paul said that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” In her autobiography Evidence Not Seen, missionary Darlene Diebler tells of being near starvation in a Japanese POW camp. Through her window she saw in the distance a banana. “Lord,” she prayed, “just one banana.” But she couldn’t see how God could get her a banana through prison walls. The next day she heard footsteps coming down the hall and the key turning in the door of her cell. In walked a guard with a bunch of bananas. “They’re yours,” he said. She sat down in stunned silence and counted them. There were ninety-two bananas! As Darlene wept and thanked the Lord, she seemed to hear Him say in her heart, “That’s what I delight to do, exceeding abundantly above everything you ask or think.” Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

I often struggle with understanding the things that God brings me to in my life. 

I am convinced to continually bring what's on my heart and mind to Jesus in prayer and to continue in that fervently. 

There are days like I have had this year that perplex me more than the whole year of 2020.  I don't know where the direction of my life is going. 

I have been taught to pray big because to do otherwise is not fit for a child of God.  Many in the Bible missed out on the blessings of God because they were afraid to ask in accordance with their needs. 

I am also trying to live as Jesus wants of me in a world that is hostile towards God.  

There comes a point of choosing to follow God's direction and path vs where the world wants you to go.  

I have been the recipient of many blessings from my Savior.  More than my mind can bring to mind or fathom.  None have been deserved.  I have seen the sin in my life that I struggle with and often am in amazement to see the effects of my sin being cast as far as the east is from the west. 

I often am like those who have been blessed to see Jesus face to face and cry out "Unworthy! Unworthy!".  

Jesus still finds a way to bless in the midst of storms that we don't understand. 

Storms envelop my life right now it seems.  Time and distance keep some forms of peace and rest from me.  The storms are most often Spiritual in nature.  

I am pained at what is before me to do these days.  I do long to just be held by Jesus more than to be physically blessed in my life.  Once that happens nothing in this world compares. It all pales in comparison. 

I see and understand what path is set before my Wife and I.  We both do. What steps to take that are ours to take, what steps are for Jesus to take are what we seek clarity on.  God is always faithful.  Joseph endured a prison for years until a palace was ready. 

If you are indeed striving to live for Jesus and yet struggle, we're in the same boat.  As another devotional I read this morning said, sins are forgiven and forgotten, but often the consequences are not. Consequences cause God to rebuild our character.  We have a road in front of us yet to travel that's fraught with dangerous exits.  Staying on the road wherever God has you is critical.  

I slept terribly last night but know that this morning Jesus is still with me regardless of the things happening in my life as He will be with you too.