Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Now for a little while, if need be, I have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of my faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. It is good that I should hope and wait quietly for Your salvation, Lord God. I have a better and an enduring possession for myself in heaven. So I do not cast away my confidence, which has great reward. For I have need of endurance, so that after I have done Your will, Lord God, I may receive the promise. My Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and You, my God and Father, who have loved me and given me everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort my heart.
Thank You for reminding me that You, Almighty God, are in charge, that trials are not pointless, and that eternal rewards await.
JAMES 1:4; 1 PETER 1:6–7; ROMANS 5:3–4; LAMENTATIONS 3:26; HEBREWS 10:34–36; 2 THESSALONIANS 2:16–17
Dr. David Jeremiah Life-Changing Moments with God
For me, to look back on the last 8 months is to see so many hills, valleys and mountains that I have traveled and can only say that it's been harrowing. It's honestly been incredibly intense at times. Going into days not knowing what in the world I would be doing that day.
It took God, and yes its a work in progress, much time investing in me to get me to let go of pre-planned days. It's daunting.
It's certainly caused my prayers to include prayers that ask Him for His help in doing whatever He puts before me.
Trials have been daily and weekly. They have been rougher than I have ever wanted them to be.
In every single one though they have been difficult, He has been there. Either a silent presence with His arms around me or softly telling me which way to go.
All of 2020 wasn't nearly like 2021 has been for me, if that tells you anything.
God's taken this blog into countries that I have never thought possible. Been viewed over 83,000 times. My prayers are always that someone, somewhere, comes to Christ through it.
That maybe someone turns back to Christ through it.
God leads my writing of each post until the proper time that He chooses to end each one. I am not some scholarly teacher. I have no theological degree. I simply want to be useful to my Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. To be obedient in what I am called to do. To speak upon whatever He knows someone needs to hear.
The trials of life indeed are compared as the Bible says to a refiners fire. Hot enough to draw out impurities but not so hot that it ruins the finished product.
You may also be going through some rough times in your life. In Christ we are never alone.
It may seem like it but we aren't. God isn't silent in the life of the Believer if their heart is in the right place, listening for the voice of the Great Shepherd.
We aren't called to be extremists, we are called to be obedient. We are to be Christ to a world that is perishing.
My mind is ever thinking on a wide variety of things. On one hand I am here now writing of this, at the same time I think of things yet to be done today. Am thinking about hopes and dreams. Am thinking about ideas yet in infancy in my mind. Am thinking about things that I would love to do, to see, to experience. Yet knowing also the reality is God’s Will, will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. That the signs of our time point to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. That while there's stuff yet to be done before me, that thought presses home the urgency to keep calling out to this world to come to Christ before its too late.
I also share in Paul's inner turmoil. The pressures to keep on doing what's in front of me to do and at the same time I long for that first of many embraces from Jesus in Heaven.
Are you at all undecided about Christ Jesus and being saved? My friend, I can tell you that I have no regrets of coming to Jesus to be saved. His love has been evident long before He saved me and only continues as the days go by. Rough days or not He walks with me, leading me through every thorny ordeal. Every rough patch. Every joyful and sad experience that I go through.
Jesus lived and died according to the Scriptures.
Jesus was crucified and rose again on the 3rd day according to the Scriptures.
He made a way where there was no way for mankind to be saved.
The gift of God, salvation in Christ Jesus alone, is free for all who ask.
I am facing this particular Saturday with an uneasy heart, not knowing what the day will hold.
Nothing to point to other than being told to hold on. As far as I am aware this day just has errands to run in it. Prayer is where I go to next in situations like this. Prayer takes my worries and concerns to my Savior to deal with.
He is kept in perfect peace whose mind is set on the Lord.
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