by David Brenneman
From Dr. Charles Stanley's Life Principle 26 notes "What is God’s goal in adversity? His basic objective is to draw us closer to Himself. He does not glory in pain or sorrow, but He uses these things to teach us about His love and faithfulness."
My Mother will tell you plainly to not hold too tightly to something because God has a way of removing it. She really had been attached to a AMC Ambassador Station wagon. Due to unforseen and unfortunate circumstances it was taken.
When adversity strikes...realize my Dear Reader that you are not in control of it...and even in the scheme of things...it's merely a situation to God. It's not at all a problem for God.
We are a people no different than Adam and Eve who began all of us down this path of pride.
Before going further...note the words of Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. So throw out all your preconceived notions on religion and denominations right now. The Spirit's job in Christ is to both introduce and to allow things in our lives to teach us to become more like Christ Jesus. Not to be a good Catholic not to be a good Baptist nor even a good Grace Brethren.
As Dr. Charles Stanley said...adversity will last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.
Dr. Charles Stanley has another Life Principle too. Number 20. Disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice. The cross of Jesus Christ brought choice to everyone. We choose to put Jesus Christ first or we put things and people higher than Himself and our relationship with Jesus.
Truth be known all your stuff that you may hold dear is going to be ashes after you are gone. Nobody takes anything to Heaven or Hell. Not that anyone in Hell is at all concerned about anything but the painful torment that they are in.
One more for you is this: Life Principle #19 Anything you hold to tightly you will lose.
Our stubbornness is a blessing and curse. I can be stubborn when it comes to trying to finish something and the hour is late.
I can be stubborn about something and it inevitably costs myself or someone else something that didn't need to happen.
A very early lesson in my life is that I am not in control of it.
The Disciples were not in control of their lives either. In coming to Jesus to be His disciples...they forfeited their desires, their wants, their way of living in order to be who the Spirit was making them to be. After the Holy Spirit came, they were commanded by Jesus to go and make more Disciples...teaching them all that I commanded you.
"All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres and wants to own
All I once thought gain, I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
Now my heart's desire is to know You more
To be found in You and known as Yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
Oh to know the power of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death, my Lord
So with You to live and never die
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
I love You, Lord"
- Graham Kendrick
"Knowing You Jesus"
We are not in control of these adversities that happen to us...but we are in control of how we react to them. We can choose God's plan or ours and trust me we reap what we sow more than we sow and much later than we sow. Yet another Life Principle of Dr. Charles Stanley.
Everything we have is replaceable.
Nothing is worth more than our relationship with Jesus and those whom He has entrusted to us.
In decision making...what is going to glorify God more? In various places in the Bible we read this "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord".
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.
Nowhere does it say in Scripture that we're going to be given signs from God. The reverse is actually more accurate...people will seek for a sign and no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah. That is...Jesus and only Jesus should be our greatest priority. Our relationship with Jesus comes first. Family second. Ourselves third. Anything else is after that.
Who's calling the shots in your life?
The sooner you realize that you are not...the less stressful life is going to be. Proverbs 3:5-6 isn't merely a guideline it's a fact of life in Christ Jesus.
Let go, let God, obey at all times.
Ask yourself "What is He trying to teach me in this?"
Again, trust me, it has absolutely nothing to do with learning stubborn behavior or how to survive. If from the very rocks Jesus is able to rise up praise for Himself, there's nothing that is greater than that for each of us.
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8.
At the end of our days we will give an account of our lives before Jesus of what we have done in our lives for Christ. Not an iota of that testimony will be about what possessions we had. It will be about how we truly lived as the Spirit directed us. Of the lives we touched for Jesus Christ. Us, the workers in His Harvest.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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