Rejoice in Suffering

God uses circumstances to develop our character.

2. Cor 4:17
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Life is a series of problems. Every time you solve one, another one is waiting.

John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

You are measured by the way you handle your problems.

1 Peter 4: 12-19
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

Mat. 5: 1-12
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Sometime we suffer for someone else.

Col. 1:24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

Problems forces us to look to God and depend on Him instead of ourselves.

2. Cor. 1: 3-11
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

We learn obedience in suffering.

Heb. 5:8
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

We need to be like Paul when he said "whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I haven suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him." Phil. 3

Learning how to rejoice in suffering will keep your heart right and bring peace.

Blessings
Doug

Being Convinced that God is Faithful.

The Lord spoke to me about being convinced that He is able to bring to pass what He has spoken and that He is able to keep what I have trusted to Him.

Heb 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those that seeks Him.

He gives each a measure of faith. Did you catch it? He gives us what pleases Him to start with so that we can please Him. How cool is that.

We must believe that He is. Is what? He is God, He's the Man, He is the beginning before the end. He holds the universe in the palm of His hand. That means He is BIG.

"Seek you first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you." He tells us that when we seek Him first all these things will be added because He knows we have need of them. How cool is that.

I made a list of things that I am convinced of:

1. God loves me. John 3:16
2. God chose me. John 15:16
3. God will never leave me or forsake me. Duet 31:6
4. Greater is He who is in me than against me. 1 John 4:4
5. His word will not return to Him without accomplishing what He sent it for. Isa 55:11
6. He is a rewarder of those that seek Him. Heb 11:6
7. All things work together for good. Rom 8:28
8. No weapon formed against me will prosper. Isa 54:17
9. Whatever I ask according to His will, He hears me. 1 John 5:14
10. That signs and wonders follow me. Mark 16:17
11. That His blessings will overtake me as I walk believing.
12. He is able to finish what He has begun. 2 Tim 1:12

I would encourage you to make your list of the things that you are convinced God will do.

He is faithful and He keeps proving Himself faithful.

Blessings
Doug

Cease striving and know

Ps 46:10
Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

I feel that this is the time for us to be still and listen to what the Lord will be speaking to us. I believe the Lord is ready to be exalted among the lost of the world. I feel that this next season will be a time of salvation and healing for many who are lost, and a time of God redeeming those who have fallen alway.

We need to be at the place where we can hear what His heart is. John 15 tells us that we are no longer slaves but friends because we do what He commands us. Therefore He is making known to us what He has heard from His Father.

I want to be a part of what God will be doing on the earth. Not of watching it, but an active doing of it. His Kingdom is being established here on earth as it is in heaven.

Take time to be still from all your stuff and listen to what the Spirit of the Lord will speak to you.

Being still and listening so I will be a doer.
Doug