Spiritual Work-out (Part 3) Exercises to develop spiritual muscle 2. Suffering/Trials Romans 5:3-4 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. You will never develop endurance unless you first go through the pain. In any workout regimen, in anything that requires disciplining the body there is strenuous pain involved. Thats where the popular phrase No pain, no gain comes from. It works the same way in the spiritual. There is a level of pain and suffering involved in developing your spiritual endurance. We should not be surprised when we go through suffering, but like the passage says, to glory in them, to rejoice in them, to embrace them because we understand that they are part of the process. You will never develop the spiritual muscle of love unless you go through the disappointment, betrayal, heartbreak from someone dear to you. You will never develop the spiritual muscle of faith unless you go through times of painful uncertainty, job loss, failure, or facing a great task or obstacle impossible for you. You will never develop the spiritual muscle of kindness unless you endure harsh times of need and desperation that will make you understand and empathize when others go through something similar. You will never develop the spiritual muscle of patience unless you are forced to wait on an answer, a provision, or unless you have very difficult people giving you a hard time all the time. You will never develop the spiritual muscle of self control unless you are faced with a vicious temptation, a constant struggle with your flesh, a battle with your sinful desires. You will never develop the spiritual muscle of joy unless you go through moments of deep sadness, of losing a loved one, of being angered and frustrated by people or situations. Its all part of the process. But if we learn to cherish the process and allow God to sculpt and mold our character, our thoughts, our convictions while we go through the pain, we will see that it was truly all worth it and the difference will be inevitable and obvious. Dont be afraid of the process, of the pain, of the trials, theyre necessary. Now go and get your hope, your blessing by the testing of your character through suffering. Go get it youtu.be/ADGnIi9KrLQ
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 17:30:39 +0000
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