These are some of the verses that comfort me when it hurts too much to cry and I just can’t figure out why things are the way that they are….I HAVE TO look to Jesus Christ and see the Sovereignty of God over all of my trials, afflictions, pain and struggles..... My Father is the Gardener (John 15:1) Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. (Luke 22:31-32) He will sit as a Refiner and Purifier of silver (Malachi 3:3) Made Perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10) Consider Jesus (Hebrews 3:1) I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10) Blessed are you when people insult you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great. (Matthew 5:11-12) Walking around in the fire (Daniel 3:25) The fire was one of the streets that they traveled in order to get to their destination…Christ’s revealed truth teaches us comfort ‘THROUGH” sorrows..not from them… The sanctification process of a Christian entails going through many trials, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) Trials refine us and leave behind what is genuine and true, “Behold I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10) If a person is ‘in Christ’ the Lord will send trials to cause growth. Each trial we face is covered even before we individually encounter that trial. He is there precisely when we arrive at each appointed temptation or trial, with the exact amount of grace that we will need to make it through. As a matter of fact God prearranges trials for us that we may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). There is never growth without trials. The greater the pain the greater the growth pattern, and the more we look like Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:10), and the more we learn about and understand our glorious Savior. Our sanctification process, which is the process that the Lord carries us through to make us look more and more like Jesus Christ, is the purpose for the trials that we suffer through in this life.....In the painful trial is where we are taught how to know and apply the truth of Gods Word...in order to be conformed to His image (Philippians 3:10; Romans 8:29)...He predestined us to become conformed to the image of His Son....through the fellowship of His sufferings. The conforming to His image (being made to look more like Jesus Christ) is what equips and enables us to minister to others.. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.... (Galatians 2:20)......God has secured our salvation and our sanctification....... In the position and principle he has saved us. But we have to ‘work out’ His image in us (Philippians 2:12-13; 3:10; Romans 8:29; Romans 6:3-6)......in other words, there is human responsibility involved in this process.....we have to turn from and lay down whatever sin that we may be entertaining.....but one key piece that I have learned in this is to BEG GOD to change the desires of my heart...to change my desires from destructive things that hurt me, and to give me desires to do what is good for me and glorifying to God. I promise you if you are a child of God, and know that He lives within you, and you beg the Lord to take away your desire to do destructive things...HE WILL!!! It may be painful, and it may require you to suffer through some heavy temptation...but He is faithful and He loves you very much....His desire is for you to live in freedom and VICTORY!!!... I can see where the Lord transforms our hearts, minds and beings, through afflictions and trials (experiences that hurt), and that cause much pain and suffering....... But the most amazing thing happens as we breathe in the Word of God through the afflictions and trials, our minds are transformed and renewed (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24)......we begin to think differently!!!! Did you hear that beloved? ....It is possible to have your mind totally re-wired and not think the same old destructive thoughts anymore..... I can see what Paul is saying in Romans 8, when he describes us as sheep who are slaughtered ... Somehow us being ‘Afflicted’ is tied into our ‘Healing and our Transformation.....the Lord’s purpose for the ‘refining fires of affliction’ (Isaiah 48:10), is to crucify our old nature........I have found that I change the most during the pain....by continuing to press my face in the Word of God....(it has to come from His Word)...His Word is life and a new life, a new way of thinking....infact I have found that God can change you into a totally different person....(not perfect) because we all still stumble in many ways (James 3:2)...but definitely a new creation....(2 Corinthians 5:17) I Love you...
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 10:01:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015