Do you have the Courage to Change? In His Word 7-19-21
Where
do we look to find answers for how to get through the troubles of this world we
live in? How can we make it another day with all that we need to get done? How
can we find hope for tomorrow’s answers?
Let’s
Look -In His Word!
"Be
strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which
the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to
inherit it. And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you;
He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
NKJV
Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Watch,
stand fast in the faith, be brave, and be strong. Let all that you do be done
with love.
1 Corinthians
16:13-14
You,
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the
things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure
hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles
himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him
as a soldier. And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned
unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first
to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you
understanding in all things. 2
Timothy 2:1-7
And
not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now
hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans
5:3-5
NKJV
You
know what, we as Christians are big babies, and on top of that we are selfish
babies. And trust me I am pointing a finger at myself first here.
We
whine about everything, from catching a cold, to wanting God to fix our
problems right now this minute with out any work on our part, just because He
loves us! .
We
ask God to get us out of things, often times it is trouble that we have gotten
ourselves into, or maybe circumstances we just don’t like. But the Word of God
tells us to persevere in that tribulation! When we do God will bring through
and give us character. And from that character He will give us hope.
I
could end right now and by telling you to keep going on through your struggles
this week and God will give you hope in the end of it! I could just tell you
that He has a plan in it to build character in it… but I won’t.
Though
it is true, I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for everything under
the heavens (Ecclesiastes 3) we don’t always have a clue what or why we are
going through what we are going through. His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah
55)
Often
times I have suffered with a physical ailment, I have had to work through it
and keep going even though I was in extreme pain at times, I know many of you
can relate. Through my pain in the past, I have found such inspiration, I found
that I had to be humble and allow others to help me through it. I had to give
up pride and allow God to show me if I was doing wrong in order to suffer as I
had. Then I had to do something about it. I had to change! I had to trust God
to know what He was doing with my life. That was the hardest thing, because He
usually makes me change something when I put my trust in Him.
I
like the word new, but greatly dislike, the word change. Change in the past has
meant to me forced difference in my
life with out a choice. I now see it totally different! I sometimes see change
as something new, a new adventure, or outlook on life. Don’t get me wrong, I
don’t always accept change, I often fight it, but I have found that just as
Joshua had to do when he went into the Promised Land to claim it for Israel, I
have to be strong and courageous.
When
life does not go as you thought it would…
Be
strong and courageous do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you
wherever you go!
He has said He would not leave you nor forsake you, so don’t think He is now!
Sometimes
we just have to suffer a little while, though it may seem long to us, Christ
suffered for us already and has been there done that for us. So, we are not
suffering alone. He is there with us, in all that we do and wherever we go.
This
past week my youngest caught a flu. He was sick in the night, and I rose up, at
a little after one in the morning, to his little voice telling me of his sickness and the need
for mommy to clean something up.
So
I did. I did not want to, but I did anyway. Because I love him and because I am
his mommy. It is what we do as parents, we get up in the night and care for our children's needs. God does the same thing.
The
next day after a lack of sleep for a good many hours at night he informed me he
hurt too much to walk. So, I carried him to the couch, set him up there nice
and comfy and put his video on while I went and recleaned his room. He slept a
while in discomfort and then I carried him back to bed. He slept all day and
began feeling better.
Okay,
he would have rather just been healed that instant. He would have rather just
got up and played that day. But he slept. He rested, and he suffered a little
while. Why did he have to suffer? Because we live in this world, where flu bugs
are rampant, and people spread germs. It is just a part of life.
But he is a good Christian boy; he should always be healthy right? He is, actually, he does not catch as many colds as most kids, he is a prayer warrior for others; even when he was not well himself, he prayed for my headache this weekend.
None
the less, he was strong as a leader, and courageous, because He knew God was
with him in it. He knew that whatever he did God was with him. Even when he had
to punish people for taking what God had told them not to take, he knew God was
with him. The thing was that Joshua followed God’s lead. That is the clue to
getting through the troubles in life.
We
need to be strong and follow after God, because in Him we can know that we
don’t have to fear for He is with us. Okay so maybe what you are
going through is worse than a flu, let me tell you the same God who helped me
clean a carpet at 2 am. The same God who helped me get up the next day to take
care of my sick son as well as teach my jr higher, and do my other jobs around
the house, can help you in your situation.
I
am thankful to God that I have this son who got sick for me to clean up! He is
the one who was born beyond blue, and today he is a strong boy!
The thing to know is that our lives will not
always be easy for us. Often times we will just want to run away, the thing to
do is to run to Jesus, sit at His feet and pray.
As
He said in John 15:16, You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
He
appointed you to live in this time and maybe the thing you are going through to
day will bear fruit for His Glory. Remember it’s not about you! It’s not about
me! It’s all about Jesus! Its all about Him, so if we have to suffer a
little while here in this world, we can know that He has such a great reward
for us in heaven. His ways are not our ways.
Dear
Heavenly Father, help me to not be so whiney but to be strong and courageous in
all that I face each day. Give me wisdom from Your Word, show me how to get out
of or get through the circumstances I face that cause me grief or worry. Help
me to trust in You. In Jesus name, amen
Suggested
Readings for this week;
Monday:
John 15: 1-27
Tuesday: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Wednesday:
Isaiah 55:all
Thursday:
Psalm 39:1-13
Friday: Psalm
40:1-17
Weekend readings: Psalm 41-43 all are
ever-present encouragement in times of stress and trouble.
***If
for any reason you choose ever not to receive this devotion again, please
remember that all it takes is replying with a "Please remove me from this
list." I do ask that if there is a problem with anything I write for you
to feel free to write me back and let me know what the problem was that we
might go over it together and seek the truth in love.
In
His love,
Teresa M. Wilson