Trials, temptations, and timing (T cubed)
Well, here I am writing again about another time I have failed God. He shows me where He wants me and I get dissappointed because nothing happens there. Things happen on His schedule not mine. I gave up because I though I didn't have the strength to carry on. So I rebelled against Him and left the place He sent me and of course the obvious happened, nothing! He grew more distant from my heart every moment I chose not to follow His lead. I had thoughts going through my head like, "I wonder what life would be like without God in it." Sin looked better than God! The whole while He sent me constant reminders of His love over and over and over. He is relentless and would not give up on me. I fought harder to try to get away from Him, to live life how I wanted, the way everyone around me is living. God still would not let go no matter how hard I fought Him. There is no getting away from God. He is everywhere and knows everything. He kept reminding me of the joy in my life while I served Him and the amazing things He had done in my life. Well to make a long story short, God won. The shell I was building around my heart is broken to pieces.
All of it makes me feel so unworthy to even speak His name. I don't deserve Him when all I've done in my life is rebel against Him. I've fought every step of the way to have things my way: it just doesn't work. It makes me realize how much of what I have done for His glory has in fact been because He was inside me, giving me the words, urging me on. I look back at the things I've done and see how ridiculus it is to say that I did them. Then I saw a movie called "Facing the Giants." If you have not seen it you must! The message that hit me most was one of perseverence, all God wants is everything you've got: no more, no less. He has put inside us the strength and the willpower to push through the obstacles He lets fall in our path, but to push throught those we must use every ounce of strength we have. If you give up, you are calling God a lier. If He says we have the strength then we will have it but you must persevere! It will be tough and you will want to give up. You will be at the very end of your strength and Satan will be right there feeding you thoughts of defeat. That is the time that defines you. Will you trust that you have the strength and go on or will you give in? If you give in once it will be easier for Satan to convince you next time. If you don't give in and trust God your faith will increase, as will your strength which gives you the ability to persevere. This is God's will. I will end this with a passage of scripture that I think is awesome. NIV James 1:1-18
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
All of it makes me feel so unworthy to even speak His name. I don't deserve Him when all I've done in my life is rebel against Him. I've fought every step of the way to have things my way: it just doesn't work. It makes me realize how much of what I have done for His glory has in fact been because He was inside me, giving me the words, urging me on. I look back at the things I've done and see how ridiculus it is to say that I did them. Then I saw a movie called "Facing the Giants." If you have not seen it you must! The message that hit me most was one of perseverence, all God wants is everything you've got: no more, no less. He has put inside us the strength and the willpower to push through the obstacles He lets fall in our path, but to push throught those we must use every ounce of strength we have. If you give up, you are calling God a lier. If He says we have the strength then we will have it but you must persevere! It will be tough and you will want to give up. You will be at the very end of your strength and Satan will be right there feeding you thoughts of defeat. That is the time that defines you. Will you trust that you have the strength and go on or will you give in? If you give in once it will be easier for Satan to convince you next time. If you don't give in and trust God your faith will increase, as will your strength which gives you the ability to persevere. This is God's will. I will end this with a passage of scripture that I think is awesome. NIV James 1:1-18
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.