Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. With the impending holiday season on our door step I ask that each and every one of you reading this message, reach out to someone that is lonely and be a friend. For those of us that God has blessed with abundance, share with those who have little. It’s just reasonable service.
Today’s Prayer
Father, Thank you for caring so much that you sent your Holy Spirit to touch us and live within us, sealing us unto the day of redemption. Thank you that there is an Intercessor and Savior praying for us and standing in our stead when we don’t have the words to say. Sometimes, there is just so much to pray for, so many needs or so much heartache that we just don’t know what to pray. But you know our hearts. You know our needs. You know the needs of those for whom we are burdened. Father, we come to you now offering words of praise and thanksgiving, and trusting you to always be there and to answer the cries of the heart. we love you. We set this before you in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Let’s eat.
God’s Proving Ground for Faith
He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience. – Judges 3:2
As I sat here going over the prayer I just prayed in my mind, I was reminded in my spirit how God brought the nation of Israel into the Promised Land of Canaan through Joshua. After Joshua, there came an entire generation who had very little experience in fighting battles like the ones fought by Joshua. Training and testing His people is one of God’s important strategies that enable His children to succeed in spiritual warfare (in case you didn’t know, if you are a child of God you are in warfare everyday). This is why we don’t live a life free of trials. These trials are sent specifically to see if our faith is real or simply empty words.
“They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which He had given their forefathers through Moses” (Judges. 3:4).
God allows circumstances to develop around our lives to give our faith opportunity to be proven. It’s only when we are tested in battle that we become skilled warriors. You can be confident God will allow trials to come your way through situations like an unreasonable boss, a friend or love one that owes you money who refuses to pay you back, a false assault on your character, or a difficult relationship that requires unconditional love. These battles are sent your way to test what you know in the mind in order that they might become part of your heart.
You will discover if you have passed the tests or if you need more battles that will give you the opportunity to learn the art of spiritual warfare. Don’t fear these battles that are before you. God has already given you the victory if you choose complete dependence and obedience to Him. Then you will become one of God’s greatest warriors, skilled in spiritual warfare.
Quote of the Day
Habits are first cobwebs, then cables. The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. ~Samuel Johnson~