As this year has flown by, we are almost 25% through it. The Lord has really has really made it clear that everything we do is by choice.. We make thousands of choices a day. The LORD gave us free will to choose our lives and how to them.
A Curse or blessing? It depends on how you use your freedom.
I will share a quote someone very wise told my grandfather (who was a recovered alcoholic 30+ years....) One day it will be you, a drink and God. That is when you have to decide what kind of life you want. You have tried two of them and they have not worked......In fact you have probably tried everything but God/Jesus. (I include religion in everything. Church does not keep you sober or healed. God does not reside in religion, that is man's creation.)
This is why we die daily to ourselves. What will you choose every day? Even though that has not been my struggle, it always stuck with me. We can slip anything in place of a drink and apply it.
AMP- 1 cor 15:31
I assure you, believers, by the pride which I have in you in [your union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily [I face death and die to self].
Another phrase they would say after the serenity prayer, usually at dismissal, it works if you work it. God/Jesus works if you work it. Again it is a choice.
This walk is only going to get harder. Why God, Why???? So you will press into HIM more. He is allowing all of it to see what you will do with it. No games, he wants to watch you like he watched Job.
AMP JOB 2:3
3The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].
Will you prove Satan wrong and GOD right? Will you? It is my humble opinion this is a testing ground for something much bigger. This is why GOD also teaches stewardship throughout his word. He teaches us by process. Fore example, You do not buy a Bentley for your 16 year old do you? I wouldn't, even if I was a multi-millionaire. They would be driving an older reliable Honda civic or accord....why? They need a level of humility with their wealth and need to show me they will take care of it. Not roll it over on a Saturday night with friends and hold their hand out for another Bentley. This is what HE is doing with us... how many "christians" do you know who could handle 5 million dollars? Not allow pride to creep in etc. Would not run out and buy flashy things to get the approval of men? If we are to rule and reign with Jesus, I hardly think he will hand over the keys to the Kingdom without some testing, do you?
AMP Luke 16:2
2So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management [of my affairs], for you can no longer be [my] manager.’
Paul called this a race. He said there was a prize. He said to endure to the end. I often think about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. That sure feels like us today. The question for all of us.....will you take 11 days or 40 years?
1 Cor 9:24
24[g]Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!
Heb 11:1
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,
Ask yourselves why the same problems keep cropping up....like groundhog day...How did you handle it? Maybe next time you can handle it differently? How long will we trek around that same mountain?
Dig in, find your quiet time and savor your time with the LORD. That is the only place to find peace in this late hour.
Have a blessed day.
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