Monday, December 24, 2012

If Our God Is For Us

My Utmost For His Highest
 
When you really see Jesus, I defy you to doubt Him. If you see Him when He says, “Let not your heart be troubled . . .” (John 14:27), I defy you to worry. It is virtually impossible to doubt when He is there. Every time you are in personal contact with Jesus, His words are real to you. “My peace I give to you . . .” (John 14:27)— a peace which brings an unconstrained confidence and covers you completely, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. “. . . your life is hidden with Christ in God,” and the peace of Jesus Christ that cannot be disturbed has been imparted to you.’ CHAMBERS
 
What are you feeling anxious about?  Nothing you say?  My faith is in the Lord, you say!  Then you are the exception .. maybe one in a million.  Anxiety results when you face life and depend upon yourself.  It is when doubt creeps in, fearing that things are not going to go well.
 
I am not suggesting that we do nothing but just stand and wait for the Lord to act.  What I am suggesting is that when our confidence is in God … what happens on this earth is not really of much consequence in the light of eternity.  There may be sorrow and disappointment, but we can stand against it .. we can have joy and peace in spite of what happens … because our confidence is in God and not in ourselves.
 
What is it that you are facing today?  These are some of the lyrics from a Chris Tomlin song,  Our God (Is Greater), “Our God is greater, our God is stronger,  God You are higher than any other  Our God is Healer, awesome and power  Our God, Our God... Into the darkness you shining Out of the ashes we Rise There's no One like You  None like You.... And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us And if our God is with us, then what can stand against? And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us And if our God is with us, then what can stand against? ….”
 
If our God is for us then who or what can stand against us?  Wonderful question.  The answer, of course, is nothing and no one. Does that mean that there will not be loss, no.  Will there be heartache, yes.  Will there be hardship, yes … But if we are in Christ … we are living in eternity … we live a life of faith … our response to our physical life is not one of fear but of hope …
 
Christian, be encouraged … walk in the newness of life … draw close to the Lord … stop wondering how you are going to keep going in light of what is happening around you …. The answer is that in your weakness, His strength is made perfect … 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
 
Paul struggled with physical issues, but learned that his weakness pointed him to Jesus, the source of his strength.  That the absence of problems was not the way to peace and assurance .. Jesus is.,
 
Consider these verses … the promises in them, remembering that God’s Word is truth.
 
Psalm 20:6-7  “Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious  power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
 
1 Peter 5:7Cast all you cares on Him because He cares for you.”
 
Philippians 4:6-7Be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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