Monday, July 4, 2016

Finding Peace In The Midst Of Trials

My Utmost For His Highest
 
Do not fret— it only causes harm. —Psalm 37:8
 
“Resting in the Lord is not dependent on your external circumstances at all, but on your relationship with God Himself. Worrying always results in sin. […] Fretting rises from our determination to have our own way. Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God’s plans. […]  Have you been propping up that foolish soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all your opinions and speculations aside and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). […] All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without God.” CHAMBERS
 
Our new life and our capacity to live it is nothing that we have or could have conjured.  It is totally dependent upon the Spirit of God, the exercising of faith and obedience.  Worry comes on stage when we change our focus from the spiritual to the natural.  It is important that you don’t confuse things that have happened to you, in life, from consequences resulting from your own personal sin.  God promises forgiveness of sin, but not absolution from sin’s consequences.  Often impending consequences are the source of most of our worry.  But whether the source of the worry is our doing or not, it is possible to find peace in the midst of it. 
 
Where does that peace come from.  (John 14:27)  “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  It comes from our relationship with Jesus by the Spirit.  The peace the world gives is dependent upon the absence conflict.  The peace, the supernatural peace, that Jesus gives is peace in spite of the conflict.  Many times people, even Christians, want relief only so they can move on to the next sinful act.  What they desire is freedom to sin without consequence.  God is not in that and will never be.  Their lives are  in constant turmoil and full of worry and heartache.  But even though they may be living out the consequences of their sin, like you, they can still have the peace that comes from a repentant heart.  You must stop depending upon yourself and better circumstances and trust in the Lord.  CHARLEY
 
“It Is Well With My Soul”
 
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,  When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,  It is well, it is well, with my soul.
 
 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,  Let this blessed assurance control,
 That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,  And hath shed His own blood for my soul.”

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