My2Cents: It is been a minute, but know that the Word of GOD has been a constant diet for my soul. I would encourage each of us to spend some time --DAILY-- and hear GOD as HE helps us to navigate life successfully. So often, I listen to my clients and others who want to make an argument for doing it this/that way [which equals doing it their way]. And I have learned that I can only lead the horse to the water. I cannot make the horse drink it. With that being said, some people will CONSTANTLY live life half-a**. Period!!!! Hey, I am not saying that I am the gospel on anything, but we All need to get to the point where we are consulting GOD Because HE is the gospel on everything. Amen. So having these thoughts the HOLY SPIRIT spoke to me in Ephesians 6:12 which says in part "... [my] struggle is not with flesh and blood but with... evil spirits in the heavenly places..." In other words, my frustration with my client/others/injustice lies not really with that person but is really temptation from the devil; who wants to cause separation amongst GOD's people. The devil wants us to give up on those we love. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!! How can I say that with such conviction? Because everyday that I see/hear/speak the Word of GOD I am ever close to HIM. And in turn it is HIS promises - HIS truth that is being watered in my soul. Amen. Which is why I can say "... I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me..." Phillippians 4:13. Amen. So when people say stuff that is really all about what THEY want without consulting GOD-- with Confidence I can then say "....[it is] God's will shall be done!..." Matthew 26:39. Praise be to GOD. You see family it is that TRUTH that allowed Caleb to see something different than what the other 10 spies reported. How often do we in communities look at the landscape and see the GIANTS when we should be seeing or having "... a different spirit...." Numbers 14:24. In a nutshell, we can see the same circumstance, landscape,problem but have a different expectation. And that "...different spirit.." is due to my/our TRUST in JESUS. More importantly, it is also my focus on HIS power that can and will out shine everything else. Amen. So put aside what is in front of us [the disappointment, the obstacles, the pain] call upon the LORD and allow HIS word- HIS promise to be the light that shines in our darkness. Amen. KEEP pressing forward because that is where our FUTURE lies. Hebrew 11:6 says that "....without FAITH it is impossible to please HIM..." Often times we take this scripture and say we should throw common sense out the window. Yet, the reading today made me consider that maybe the real crux is in WHOM do we Trust. The writer says that all FAITH has to be tested. Yeah, probably otherwise how would you know that it is True. It has to go through a fire so-to-speak. Amen. Therefore, the testing of our Faith-i.e. doing as JESUS instructs us is RELYING in and on what HE said even in the face of what seems improbable. Does that mean common sense is not at play or in opposite to JESUS? NO. It simply means that I/you TRUST GOD with all that we have. It is about the placement of the TRUST. Is it in GOD or what is reasoned [which is often our own take on the situation]? Amen. To GOD be the glory. And we all should know---- that we DO NOT know better than GOD. Amen. Hallelujah.
And one other thing: about the whole TRUST thing; how much do we/ you/I trust HIM? I can honestly say at one time in life- not much at all. I can also say that it has been ONLY through the trials/tribulations/pain and sorrow that I have learned to TRUST HIM with all I got. Yes, when painful circumstances linger- I TRUST HIM. Yes, when everything seems out of control [including me]- I TRUST HIM. Yes, when starting a new chapter in my life that seems bonkers-I TRUST HIM. In other words, the "how much" has only become clearer as GOD and I have become closer. And it is through those times that we have grown intimate. Praise be to GOD. So look at the reading and call these 3 things to mind when doubt comes slinking into your life :(1) GOD has everything under control; HE made all this is on Earth. (2) GOD knows the situation [HE saw it before you were ever born] as well as the future; (3) GOD will ALWAYS chose what is our best interest [even when I want to opt out of what HE is talking about]. Praise be to GOD
“Life would be so much easier if my spouse would stop being so irritating. And that annoying co-worker! If she would just shape up, I wouldn’t get so mad. While we’re at it, I wish my neighbor would stop showing off his new car. You know, I would be so much happier if I had one too.” How often we blame our issues on someone else! But St. Paul reminds us not to lose sight of the real battle. It’s not with the other person but with the devil himself, who wants to separate us from each other and from Jesus. When you have resentful thoughts about your spouse or envious thoughts about your neighbor, who do you think planted them? It’s not your co-worker’s fault; it’s a temptation from the devil! He’s the one whispering the divisive words to you. Pope Francis has spoken repeatedly about how the devil works to cut us off like this. In a homily last April, he asked, “What does Satan do to distance us from the path of Jesus? First, his temptation begins gradually but grows and is always growing. Second, it grows and infects another person; it spreads to another and seeks to be part of the community. And in the end, in order to calm the soul, it justifies itself. It grows, it spreads, and it justifies itself.” What an insidious strategy! It’s easy to feel justified in our complaints, in sharing them with other people, and in presenting a case for why we’re right. But we don’t have to go along with the temptation. Pope Francis continued, “Our Christian life is a struggle. That’s because the Prince of this world, Satan, doesn’t want our holiness. We mustn’t be naïve, right?” Don’t be naïve. Remember that you aren’t fighting against flesh and blood—your annoying co-worker, your boundary-pushing teenager, or your bragging neighbor. So don’t take it out on them. Rather, engage your real enemy the best way you can—by staying close to Jesus, King of kings, who has conquered the devil.
Prayer: “Jesus, help me see the true battle lines—and to trust in your victory!”
One time in scripture, Moses sent 12 men to spy out the Promised Land. The people of Israel were camped right next door and excited about possessing the land. But after 40 days, ten of the men came back with a negative report. They said, “Moses, there are giants in the land, and we’ll never defeat them.” That negative report spread throughout the rest of the camp, and the people began to murmur and complain. But one of the spies named Caleb said, “Moses, we are well able to defeat these people. Let us go up at once and take the land!” It’s interesting that they all saw the same land, the same circumstances, yet they had totally different views. How could their reports be so opposite? Here’s how: Caleb had a different spirit. He saw things with a different perspective. Others were focused on the giants, but Caleb was focused on his God. The people who complained never actually made it into the Promised Land, but Caleb did. He accompanied a new generation that chose the blessing of God. Today, you can choose to have a different spirit. Don’t listen to what everyone else says; listen to what God says. Choose to believe His Word, choose to obey Him, and He will lead you into your promised land!
PRAYER: Father, today I choose to tune out the negative voices of the world. I choose to trust in You even when no one else around me will. I thank You for the good things You are doing in my life and trust that You will fulfill every promise You’ve made to me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Faith in active opposition to common sense is mistaken enthusiasm and narrow-mindedness, and common sense in opposition to faith demonstrates a mistaken reliance on reason as the basis for truth. The life of faith brings the two of these into the proper relationship. Common sense and faith are as different from each other as the natural life is from the spiritual, and as impulsiveness is from inspiration. Nothing that Jesus Christ ever said is common sense, but is revelation sense, and is complete, whereas common sense falls short. Yet faith must be tested and tried before it becomes real in your life. “We know that all things work together for good . . .” (Romans 8:28) so that no matter what happens, the transforming power of God’s providence transforms perfect faith into reality. Faith always works in a personal way, because the purpose of God is to see that perfect faith is made real in His children. For every detail of common sense in life, there is a truth God has revealed by which we can prove in our practical experience what we believe God to be. Faith is a tremendously active principle that always puts Jesus Christ first. The life of faith says, “Lord, You have said it, it appears to be irrational, but I’m going to step out boldly, trusting in Your Word” (for example, see Matthew 6:33). Turning intellectual faith into our personal possession is always a fight, not just sometimes. God brings us into particular circumstances to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make the object of our faith very real to us. Until we know Jesus, God is merely a concept, and we can’t have faith in Him. But once we hear Jesus say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9) we immediately have something that is real, and our faith is limitless. Faith is the entire person in the right relationship with God through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
How much do you trust God? Before you answer, think about these scenarios: Do you really trust the Lord when everything seems out of control and He appears absent? When He has called you to move in a certain direction that seems illogical and risky? When painful circumstances continue, making you wonder if the Lord really cares? We all have times of doubt when our expectations of God are dashed by the reality of our situation. Many of us want to trust Him more but aren't sure how. David reveals that the key lies in knowing the Lord (v. 10). Distance in our relationship with Him results in a lack of faith, but those who are intimately acquainted with Christ find it easier to trust Him wholeheartedly.
Whenever you are tempted to doubt, remember these essential truths about the Lord:
• He is totally sovereign (Ps. 103:19). God has everything in His control even when we can’t perceive it.
• He is infinitely wise (Rom. 11:33-36). God knows every side of the situation (inside and out) and every event (past, present, and future).
• He loves perfectly (Ex. 34:6). Without exception, He always chooses what is best for us, even if it’s not easy.
We grow in faith, not by trying harder to believe but, rather, by pursuing the Lord. This involves doing all we can to get to know Him—in particular, spending time in His Word and talking with Him in prayer. Then our trust in Him will grow as we learn that He never forsakes those who seek Him.
May GOD bless you and keep you. Peace. .
