Our Bodies Belong to GOD

Adults have roles that identify us. We are professionals – lawyers, therapists, teachers and public servants, as well as, parents, mentors, friends, etc. Regardless of who we are to the world in our daily lives, we are, first and foremost, one of GOD’s people. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. Psalm 100:3. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1

Those who identify with the body of CHRIST, children of GOD, have a responsibility to live out our roles daily in light of this primary reality. Additionally, those who GOD purchased for himself by the death, burial and resurrection of His Son JESUS CHRIST and who no longer have our trespasses counted against us (2 Corinthians 5:17-19), are much more than the general population of GOD’s people. We are GOD’s children and we belong to Him, body and soul.

It is typical for believers to focus on our souls being well with GOD, but not so much our bodies.

Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 6 that GOD paid a high price for us – our total beings, all that makes us complete – and that we do not belong to ourselves. The WORD also says that GOD cares about what we do with our bodies so we must honor GOD with the way we use them. This means that we must carefully consider everything we do – “I am allowed to do anything” but not everything is good for you. 1 Corinthians 6:12

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6 speaks specifically to the sexual immorality that was taking place among the members of the Corinthian church – yes, the church! This tells us that believers are capable of missing the mark and offending GOD. There are countless ways, other than sexual sin, in which we may be guilty of using our bodies against GOD rather than for Him.

To the church in Rome the Apostle Paul pleads: “…give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1.  

GOD gave the best of Himself for and to us – His only Son paid with His life so we could have eternal life in place of GOD’s wrath and eternal damnation, which is what we deserve. For this, GOD asks of us only what is reasonable – that we use our bodies, which actually belong to Him, for Him, 24/7 in our daily routines.

Let us think carefully about what we actually do with those parts of our bodies that could have the greatest impact for GOD.

The HEART – Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. Proverbs 4:23.

Are our hearts open and receptive towards others or closed off to our own desires and pre-conceived ideas; and inflexible? Our features reflect our heart condition. Do we show the world a “yes” face or a “no” face, so much so that the hurting do not dare to approach us to share their pain, seek solace and receive hope?

 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45. Are we being careful with our speech which tells others what is in our hearts and, by extension, what we actually think about the GOD we profess?

The HEAD/Mind –  “…brothers and –sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.

Are our minds directed to thoughts that are positive, lovely and uplifting; thoughts that build up our friends, co-workers, and families? Or are we always thinking of the negative and destructive – that which could tear down and shame?

Are we seeking to renew our minds to know GOD's perfect will for us and those with whom we have influence? (Romans 12:2). Are we filling our minds with GOD’s truth to accurately share His WORD or filling our minds with the things of the world – all of which are trite and unhelpful to people in crisis? (2 Timothy 2:15)

The HANDS/Service – "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men." Colossians 3:23

Are we willing to serve and do good works and bear good fruit for the Kingdom of GOD? Are we just as eager to do “great things” for the LORD – that which is obvious and noteworthy, but not so much the mundane, the little things behind the scenes? Are we doing with all our might “whatever your hand finds to do…”(Ecclesiastes 9:10); to serve as unto the LORD, and not for our own glory or the praise of man?

Psalm 100:2 tells us to “Serve the LORD with gladness” – we serve GOD when we serve His people. Barnes' Notes and Commentary on this verse is reflective of how we ought to do this: Let it not be with the fear of slaves; not as a matter of compulsion and force; not with reluctance, moroseness, or gloom. Let it be a cheerful, happy service; let it be freely rendered, let it be an occasion of joy to the soul. The service of God is a source of the highest joy that man knows. Amen!

The FEET – How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

Are we using our feet to bring the good news that JESUS is the hope of the world and the only way to the salvation of mankind, OR running around telling gossip and rumors, complaining and back-biting?

The WORD says, For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? Romans 10:13-14

The Greek word for gospel translates as news that’s 'almost too good to be true.' This is not so. “…Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

JESUS Himself tells us:

•  “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." Luke 19:10
• "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”” John 10:11,18

Like the angels' announcement of JESUS’ birth, we are to use our feet to bring “good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10).

We must continually be mindful of our mandate to use our bodies as unto the LORD.

How are we doing?

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Abba Father, YOU are our LORD, KING, CREATOR and GOD who made us. We are YOURS. Forgive us for careless and thoughtless living that do not glorify YOU and teach us how to live holy and completely for YOU with our bodies, souls, and spirits. Remind us that in life and in death, we belong to YOU and all that we are and have YOU gave for YOUR renown. Not unto us, O LORD, but to YOU alone does all glory belong. Thank YOU for JESUS CHRIST our only hope;  thank YOU for sending Him to save us and not to condemn us. We give all glory, all honor, and all praise to YOUR NAME as we ask all things in JESUS’ NAME.  

Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Only the Lonely Knows How I Feel

Human beings need each other for support and companionship, and we believers also need the support and companionship of other believers. However, more and more people are admitting to loneliness than ever before, Christians included, and there is data to support this.

The *AARP's Loneliness Study found that approximately 42.6 million adults over age 45 in the United States are suffering from chronic loneliness; the most recent U.S. census data show more than a quarter of the population living alone and more than half are unmarried. Additionally, **APA researchers released a report recently that warns policy-makers that social isolation may be a greater threat to public health than obesity.

Unless you are among these statistics it is hard to imagine living daily with the idea that you are alone in the world – that no one cares for you, no one is concerned about what might happen to you, that no friend, spouse, or even casual acquaintance would care if you were to die tomorrow….but the researchers say millions are thinking exactly these thoughts.

While not everyone has chronic loneliness, everyone experiences loneliness at some time and to some degree – it is one consequence of the fall of man.

We could feel lonely in a crowded arena with 100s of cheering football fans, at dinner with a best friend, or in the most intimate of circumstances with a spouse. The recent phenomenon of social media has added another dimension – one may have thousands of  "friends" but no real friendships.

Loneliness is “a common denominator in the equation of life;” it is also an emotion that most Christians will not admit to. Rather than face the fact, we try to bury our feelings and distract ourselves with busyness.  

Our loving Father has a better plan for His children who are lonely.

“Loneliness is a wilderness, but through receiving it as a gift, accepting it from the hand of God, and offering it back to him with thanksgiving, it may become a pathway to holiness, to glory and to God himself” Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015).

GOD created each of us with a unique purpose and plan for each of our lives and this very uniqueness can be the cause of some loneliness. 

So, yes, in our wilderness of loneliness our comfort lies with our Creator. We ought to face our loneliness, offer it up to GOD and begin to commune with Him honestly about where we are so we can both know Him more deeply and His will for our lives.

As we give out time and thoughts and emotions to GOD, our focus will shift from who or what is against us to the One who loves us. We begin to embrace anew, or relearn, the fact that GOD knows our sorrow (Psalm 56:8), He understands our suffering (Hebrews 2:18), and He is for us (Psalm 56:9.)

Whatever the cause of our loneliness the cure is always the same – the comforting fellowship of GOD the Father, JESUS CHRIST, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 11:28). As we consistently and with determination engage the Godhead in our struggle it will diminish. Soon we would have exchanged our wilderness of sadness and despair for an oasis of life-giving discoveries that nourish and heal our souls. We discover how much GOD values us and understand His will for our lives.

We will come to a place where we are no longer lonely but we seek to be alone. Like JESUS we withdraw often to lonely places and pray. Luke 5:16. We are now aware that to be away from others gives us opportunities for intimate time with GOD where we can worship, give thanks and appreciate our true value in and to Him and our place within His family.

When we trust Him with our hurts, GOD mercifully brings us to a place of robust spiritual health where we no longer feel like friendless outcasts: I will give you back your health and heal your wounds," says the LORD. "For you are called an outcast--'Jerusalem for whom no one cares.'" Jeremiah 33:17

We are now reaping the reward of obedience. By giving the gift of our solitude to GOD our despair has become for us a holy delight!

We must stop thinking that other people can provide us what only God can provide and trust GOD’s plan for His broken children. He wants us always to turn to Him first for comfort so He can fortify us to be a comfort to others in whatever unique way He has designed for us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

GOD’s children ought never to suffer chronic loneliness when we have the entire Godhead always at our disposal to aid us.

The Father, the SON, and the Holy Spirit are more than enough to fill our emptiness and make us whole.

My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. Psalm 25:15-16

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our Holy and loving Father, the only ONE who can comfort us and bind up our wounds of loneliness and despair and heal us perfectly. Thank YOU for being a Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows and orphans. Thank YOU that we can trust YOUR WORD and YOUR promise never to leave or forsake us.  Thank YOU for knowing our silent and desperate grief and weeping with us. Thank YOU for CHRIST JESUS our LORD and High Priest who understands our weaknesses and intercedes for us daily; JESUS who was despised and rejected but showed us what it means to never give up, to persevere through our pain for the sake of our own unique place in YOUR Family – for YOUR NAME and YOUR glory! We are saved to the uttermost by the ONE who is the initiator and the finisher of our faith. We thank you for being all that we need for life and for godliness. We give all glory, all honor, and all praise to YOU and we ask all things in JESUS’ NAME.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

*American Association of Retired Persons

**American Psychological Association

Do We Choose CHRIST? – Not Really!

Among the most common personal salvation phrases used in Christian circles are “You must choose CHRIST” or “I choose/chose to follow CHRIST” or “I gave my life to CHRIST”, or some similar account. You’ve heard it or said it on countless occasions, as I have.

However, mature believers know that this account of our salvation is incorrect scripturally – that in the wantonness of our flesh we have no desire to “choose CHRIST” and never would – not for the long haul. It is our Father who chooses us for salvation and presents His chosen to His SON for cleansing and purifying.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4

JESUS Himself makes this fact abundantly clear in the Gospels – All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:37 JESUS acts only on what the Father supports, so He accepts His Father’s choices for His Church and protects them as the Father wills – unto eternity.

• For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. John 6:38-39
• I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. John 5:30

Once the Father does the choosing and presenting to the Son, we have to follow Him. The Spirit of GOD brings about a rebirth in us whereby we accept what the Father has already done – decided on us as children of GOD.

We do not make the decision to be in GOD’s family.

“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3

JESUS explains true rebirth to the Jewish religious leader Nicodemus – that unless the Holy Spirit changes him on the inside, his own efforts will not cause belief in CHRIST as Messiah and lead him to experience GOD’s Kingdom.  “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life…” (John 3:5-6)  

We who are “saved,” “choose CHRIST,” or “give our lives to CHRIST” do so because of GOD”s Spirit at work in us and not because we make an intellectual choice to be “spiritual” or “a better person.” Since what we do in the flesh is always tainted by the flesh, GOD uses His Holy Spirit to initiate our salvation.

The act is entirely outside ourselves and GOD alone gets the glory. We then have nothing of which we can boast – GOD did it all. (Ephesians 2:8)

He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. Ephesians 2:2

We are reborn children of GOD for the Kingdom of GOD, not for ourselves.

Through CHRIST we obtain the righteousness of GOD which propels us to do the works for which GOD has designed for us to do for the advancement of His Kingdom. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

When we truly understand that we are chosen we can do for the Body of CHRIST what GOD wills with boldness and freedom and no condemnation of the flesh. We recognize that it is not about us but about the Father and His Son.

We are free to serve Him without worrying if we are ever doing well enough or trying hard enough.

We find freedom in the fact that we are but a tiny cog in the wheel of the Father’s grand scheme of regeneration.

The souls we are “winning for CHRIST” have already been won! We are in effect reaping a harvest that we didn’t plant – GOD and His Spirit have already done the work for us.  

“…What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” John 4:36-38

Knowing that He chose us to be part of His Church we can be the most joyful of people – doing all that the Father wills to bring the most glory to HIS NAME!

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit…” John 15:16

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, truly, YOU are the only WISE GOD! We thank YOU for a perfect salvation plan, which YOU completed before the beginning of time; we proclaim the excellencies of HIM who has called us out of darkness and into HIS marvelous light! Thank YOU Father that YOU did not leave the choosing to us knowing how much we love our sin and hate YOUR righteousness, YOU decided, to save us from ourselves. Thank YOU for using us to be harvesters of the crop YOU planted with wisdom and forethought.  Because YOURS is perfection, we are not surprised by or question YOUR choices…we are just grateful for CHRIST JESUS our LORD and YOUR Holy Spirit working together to do what we could never do on our own, save us to the uttermost. We give all glory, all honor, and all praise to YOU and we ask all things in JESUS’ NAME.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Suicide Does Not Discriminate

A popular radio personality announced this past week that her son has died by suicide. This dear one leaves behind a fiercely supportive network of family and friends who are both shocked and dismayed by a tragedy that is both horrifying and heartbreaking, and without answers as to why intensive treatment, counseling and unconditional love wasn’t enough to make him whole and keep him with them.

Suicide is a complicated subject, even for medical experts, so it is not the purpose of this article to  try to solve its complexities. I would like simply to suggest that the children of GOD have a greater awareness of, at least, the basics of suicide for ourselves and our loved ones and  practice empathy for those who have known the pain of suicide.

It’s a fact – believers and unbelievers take their own lives.

Suicide does not discriminate among gender, age, or ethnicity and, sadly, Christians commit suicide at the same rates as non-Christians.

All deaths are tragic but none could be darker or more bewildering for families than suicide. Counselors call death by suicide a complicated grief or complicated bereavement, like death by murder or terrorist attack. Family members must grieve the loss of the loved one as well as face the trauma of the suicide.

As a parent, my instincts tell me that such a trauma and the accompanying emotions could only be magnified when a teenage child takes his own life. How can parents not suffer the deepest agony of blame, and soul-searching retrospection when suicide prematurely rips away a child so cruelly?

It’s impossible to undo what’s done but we can do something to prevent what may.

According to consumer reports put out by the **US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), over 41,000 people die by suicide each year in the United States – one person every 12-15 minutes. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of US deaths overall and the second leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 34. Some actual suicides could be missed and are reported as accidents.

The NIMH reports that although suicidal behavior is complex and there is no single cause, people most at risk tend to share certain characteristics. The following are some signs that someone is thinking about suicide:

• Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
• Talking about feeling empty, hopeless, or having no reason to live
• Making a plan or looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online, stockpiling pills, or buying a gun
• Talking about great guilt or shame
• Talking about feeling trapped or feeling that there are no solutions
• Feeling unbearable pain (emotional pain or physical pain)
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Using alcohol or drugs more often
• Acting anxious or agitated
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Changing eating and/or sleeping habits
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Taking great risks that could lead to death, such as driving extremely fast
• Talking or thinking about death often
• Displaying extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad to very calm or happy
• Giving away important possessions
• Saying goodbye to friends and family
• Putting affairs in order, making a will

Among known risk factors for suicide are depression, other mental disorders, or substance abuse disorder; family history; exposure to others' suicidal behavior, such as that of family members, peers, or celebrities – the latter being a major contributing factor for teenagers.

Christians we do not escape suicide and must have a proper response to suicide.

Christians generally have mixed views about suicide, some see it as an unforgivable sin that sends people straight to hell while others see it as not a sin at all.

My understanding of GOD’s WORD is that the blood of CHRIST is enough to cover all sin, except that which blasphemes the Holy Spirit. Like adultery, lying, fornication, stealing, etc., murder is an act against GOD, self-murder included. However, GOD’s WORD gives these assurances to all believers:

• Neither life nor death – not even death by suicide – can separate us from GOD's love when we are in CHRIST JESUS. Romans 8:28-39.
• We all sin and fall short of GOD’s standards but by His grace He freely makes us right in his sight through CHRIST JESUS who freed us from the penalty for our sin. Romans 3:23-24.
• JESUS is alive and sits at the Father’s right hand as our advocate to make intercession for us who are His – especially when we are incapable of doing so; by this JESUS keeps all saved who come to the Father through Him. Hebrews 7:25

The Old Testament Judge Samson died by his own hand (Judges 16), and yet he is included among the list of GOD’s faithful in Hebrews 11.

The pain and hopelessness the suicidal must feel is beyond the imagination of those who are not in that person's shoes. That one could be so desperate for release as to choose death as a way of escape is not something most of us would even think to do.

The families of these victims are victims themselves and need our heartfelt prayers and encouragement. They need Biblical reassurance that their loved one who died of suicide in CHRIST has a promised hope through CHRIST.

We should not pass judgement when we do not have the authority to do so…let us not be too quick to condemn anyone to hell. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. James 4:12

Novelist Willa Cather, in her book My Ántonia, offered this very compassionate prayer at the funeral of a suicide: "Oh, great and just God, no man among us knows what the sleeper knows, nor is it for us to judge what lies between him and Thee."

Let us do only what our Father commands and pray - that He provides grace, comfort, strength and mercy for all concerned.

**Additional prevention resources listed below.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our Abba Father, we pray for those who are affected by the pain and sorrow and hopelessness of suicide and for those whose pain is buried too deep for others to conceive and so beyond their ability to bear that their one constant thought is to escape their torment by suicide. Father we come to YOU, because YOU are the GOD who sees all, knows all, and understands all – nothing is hidden from your sight. YOU are familiar with our deepest hurts and the unshed tears hidden behind frozen smiles. Father we ask for discernment for those who do not yet see…open eyes and show us how to help and give hope and encouragement. Teach us how to properly bear one another’s burdens in the spiritual by prayer and in the practical by seeking medical aid. When we don’t know how to pray remind us that we have a High PRIEST who is always interceding for the broken, and who has promised to and will save to the uttermost. Remind us that in life and in death, JESUS remains our hope. And we thank YOU for sending Him to save and not to condemn us. We give all glory, all honor, and all praise to YOU as we ask all things in JESUS’ NAME.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Suicide hotlines:

suicidepreventionlifeline.org

(800) 273-TALK (8255)

800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433)

Suicide prevention and awareness sites:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

Grief support for suicide survivors:

Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors

Survivors of Suicide

Believing GOD, Renewing Strength

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3

Once again our Nation has been traumatized by a senseless tragedy.

Monday morning dawned with devastating news of an unbelievably tragic and heart-wrenching incident in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Dozens of unsuspecting concert attendees murdered in the pre-dawn hours; mowed down by a barrage of gunfire. Like sitting ducks 20,000 plus folks were mostly unprotected in an open field. In addition to the deaths, hundreds of others received severe to minor injuries either from bullets or in the ensuing stampede. The reasoning behind this evil and unprovoked action is unclear, so far.

New technologies, global news service outlets and social media, etc., bring such tragedies to the entire world in real time. Regardless of where in the world the horror is taking place, the impact is felt up-close and personal. Insecurity is now a common universal emotion and Peoples everywhere have the same fearful question, where will all this end?

The American psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) says that there’s a cycle people go through who experience seemingly unending pressures. First surprise, then there’s anger that becomes intense rage; but as the pressure continues the fight goes out of us along with the anger, then we come to a place of “When will this end?” and eventually apathy.

The apathetic feel little about anything. They are numb to what is going on around them and simply stops caring about everything, whether it be good or bad.

Events of our time should not surprise or impact GOD’s children like it does the rest of the world.

The Scriptures warn us that we will be victims of increasing acts of human cruelty and hate as we approach the last days when people will turn away from GOD and holiness.

“…there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” 2 Timothy 3:1-4

GOD’s children however are urged to remember what we have been taught – that our lives have purpose, we live by faith, are patient and loving, and endure in difficult circumstances.

Apathy in a child of GOD is a contradiction to our beliefs. Such feelings are unwholesome and have a negative impact on our relationship and walk with GOD. To allow adversity to overwhelm us to the point of not caring about life is insolence and an insult to GOD as Creator of life, to question His Sovereignty in general and His continuing goodness in our individual lives.

A person who can see no purpose to life and is blind to the blessedness that GOD produces through adversity cannot know CHRIST as Savior and LORD – one who walks by sight and not by faith.

James Hudson Taylor, in reference to the story of Job says this is what we ought to know about adversity: “Satan would very often harass the believer in times of sorrow and trial by leading him to think that GOD is angry with him. But our heavenly Father delights to trust a trustworthy child with trial.” The point here being that Satan has only as much power over our lives as GOD permits and GOD trust us to remain faithful in trials for His delight. In all of Job’s trials he never doubted the Sovereignty and goodness of GOD. 

No matter how dire our circumstances or that of others in our community, we must not forget that there is much more from which GOD protects us – every second of every minute of every hour of every day, there are dangers about us, seen and unseen. He is our sun and our shield (Psalm 84) whose faithful promises are our armor and protection (Psalm 91.).  And He does these things for everyone: (GOD) makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers alike. Matthew 54:45

Our Father is still both holy and immutable, we must have faith and believe what we know of Him.

Author and speaker Bruce McDonald in his book Believing GOD in Difficult Times – the Fight of Faith, writes, in part: “There have been and will continue to be frightening and harrowing times here on earth. We are no match for the Enemy (but) victory is assured because we have One on our side who is greater than our foe…Intimacy with and knowledge of our LORD is essential to a strong walk of faith. We must get to know GOD, gain confidence in Him, and even boast in the fact that we, by His grace, know Him.”

No matter how tempting it is to fold up our tents and walk away in the face of disaster and conflict, the children of GOD must buckle down and push through. Victory is ours and it is just ahead! We must fight for that which our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST purchased for us with His own precious blood – the right that we have obtained as children of GOD

.

Those who know the Almighty GOD who reigns in heaven as Abba Father have no reason to be overcome by fear. We have His WORD that He loves us, cares about every detail of our lives and His assurance that He will:

• Be with us and will never leave us nor forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:6
• Keep us in perfect peace because He knows we trust Him. Isaiah 26:3
• Help and strengthen. Isaiah 40:28-31; 41:10
• Keep His Holy Spirit living in us as a constant reminder of what He has done for us through JESUS. John 14:26-27
• Hear our cries when we are brokenhearted and sorrowful and deliver us from our enemies. Psalm 34:17-18
• Give us sufficient grace to endure and substitute His power for our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
• Be GOD of all comfort who is able to comfort us perfectly in sorrow and teach us how to comfort our brothers and sisters in CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
• Set aside in heaven a glorious and eternal reward for each of us that far outweighs the temporary afflictions we experience here on earth. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

This is still our Father’s world.

GOD has not abdicated His rule over His creation nor will He abandon those who belong to Him.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD, Mighty and Everlasting Father. YOU have been our help in ages past and YOU are our only hope in the difficult days to come. Father, help us to not grow weary and forbid that we allow apathy to overtake us as danger and disaster rage all about us. In these unsettling times may we continue to trust YOU with all our hearts and not our imperfect understanding. May we know YOU as the One true GOD, Sovereign and Immutable. May YOUR WORD live deep in our hearts and minds and keep us aware that we are YOUR children, that we live in the shelter of the Most High, and that we will forever find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. YOU Father are our refuge and our strength, our sun and our shield. We give thanks and praise as we acknowledge that all glory, all honor, all dominion and power are YOURS for ever and ever.

We offer our prayers and petitions in JESUS’ NAME.

Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile