I have purposefully kept this Vida short. I want you to be able to keep it under notes on your phone and be able to review it while you wait in line or on hold etc. Times of stress do come and go; however, when they go, have we been made stronger by them or weaker? Much like the waves at the ocean. Before I knew how to body-surf, they tumbled me, almost drowned me once, but once I learned how to ride them, they brought me to shore with much joy and pleasure. God’s Word stored in us and repeated in these times of testing and trial will allow the same situation that defeated us before to deepen our faith and bring us closer to Christ.
1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in IN YOU IS GREATER than he who is in the world.
Deuteronomy 31:8, “He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Isaiah 43:1, “Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.”
1 John 4:18, “Perfect Love(His love in us) Casts Out All Fear.”
Psalm 18:2, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.”
Proverbs 3:5-8
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear (respect) the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones (evil deals with fear, anxiety, strife, etc. and the actions that result from them).”
Meditate upon these truths until they become part of the spiritual fiber of your soul. So when fear comes knocking, and it well, you are prepared. Repeating these verses in your mind with your heart, giving testimony is how we fight these spiritual battles. These verses are our armor and defense, and these are just a few. Google Promises from God and allow a daily time that you spend just with Him in study of His Word and prayer. I like to write out and date my requests, it builds my faith when I see them answered, and it challenges my faith when they are not. Many times behind an unanswered prayer is a motive that was just for me, to make me look good rather than making God look good. Here are two examples of Paul living a life completely in God’s Grace.
Philippians 1:19-25 – To Live Is Christ
“For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith.”
Another time was when Paul was in Phillips’s house in Cesarea.
Acts 21:10-14
“And as we stayed many days (in Phillips house), a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
There is no knowing the future, and we have never been able to. However, since our life, in general, has been fairly free of outside threats living with this uncertainty right now is tough. However, it has always been an illusion that the future was stable. Because it has been, we believe it will continue to be. So we have become comfortable rooting into this world when all the while, this “illusion” has been a hindrance to our growth in Christ.
Imagine if our lives were in communist China where at any moment, night or day, the police could break into our home, take our children, putting them into re-education camps, and put us into forced labor. How would we live, would we denounce Christ? Unfortunately, I believe some of us would. We are way too rooted into this life, when we should be deeply rooted into Christ. Paul was building his home in Heaven; he had no stocks, investments, etc., in this world, financially or emotionally. Our wealth is each other, our friendships because of Christ. Money can’t buy that. Whatever the future holds, we do not know, but Christ holds us, and the future does not threaten Him.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
1 Peter 1:3-5 – A Heavenly Inheritance
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Are we emotionally and spiritually prepared to face hardship, Paul was. The key to his readiness was he was sold entirely to Christ. He fully acknowledged that he belonged to Christ, and though no other disciple suffered as he did, it was accepted by him knowing that God would see him through. Do we have this confidence?
In ancient times, in times of war, there were two swords the soldier used. One was for at a distance, and the other was in close; for hand to hand combat, it was the dagger. The dagger was short, precise, and sharp. It did the job of successfully killing the foe. If you remember nothing else I leave you with these daggers, use them well.
2Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Joshua 1:7-9
“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
In this time, whatever comes can be used to deepen our faith or to stumble us from our faith. The choice will be ours as our faith will be sifted, either unto purer and refined gold, or will be shown to be chaff that the winds of hardship blow away. I pray that this Vida, especially the verses, will be taken with great seriousness.
Amen
Father God,
This is a lot to consider. I mostly pray for my brothers and sisters who have had a belief in you but have been busy with their earthly lives here, ignoring their true life with You. This period will be like a spiritual boot camp for them. Help them to completely surrender themselves to you so that peace, confidence, hope, and joy can be theirs. Bring your wayward children home, Father, under Your care and protection.
Final Thoughts… Psalms 23:1-5
The LORD the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Questions or concerns send to Arthur@Vida4U.com. Give me a couple days to answer you.
Be strong, be smart, be in prayer and on the practical side of things grow a garden. Being a little self sufficient can never hurt.
In parting, instead of saying be safe, which is still true I want to part by giving you a strong spiritual rope (ropes are made up of three strands).
Let His forgiveness be your peace, Let His Grace be your joy and let His Love be your strength – Amen