What has you upset today? Anything?
I’m asking God to help me make this easy to see and understand because it is such an integral part of learning to have God’s joy and victory over this life all the time.
Maybe you can relate –
I wasn’t doing a very good job of being the shepherd of my life. I even thought I’d turned my life over to Christ. But I hadn’t. Not really. God knew I needed the true Shepherd to watch over me and to guide me to green pastures and still waters. In order to do so, I needed to lay pride and all my other issues and burdens down at the foot of His cross. ☺
I’d developed a hard heart. I was confused and mad at life and God until I gave up, until I genuinely and continually surrendered my life, my condition, my plans, my future, control over my life, my health, my circumstances – to Him.
For me, that was the turning point and when I began to thank and praise Him even though I didn’t feel like it or really understand why I should praise Him in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 34:1). When I look back, in my case, that was when I began to become a true believer. That was when I began to try to believe that He really was working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). That was when the Holy Spirit began, ever so small, to convince me that God was really capable of working all things together for my good.
You have never walked in my shoes, and I haven’t walked in yours.
But God has…
He already knows each day of your life. He’s designed a perfect plan for your life. One that includes really being enabled to live free from the impact all circumstances. In fact, it’s a life that lives with Christ above this world by having joy – His promise of joy – in all things.
Praise Him in all things and watch His grace sustain you and give you a joy you never knew before as He teaches you to overcome this world by His power.
Come unto me (Jesus), all ye that labour and are heavy laden (that was me), and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29
There is no place like His home – And I will dwell in the house of the (my) Lord forever.
God bless,
Mark