We have unknowingly settled for so much “death” in our daily life. The reason I can say that is because Jesus is full of life and He’s only beginning to show my wife and I how true it is.
I can’t find or buy God’s kind of rest, peace and joy at Nordstrom, at a bar, in drugs, on Wall Street, or at Walmart. They’re not available outside of God doing His work in a life. And, they’re not available to those who are not willing to let Him work in their life.
Boy, I get so worn out when I’m not trusting God in all things. And, I get so rejuvenated when I get back to trusting Him in all things.
I was a circumstance-driven Christian for so many decades – and I drug my precious wife and daughters into that lifestyle as well since it was the only one I knew. For the most part, every Christian I knew was this way. Until Jesus shined the light of His truth into my darkness and showed me I was circumstance-driven, I had a miserable, fearful existence. With His leading and help, I discovered that by allowing myself to be circumstance-driven, I was shutting Jesus’ delivering power out of my life.
Circumstances will leave you with no resolve. Left unchecked, eventually, they’ll take all hope and faith out of your life. You’ll be left lifeless. Satan knows this. That’s why he’ll do everything (like sudden fear, care, the fear of man, religion, etc.) he can to keep you circumstance-driven.
These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer (I can be of good cheer as long as I’m trusting Him in all things); I have overcome the world (God’s “got me” and I can rest in that fact).
John 16:33
Jesus is saying that in Him, we can stop being circumstance-driven Christians because He’s overcome the world and its circumstances. He is in control of our lives regardless of circumstances (tribulation) so we are now free from them…All of them. Oh, hallelujah!
What a mighty God we have. What good news! We’re free from circumstances. All of them! We can now thank and praise Him in all things. What freedom. What deliverance. Wow.
The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (through circumstances that try to crush life out of you): I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (always trusting Jesus. Always).
John 10:10
Jesus: “Believe Me, I won’t let any circumstances destroy you, My child. In fact, I’ll use them all for your good. That’s how much I love you. That’s how powerful I am.”
The abundant life Christ offers us is a life free from the impact of all circumstances. It’s a life that trusts the Lord at all times because I know He’s working all things together for my good. When I’m believing this, I’m in His rest. I’m dwelling in the secret place of the Most High.
God bless,
Mark
Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.