Pressing On With Endurance

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 

Finding Endurance is no small thing. A few months ago, I set out to lose 30 pounds. I knew my goal was high and I might not reach it, after all, the last time my weight was that low was before I was married, or during the time when I was dying. I’ve been overweight most of my adult life. 

What led up to this was that I ran into problems with my diabetes medication. It was the only diabetes medication I could take without side effects. But then the company that makes the medicine began making it in a new location with a new filler that caused me terrible side effects. I knew I would need a radical change in diet and in my weight to go off of diabetes medication. 

I began exercising, eating less, and after much hard work, I have lost twenty-five pounds so far. It has not been easy, but I had a Helper, someone who guided me through it all. It was God. For I knew from the start that a massive weight loss and change in lifestyle was something I could not do on my own, I needed help from above. 

In my daily scripture and inspiration email I read the following: 

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17 

And the following quote: 

It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent. –Jeremy Taylor, author 

And so it is. Nothing is impossible for us when we remember that not only is God helping us, He is all powerful. Who could fail with that kind of help? 

I encourage you to make bold changes and take huge leaps regarding the changes that you need to make. Pray about it, ask God for wisdom, and then remember that nothing is too hard for God, and He is on your side, right there helping you all the way. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, each day we need endurance and help from you. Whether our goals are large or small, with Your help we can accomplish anything. Amen

We Are Flying Blind Through Illness

“I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.” Job 29:15

    Sometimes airplane pilots get stuck in fog or other weather conditions where they must completely depend upon their gauges and air traffic control to get them safely home. It takes a great deal of faith for those pilots who are flying blind to rely upon someone or something other than themselves.

    Many of us are also flying blind. We cannot see the road ahead, and we have no idea how we will get to our destination.

    We too must depend upon someone else to guide us, to get us safely home. You have heard the saying “God Is my co-pilot,” but for us, the Lord is much more. He is both guiding us and keeping us safe on our journey. We completely depend upon Him.

    When illness encloses you in a fog bank of desperation and fear, when affliction leaves you flying blind through life, you must have help to get you through each day. You need help to take another step when it feels there is no ground beneath your feet. The Lord must get you home safely.

    There have been many times in my life when I had no clue how I could survive my affliction. Dark, cloudy days of illness have left me feeling hopeless and helpless. If the Lord had not made a way where I could see no way forward, then I would not have survived the hardships. I am sure you feel the same way.

    This week may have brought stormy weather that left you feeling helpless, or it may be that the days and weeks ahead will cover you in a “fog bank” of tribulation. I encourage you to call upon the Lord as the only reliable guide through the stormy weather of affliction.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, some days we cannot see our way forward, we see no way through the storm of trouble that surrounds us. Please get us safely through the dangerous weather of life. Amen.

The Power That Comes From Faith

 

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Hebrews 11:1-2. 
 
Throughout life we have the choice to hope or doubt, be courageous or fearful, and to have faith or disbelieve. 
 
Some people are naturally "doubting Thomas's". I have struggled with doubting much of my life. Anxiety makes us prone to disbelief. The thing that helps me to get back on track is remembering everything the Lord has done for me. Recalling times when things looked hopeless, but the Lord turned circumstances around and they worked in my favor instead. 
 
If I could only push a button and instantly recall everything the Lord has done for me, I would never doubt again. When my eyes are on the Lord instead of on my problems, the world comes clearly back into focus and I can see that my troubles are temporary, but the Lord's blessings are eternal.  
 
When we walk by faith we are walking with the power of the Holy Spirit. He gives us spiritual gifts including faith. 
 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23. 
 
"Faithful" a "man of Faith" that is what I want to be remembered as being. I want to be the kind of Christian who trusts God in good times and bad times. It is easier said than done, but as we focus more on our Lord and less on the size of our problems, we will remember that our God is bigger than any challenge that confronts us. 
 

Faith is not easy. Doubt is natural. With God's help we must rise above our doubts and walk in the power He gives us through faith. 
   

This week when you are tempted to doubt, when the problems seem immense and your faith feels tiny, call upon the Holy Spirit within you. Look up to the heavens and remember that you serve an awesome and all-powerful God! 
 
Prayer: Dear Lord, today brings many opportunities to doubt You and Your provision for me. Help me through Your Spirit to stir up the faith within and to walk by faith, not by sight. Amen. 

Choose Not To Be Bitter

 

“’Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.'” Ruth 1:20 

   When I was a boy, along with my grandmother, I would visit an older couple in her neighborhood. The elderly woman was one of the sweetest ladies I had ever met, she was always kind and generous, thoughtful, and nice. On the other hand, her husband was one of the grumpiest, grouchiest, meanest, and most bitter people I ever met. 

  Some years later, the dear neighbor lady died. I could not help but think the old bitter man would never have any visitors, no one would want to be around him. But then there was a change in him; he too must have realized his bitterness would guarantee him a lonely life, so over time he changed. He became one of the friendliest people I ever met, always going out of his way to be friendly to passersby. He traded his bitterness for a better personality. 

  Affliction can make us bitter. I think the “natural” course of suffering and pain is to become bitter in our misery. It seems to go against common sense to become better in our harsh circumstances, to be cheerful in our misery. How do we find our way from bitterness to a better attitude? 

  I think if we depended upon our own strength, we would have much difficulty turning our bitterness into a better life. We need help and power from above. Our own talents and abilities are not enough to endure suffering and remain free of bitterness. Yet by calling upon God, asking for the joy of the Lord, for peace and courage in our difficulties, we can leave bitterness behind. 

  I know how easy it is to become bitter when hardship strikes, but bitterness leaves us nothing, and it steals our joy and hope. We need power from above to turn from bitterness, to smile, love, hope, and spread joy in spite of circumstances that could make us bitter, let us be better instead of bitter. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be better and not bitter, gives us the joy that makes us strong in spite of our weakness. Amen.