Life’s hard. Stuff’s painful. Disappoints come. Devil’s got a way to comfort you. He’s a liar. Don’t do something stupid. Choose faithfulness. Don’t give in to that temptation. Open your eyes and see that seduction for what it is. Hold tight to Jesus. He’s the way through.
Oh, and don’t try to talk to me about the devil just being some archaic idea. I’ve lived too long and tangled too hard to believe that trash. Wake up. You have an enemy who wants to destroy you, shatter your relationships and shipwreck your faith.
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you!”
Zech 9:9
May our God and Father awaken our souls anew to the depth and length of his love demonstrated in Christ, his Son, our soon-coming King.
One of my FAQs: Do I have what it takes to do this again? (Whatever it is)
I ultimately arrive at the same answer: It depends on who I’m asking. If I’m asking myself, it’s iffy. If I’m asking God, it’s more like, well, let’s see. You have Me. Will that do?
You may not have what it takes today but you have who it takes. Just get on to it.
I’ll say this from the perspective of older age in the faith. If you do not think your pride can get you into as much trouble with God as wrongly interpreting a verse, you could be wrongly interpreting Christ’s gospel.
When I was in my late 20s, the Lord began to teach me a very simple but life-altering practice. What did I wish I had in him but lacked? “Ask me for it.” I was 27 when I sat in the classroom of a Bible doctrine teacher who loved the Scriptures more than he loved his next meal.
“Let it be known to all of you…that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy.” Keep company with this Jesus, then, filled by his Spirit, live & preach the gospel with fiery faith & love. For God so loved the world.
Be patient. The Lord is at work. He is not idle. He is not unaware. He is not indecisive. He is not only the God of time. He is the God of timing. Wait just a little longer. Stuff’s happening that you can’t yet see.
Wanting something to be true is the easiest path to blinding ourselves to what is true. And it makes it easy to fall into being despondent, angry, and bitter.