KICK IN THE TEETH

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Walt Disney

That is a great quote. But not many of us want to believe its truth do we?

We are not much for adversity. We don’t like trial. We are not wired for challenge and conflict. Rather we are a society that enjoys our comforts. We love our remote controls so we don’t have to get up from the couch. We enjoy our plush Ez-Boys and sectionals. Central air anyone?

I don't believe any of us are big fans of adversity.

But I think what Walt was saying is that often it TOOK a CHALLENGE, it took a little conflict; a little suffering to keep him on track or to help him ascend him to new heights of creativity or resolve.

The truth is our true mettle is not proven sitting on the couch in a vegetated state. GOD knows that it is in the fire of life that our true character and true gifting emerge!

1 Peter 1:6-7

These troubles test your faith and prove that it is pure. And such faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. When your faith is proven to be pure, the result will be praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ...

Yet far too often we run from adversity instead of meeting it head on. Or worse yet we sulk in it; kick the can down the road; play the “woe is me” game.

GOD reminds us over and over again that ADVERSITY is a part of life and our response to it should not be running or pouting but learning and overcoming! Why? Because thanks to GOD we have what it takes to do just that!

1 John 5:4

…because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world.

Maybe you have been kicked in the teeth recently. Maybe you are staring down some obstacles that seem overwhelming and unmanageable. Maybe you know that you are going to face adversity the minute you walk out that door.

Don’t cower!

Don’t run!

Don’t sulk!

Proverbs 24:10

If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

Instead embrace it! Learn from it! Be better through it!

It may just be the “best thing to happen to you”!

I love you all…

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney