GOLIATHS

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)

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

“Don’t fear your weaknesses—God supplies all the strength you need. Be afraid of those moments when you think you’re independently strong.” ― Paul David Tripp

My friend Amy and I had one of our 180+ minute pow wows yesterday.  And when we convene we traverse a lot of topics.  And yesterday was no exception.  We navigated the practical, the emotional and the spiritual.  We wove ministry business in between several detours of revelation and sharpening.

And yet as we were just talking about the OVERWHELMING nature of this opiate challenge in front of us and all the moving parts, things like potential MEDICAID changes, what role does medicine play with a FAITH community who often soundly reject it, how do we serve a growing group of afflicted who either have no experience with things “JESUSY” or have been so hurt by members of the Church that the mere mention of faith or GOD sends them shuddering and looking for cover.

It is a BIG challenge for sure.

And then Amy casually referred to David and Goliath (Samuel 17 if you need a refresher).

And she is right.

The fight we are in against this OPIATE crisis looks a lot like this familiar story and often quoted analogy.

And yet I love what TRIPP says when it comes to facing the overwhelming or for situations when we feel overmatched; that we are NOT to fear our weaknesses.

For the truth of the matter is when we are WEAK we truly are strong; when we are faced with the overwhelming, GOD’s grace is SUFFICIENT!  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s POWER may rest on me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9. 

Remember (we) CAN:

do everything God asks (us) to with the help of Christ who GIVES (us) the STRENGTH and power. – Philippians 4:13 (LB)

So yes, while the challenge in front of us is HUGE it is not IMPOSSIBLE.

For we all “KNOW” that with GOD nothing is IMPOSSIBLE. 

The real question are we OPEN to ALL that GOD will do in us, through us and with us to overcome it?  Are we willing to ask for open doors and new insights? Are we willing to embrace both divine and practical revelations?  Are we willing to allow HIS WILL to be done?

And that is not just true of this situation that consumes mine and Amy’s days.  

NO. 

These truths are applicable to the GIANTS in your life right now.

Depressed and weakened? 

GOD’s POWER is ready to help you find light and life again.

Oppressed?  GOD’s GRACE is ready to free you! Believe it!

Out of options? GOD’S imagination is primed and ready to bolster your exhausted creativity and shed new light and offer new solutions.

Friends, what I am sharing is NOT new but sometimes needs revisited.  

GOD has never asked us to take on the heavy lifting of life alone.  Not once.  He says repeatedly how HE goes with us, empowers us, enlightens us, and emboldens us.  It is up to us when we are faced with our GOLIATHS to remember that GOD will ALWAYS provide the strength to fight the battles we can’t avoid or that seek to overwhelm!

We just need to let HIM!

Have a blessed day!

I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE