GROW YOU

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.

 

Sorry I missed you folks yesterday.  Schedule got a little “out of order” – GOOD to be back today with a message that I hope resonates.  It does me given yesterday’s journey!

 

“When the GOING gets tough the tough get GOING” …

 

I know, I know an OLD cliché for sure, but the reality is often when the going does get tough we do tend to “GO” …

 

We GO to the bar.

We GO to the “pity party”.

We GO to the “affair”.

 

You know what I am talking about right?

 

Too many times when the going gets tough we don’t stick around or stick through it, we run, hide, medicate, or quit instead.

 

Friends as hard as it is to grasp in the moment, there is always PURPOSE in our tough times and we MUST ADVANCE THROUGH adversity rather than run from it!

 

The BIBLE talks tough on this…

You are a poor specimen if you can’t stand the pressure of adversity.

Proverbs 24:10 (TLB)

  

What each of us needs to realize is that adversity is one of God's most effective tools for growing us in our faith!

Charles Stanley puts it this way: “What puts us on our knees is what grows us up.”

 

Don’t you love that quote? I do. 

But I don’t love “being” grown sometimes.

“Being” asked to check my ego. 

“Being” questioned or ridiculed about my motivations. 

“Being” challenged to think differently.

 

But I must remember that GOD allows adversity in mine and our lives to bring us CLOSER to HIM, to make us more DEPENDENT on HIM, to bring focus to HIM, and to build our TRUST in HIM.

Yes Charles, to GROW US in HIM!

 

That is why God carefully chooses where He wants to work in our lives and uses pressure and adversity to accomplish His plan. Therefore, we can’t wilt under the pressure or go running from the adversity. Instead we must be courageous and press through it; seeking GOD’s purpose in all of it!

But you (who are devoted to being with God and searching for God) be strong and do not lose courage because your actions will reap rewards. 2 Chronicles 15:7 (AMP)

 

In intense times of difficulty, we may be hard pressed to understand what God is allowing but we can be certain God has a divine purpose in it. It does not matter what the source of the trouble is either. Whether it is from something we caused, from someone else's actions, straight from the enemy or allowed by God Himself, God has a purpose and a plan for it. We can’t lose sight of that familiar yet fundamental truth!

And we know that ALL THAT HAPPENS TO US is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans. Romans 8:28 (TLB)

 

So, ask yourself a couple of tough questions today.

 

How am I handling my adverse circumstances?

Do I GO running to the pity party or the “medication” when times get tough or am I looking to GOD for the purpose in my pain?  Do I seek to advance through my adversities or prefer to cower and retreat?

 

Remember, adversity is the most accurate barometer of our spiritual life. If we want to know the strength and quality of our faith, we need only look at how we handle our troubles.

Never forget! 

We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (TPT)

 

So, make a commitment today!

Choose to advance beyond that adversity!

GOD promises you will GET through it and GROW YOU in it!

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Love you ALL!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE