Pg 28-29
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
We are told that God tests us, but here, David is praying for God to test him and reveal to him any wickedness.
Joyce mentions, “Trying times are learning times”.
We also know that the more we are tested, the closer we get to God and the more we grow.
So…
If we love God and want to trust Him more, why wouldn’t we pray for more tests and trials?
Just as the trees and grass and flower would wither and die in only sunlight, so it’s the same for us. If nothing goes wrong, how many of us would respond as Job did? Not many.
Satan accused God of spoiling Job:
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
So what happens, in 1 day – even within minutes of each other, he lost all his wealth, all the animals, all of children, most of all his servants, and his response was this:
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Interesting about Job, the next day satan took his health and gave him horrible pain. Job said this to his wife who told him to curse God and die:
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Now let’s be honest…how many of us would do that? Again…not many. But why? I believe God wants that kind of relationship with all of us. We live in an entitlement mentality society and we want what we want, when we want it, and when we don’t get our way, we pout and complain. So who are we really complaining about?
GOD…we are complaining that God isn’t treating us the way we want, as if our way was better than His.
1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
That doesn’t even say shelter…
Look at these verses below…we quote verse 13 a lot, but do we even realize it is referring to being content in all situations? WOW
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
So…I’m learning that I can surrender and trust God no matter what. I’m also learning that it’s ok if I don’t get what I want or even expect to get. He knows what is best for me because He sees the end from the beginning and I trust that He loves me, so, no matter what, all is well with my soul if I’m abiding in God.
Our happiness based solely on Jesus and salvation. That brings us real peace!
Questions
Why is it so difficult to surrender?
Is it because we don’t really trust God?
Or is it because we’ve been fed the lie for so long that it’s so hard to do, that we just believe it too hard and barely try?
Next Week
Pg 29-31
It is difficult for me to surrender to the truth of God’s perfect plan because I like to be in control.
I do trust God although I just wish that I could grasp that life could only be understood backward but must be lived forward.
‘Trying times are learning times.’ I found this section bringing both ‘trying’ and ‘tempting’ to my mind. God does not ‘tempt’ us, but he does allow these trials in our lives to help us grow closer to Him.
James 1:13-14 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
1 Corinthians 10:13 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.
The testing and temptations were bound together for me because the first verse reminds me that it is my own sinful desires that lead me astray. These were ultimately the source of the tests in my life.
As a parent that has needed to tell my children, ‘No’, for their own benefit and from my love for them, it is ridiculously silly for me to still act like a child that wants her own way. And yet, surrendering and trusting God in all areas of my life is not something I’ve fully reached. Getting closer.
It takes a lot of ‘testing’ to see some of the things in me, things I hold onto, that are approved of in this world but are not in accordance with God’s Word. And it is during these testing times, when we have to CHOOSE how to respond, we find out where are at in Parable of the Sower… standing on a path, some rocky ground, shallow soil, or good soil.
Hint: You are in good soil when you quote Philippians 4:13 in all circumstances.
When gold was held to the fire, the impurities rose to the top and cleared away. Iterations of this process were done until the tester could see his reflection in the gold. I like this process as a way to describe my growing relationship with God.
WOW – this is exactly what I know about me too.
It is difficult for me to surrender to the truth of God’s perfect plan because I like to be in control.
I do trust God although I just wish that I could grasp that life could only be understood backward but must be lived forward.
——————-
I just sent off the Scripture of the day and you’ll see a little more into my struggles with the little things. It was only this morning that I saw clearly the lesson that God was trying to show me, as well as the fact that He was in control the whole time. I was the one that wasn’t in control and it frustrated me. So slow to learn He knows best.
Again WOW:
The testing and temptations were bound together for me because the first verse reminds me that it is my own sinful desires that lead me astray. These were ultimately the source of the tests in my life.
As a parent that has needed to tell my children, ‘No’, for their own benefit and from my love for them, it is ridiculously silly for me to still act like a child that wants her own way. And yet, surrendering and trusting God in all areas of my life is not something I’ve fully reached. Getting closer.
——————–
I desired something…He said “No”. The first time, the second time, and the 3rd time. It was after the 3rd time that I realized the why behind the “NO”, and it was like when Paul asked God to remove the thorn and God said NO,
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.