Are you kidding me?

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.  ⁴ And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

⁵ Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5 AMP

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I got the above passage one day while I was watching Pastor Joyce Meyer and I decided to look it  up and read it over a few times.  And that was my response to it... "Are you kidding me!?!"  God and I often have those types of conversations because sometimes I feel like God must be kidding when he sends messages to me through people, television shows, movies and even my kids.  And what's worse is that they are ALWAYS convicting my current state or mind set.  In this particular situation, I was being convicted about my mind set.

Often times when we go through our trials and tribulations, it is so much easier to be down, stay somber, wallow in misery and feed into self-pity.  I personally believe it's our way of telling the world we are not happy.    Especially since some people (particularly men) are clueless so, of course, women are famous for this 'act'.  But why?  What's the point really?  Ruining the day, the moments, the weeks... for what?  They [the people around you] probably still won't catch on and even when they do, you've still wasted time.  And what are they supposed to do about it?  Fix it?  And if they don't... are you going to be sad all of your life?  Further, what did you gain from being sad or depressed about the situation?  Insight?  Wisdom?  A solution?  Change?  REAL TALK - Acting in this manner to get your own way is manipulative and shows a lack of maturity mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The fact of the matter is this... if we choose to enter and go through our trials with grace, "rejoicing in our sufferings", we will be better for it as "pressure and affliction produces patient and unswerving endurance."  Which then "develops maturity of character" and ultimately "[the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation".  In other words... TRIBULATION = PATIENCE = EXPERIENCE = HOPE.  This is important because "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."  So, if we give in to our emotions, feelings and flesh before we gain the patience and experience, our hearts will be "sick" with lack of hope, which can then personifies into bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, more depression, anxiety etc. etc.

These are the thoughts of the day, not to convict you (well maybe a little) but to encourage and inspire you (and me) to keep pressing forward.  To use wisdom and stand on faith.  God has a plan and it is greater than our plans, regardless of what we THINK is best for ourselves.  By confronting your tribulations with grace, you are slapping the devil in the face and saying "is that all you got?"  Because you need to know that in the end, you are victorious.   But ONLY if you do it God's way.  Me, of all people, DO NOT like feeling out of control.  And that's what the devil plays on every time in my life.  But really, God just allows chaos to happen so that my stubborn-self will let go of the "control" of the situation (that I never had to begin with) and Let Him do my bidding.  

I remember one time I was talking to my "second" mom and I told her that I need to pray for patience because I don't have any and she said "NO! don't do that!  Do you know what you just asked for???"  Well, I know now.  But it's all good.  I will step over this, through this and on this with grace so I can get the experience and finally hope because I KNOW better days are ahead :)  The heart will only get sick if you allow it too.  Stand on His Word.  Stand by Faith.

Be Blessed in TRIUMPHING OVER YOUR TROUBLES

33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] - John 16:33 AMP

Do you have what it takes?

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 17:45-47

What is standing between you and your destiny?  You and your purpose?  You and 'the good life'?  I used the story of David vs. Goliath in the opening verse because out of the all the prophets, disciples and heroes in the Bible, to me, David was the most courageous, determined and passionate.  Prior to his encounter with Goliath, he was told that he would be king.  In the midst of the field as he tended to sheep, David was told by a prophet that he would be king.  Imagine that.  He was anointed to do something that most people would scandal, plot ans kill to do.  But David was anointed.  And we all know that he made it regardless of his circumstances.  King David was a man after God's own heart.  Through his battles, confrontations, jealousy, trials and tribulations, David was anointed to be King and he died a King.

So, I ask you again... do you have what it takes?  All of us have a destiny burning inside of us but few of us will bring it to fruition.  The bible says "For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14 AMP) meaning that we all have it in us to be great.  But 'greatness' is rarely handed to us, or acknowledged, without adverse circumstances and/or a fight.  If you take the time to study the heroes of the bible, such as David, Daniel, Paul, Mary and (of course) Jesus, none of them reached their destiny without trials, tribulation and public rebuke.  They had to endure to overcome.  They knew their purpose was in Christ, they had a message to deliver or an action to perform to complete their destiny, and by knowing that they had to be determined against all odds.  They had to have drive.

When necessary, most of us will dig deep and 'do what we have to do'.  But when it comes to what we have been 'called' to do, our drive seems to be put on the back burner.  Why is that?  There are a few different reasons, the main reason being fear.  Something that I am learning, and trying to embrace, is that fact that the devil fights you the hardest when you have a great destiny.  The devil knows that once he starts messing with your mind, your circumstances, your relationships, your money and your security... fear will kick in.  And everything you have planned, dreamed about, envisioned and worked so hard for gets put aside.  And that's what he wants.  The key is to push past the feelings of fear, inadequacy, anxiety and doubt. ALL the 'greats' in the bible had trials and tribulations and none of the 'greats' travelled an easy road.  The world has us convinced that in order to have anything we want in life, it should be handed to us.  And if we have to fight for it, we're not supposed to have it.  But the truth is that the 'fight' isn't really a fight at all because the battle is already won.  The 'fight' is really a test to see if we have what it takes.  David knew that he was supposed to be king and through it all he never handed his crown over, he never forfeited his throne, he never threw in the towel.  Jesus knew what he was BORN to do.  And though he had to endure the worst of the worst, even though he might have preferred not to be beaten, tortured and murdered, he knew his destiny.

Do you have what it takes?  What is the devil using to try and get you to abort your destiny?  What is he using to try and make you feel that you will never be great?  Is it your health?  You finances?  Your children?  Your marriage?  Your circumstances?  What is he using to fool you?  All he's doing is calling your bluff, trying to convince you to fold.  Don't let him lie to you.  Don't believe the hype.  He's taunting you... 'IF you're so blessed, why are you in so much debt?' 'IF you're so anointed, why isn't anyone calling your back?' 'IF you have a purpose, why is your life so messed up?' 'IF you have the ability to speak to your storms, why can't you find peace in your home?'  Well, let me tell you something today, men and women of destiny... BECAUSE YOU DO have what it takes, you tell the devil and all of his "IF'S" to GO TO HELL.  You dig your heels in DEEP throughout the bill collectors, the poor health reports, unemployment, 'crazy' circumstances and doubt and you declare I HAVE A DESTINY!  Stand on His Word. Have no fear.  Throw all your cards on the table and God will take care of the rest.  You DO have what it takes... because God is with you.

Be Blessed in ENDURING THE TEST

31..If God is for us, who can be against us? 37...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:31b, 37-39 (READ ROMANS 8:18-39)

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