Have a Blessed Day

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.“ – Philippians 4:12

Nic Vujicic, Author, Speaker, Quadriplegic

Most of us could quote the very next verse without opening the cover of our bible.  I’ll give you a hint; it starts with “I can do all . . . . “ That’s right; “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” {Phil 4:13}  It’s important to realize why Paul the Apostle was saying this.  It is not a verse to stand alone, no it is the conclusion to his statement above in Phil 4:12. 

Are you blessed?  Do you consider that God has blessed you in this life?  What happens when you don’t receive the blessing you feel you deserve?  Was there ever a promise in the scriptures that says your life will be easier by following God?  It’s interesting to contemplate who we think God is, and just what He owes us.

More and more I see people blame God when things go wrong, and analyze until they’re blue in the face why God didn’t do this or didn’t fix that.  Is that who we believe God to be?  The one to fix our problems and get us out of situations that our actions have gotten us in to?  Let’s look at the examples we have from scripture:

David – murdered the husband of the woman he had an affair with after discovering that she was pregnant with his child……God help me

Moses – From the luxuries of Pharoah’s palace to the desolation of Mount Horeb as a shepherd after killing an Egyptian in defense of an Israelite slave who was being beaten at the time …… Why God

Moses – Never enters Canaan after leading the Israelites out of Egypt and wandering in the desert for 40 years ….. What are you doing God

Job – A favored child of God, a man who lived by the law and did no wrong; lost his family, his possessions, his house and his health at the hand of Satan, with the full blessing of God the Father….. Why me God

Matthew – His little brother was murdered by King Herod’s guards after Christ was born, simply because he was a boy under the age of 2 ….. I turn my back on you God

Paul – Educated in University to be a Pharisee, highly exalted amongst his Jewish peers, destined for a life of luxury.  Then salvation and hardship - shipwrecked, beaten near death, imprisoned multiple times, life threatened time and time again ….. To serve God is my blessing

Just a few examples of the men we find in scripture that we hold up as our mentors and our examples.  Each struggled mightily in life, and it is my belief that they were much closer in their walk with God than I will ever be.  Am I truly that entitled to a life of no hardship, no struggles, and no grief simply because I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord?

God gave me salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.  He owes me nothing more.  My life is a representation of His love for mankind, if I choose to use it for that purpose.  Even then, I am not promised a life with no struggle, no heartache and no pain.  Yet, I choose to remain faithful through it all, trusting that God is Sovereign and is in control.  I don’t need to understand it, I just need to trust that I am His child, born again and will one day lay my head upon His lap in peace.  Until then it is my job to wake up each day and praise Him, regardless of my circumstance. 

God doesn’t leave your side when you are struggling, hurting or in need.  He doesn’t abandon you and He isn’t punishing you by allowing these things.  I do not believe God exists to make my life comfortable and to ensure that I am happy.  I exist for Him, not the other way around.  I am not entitled to anything in life; everything I have is more than I deserve because when it all comes down to it, I deserve to go to Hell.  God has already given me more than I could or should ever want and that is eternal life in Heaven with Him and Jesus Christ.  I am very Blessed indeed.

 


© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts 

True Perseverance

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”. – Philippians 4:13

I live in a community just outside of Houston, Texas.  In the 2000 Olympics there was a young girl from our church and community that surprised the world in the high dive competition.  Her name was Laura Wilkinson.  A few months before the Olympic Trials she shattered her right foot.  Through perseverance and remaining focused on the end game, Laura did not give up.  With only three weeks before the 2000 Olympics Trials began, Laura got back into the water to finalize her training.  She surprised everyone the first time by winning the Olympic Trials, and three months later she was off to Sydney, Australia for the Olympics. 
She started the Olympics in 8th place after her first dive, and then proceeded to surprise those watching the competition over the next few days as she climbed to 5th and then with a nearly perfect dive in her final round won the Gold medal.  I remember watching all of this as if it were yesterday, but what stuck in my mind with Laura wasn’t her determination or her come from behind win (as impressive as that was).  What made Laura Wilkinson’s Gold Medal win in the 2000 Olympics stick in my mind was her interview as she was leaving the diving venue that day.  When the NBC sports commentator asked her how she did it after breaking her foot only months before, her immediate reaction, without hesitation was, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   This quote covered the globe at that moment and inspired people from every walk of life to pursue their dreams, not give up and trust in God . 

Whatever you are facing today; whatever challenges, whatever obstacles, whatever circumstances; you must first realize that you are a child of God.  You belong to Him and He wants nothing more than to see you succeed and bring glory to Him in the process.  Continually remind yourself of this throughout your day.  This is one of those scriptures that you need to keep in memory because it is true in any circumstance.  Your strength to overcome starts with your acknowledgement of who it is that gave you that strength.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You have blessed me Lord in all things.  Though I have struggles, temptations and worry in my life, I know I can trust in You to work in me and through me to overcome these challenges.  I give my problems to You: my financial worries, my health and my stress; that You will give me the strength to carry on.  In Your name we pray – Amen


http://www.10minutereader.com©Sondove Enterprises, 2011

Nothing is Impossible

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”  – Philippians 4:13

Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 winner

“We said a prayer, you know we pray a lot, about a lot of things, but this just goes to show how powerful God is.”, said Trevor Bayne after winning the Daytona 500 on Sunday.  The Daytona 500 is arguably the largest racing stage in the world, seen by millions around the globe and was Trevor’s first NASCAR Sprint Series race.  He turned 20 years old on Saturday, the day before the race, and has become the youngest person to ever win the Daytona 500.  He has won smaller races over the last 4 years leading up to this and continually uses winner’s circle as a stage to proclaim the word of God.   Once again, an example of God making what seems impossible, possible; just because He can.

We all remember seeing Laura Wilkinson, a diver in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia move from 8^th position with 5 dives left to win the Gold medal.  Her initial words to the reporters after being declared the winner were Philippians 4:13.  A global stage, an impossible task, and a young heart driven by the faith of a mustard seed, God continues to demonstrate in this day and age that nothing is impossible for Him.

God is our strength and our refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).  In your current situation can you trust this scripture verse?  Consider that the Creator of the world is bound only by His own truth, and therefore is completely sovereign in all things.  There is nothing that He cannot bring to fruition when His children are following His purpose.  He brought the Israelites out of Egypt against every imaginable obstacle.  He delivered the Savior of the world through a young woman with a heart for His purpose.  He allowed Abraham and Sarah to conceive in their old age to bring forth Isaac and the lineage of His chosen people.

We put our earthly logic and perspective on situations and deem that they are impossible.  Abiding in His grace and love requires that we accept His directions in our life.  God is not held to our standards, but vice versa.  He can do whatever He wants, however He wants and whenever He wants.  If you have been struggling to conceive, it is not impossible for God.  If you are weak and continually tempted by drugs, alcohol or sex, it is not impossible for God.  If you are face with unbelievable challenges at work or school, it is not impossible for God. 

The more difficult question is not whether we will praise Him when we get what we want, but will we praise Him when we don’t.  There are times for reasons unknown to us that things do not work out the way we would choose.  Even in those times, we must trust that God knows best and hears our cries.  I often ask why God doesn’t just do it this way, or that way.  I struggle with this at times, because I can see the shortest path to my desire.  I have to take a step back and realize that I don’t see everything He sees, and often it is for my benefit that things do not come to fruition.  Don’t give up, just because you haven’t seen the results of your prayers, my friend.  Just keep breathing and keep believing.  It’s in those times that I remind myself, “God is in control.  He gave me another day, and I am blessed to be in it.  Use what He has given me, and have faith for what He will.”    

 
Prayer:
Loving Father,
We learn from Your word that we are loved and that You hear every word that comes from our lips and every thought on our mind.  Before we ask, You know our needs.  Help us Lord to be patient and to trust in You.  We acknowledge Your sovereignty and omnipotence and rest in knowing that You are in control.  We will praise You in our joy, and we will praise You in our sorrow, for You are worthy of all praise.  In Your name we pray – Amen
http://www.10minutereader.com

©Sondove Enterprises, 2011