Archive for April, 2008
Light in Darkness
One of the overwhelming blessings I’ve experienced in the midst of trials/suffering is that the Lord uses this “platform” of weakness to engulf us with His boundless love, grace and peace. Some of the most blessed times are those when we find ourselves leaning entirely on our Saviour. Susanna Spurgeon speaks of these sweet times in her book “A Basket of Summer Fruit.”
“Many a time has the Lord had to disturb our nest, and bring us out of some earthly refuge which was becoming too easy and too dear to our soul. But, as music sounds the sweetest when heard across the waters, so do God’s dealings make the purest harmony in our hearts when they reach us over the waves of affliction and trial. When a tried and tempted soul stays itself on God, and sings in the midst of the flood or the fire, such praise must, methinks, be more glorious and glorifying to Him and His mighty grace than the hallelujahs of unfallen angels.”
Not a grain more
The words of Charles Spurgeon reminded me today of the glorious promise that, as 1 Corinthians says, the Lord will never grant us more than we can handle.
“Your trials are assigned by divine wisdom and love. He who weighs the mountains in the scales (Is. 40:12) measures your troubles, and you will not have a grain more than His infinite wisdom determines…Everything that you suffer is the appointment of wisdom, ruled by love.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.”
Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Overflowing with Hope?
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Are you joyful, peaceful and full of hope? If not, Pray.
As long as we are on this earth and battle against our sinful nature we will have times when we don’t feel full of joy, peace and hope. Although as followers of Christ the object of our hope, Jesus, stands unchanging, our fickle feelings can change in an instant.
I was reminded after meditating on this verse of the importance to pray for joy, peace and hope. I found it interesting how this verse emphasizes the Holy Spirit being the one with the power to fill us. This reminded me of my need to pray that the Lord would continually fill me with Joy, Peace and Hope!
Eternity – The Greatness of God
Recently, as I’ve been meditating on eternity, I have found myself overwhelmed by God’s greatness. Only God is so great that His wonder and greatness could fill eternity. One thing I’ve realized as the Lord has changed my perspective on eternity is that instead of feeling anxious/fearful about going to an eternal place, I should be humbled and amazed that I serve a God who is bigger than time and space and who will take an eternity to reveal His love towards me, His child.
1 Chronicles 29:11 “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;you are exalted as head over all.”
Psalm 93 “The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O LORD.”
