Today Joel and arrived home from spending 4 days with family (2 days with his family and 2 days with my family). Overall we had a splendid time! It was so good to get to catch up and watch others get excited about the gifts you've given them! Though Joel and I would have never expected this prior to getting married, our immediate families have been the biggest challenge in our 2.5 years of marriage. Regardless, it is such a BLESSING to see God changing us and giving us his perspective-- making each time we spend time with family better than the last! Praise to Him alone!
The perspective changer for me going into our Christmas "family time" was reading Chapter 7. Here are my "Top 10 Highlights" from Chapter 7.
- He answers to no one, while all answer to Him.
- Contemplate what it means that your Father is the supreme authority over all circumstances, involved all people, for all time.
- Our Father is truly a rock in the midst of the raging storms of life.
- Our Father is sovereign over the good actions of men, the wicked actions of men, and so-called accidental events.
- Genesis 50:20 "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
- Examine yourself for a moment. What does confidence in God's sovereignty look like in your life? Do you demonstrate trust in God's plan and purposes or become fearful and anxious when circumstances spiral our of control? Do your reactions to the hard things in life reflect confidence in God's promise to work even when the bad situations for your good? Or do you become frustrated and depressed when circumstances don't turn out as you think they should? Is your first reaction to trials to think fast and do something or to rest and wait patiently for God's hand to work?
- The key to overcoming with joy in this life is to align our responses to hard things with what we know to be true about our heavenly Father.
- "In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge." Prov 14:26
- His judgements are trustworthy because they are always right. God doesn't make wrong choices. He sees the end from the beginning and leads us accordingly.
- He has compassion and pity for his children, and all his actions toward his children are consistent with his compassion, love, and wisdom.
Meditating on the above thoughts and verses that Wendy mentioned was SO helpful (amidst much else that the Lord is teaching me through His Word!). I have a tendency to "think fast" when I think a situation should be different. It was encouraging for me in the moments that I would normally "think fast" to bring my feelings about my circumstances to Him, lay them at His feet, and ask Him to remind me of who He is and thus how to function as He would. Praise HIM! He was so quick to answer and remind me, HIS child, how to function in HIS love to those who desperately need HIM!
Today I'd like to encourage you to examine yourself based on the questions Wendy mentions...
What does confidence in God's sovereignty look like in your life? Do you demonstrate trust in God's plan and purposes or become fearful and anxious when circumstances spiral our of control? Do your reactions to the hard things in life reflect confidence in God's promise to work even when the bad situations for your good? Or do you become frustrated and depressed when circumstances don't turn out as you think they should? Is your first reaction to trials to think fast and do something or to rest and wait patiently for God's hand to work?
Now, spend some time praying through your answers and ask Him to realign your responses to hard things with what you know to be true about Him, your heavenly Father.
Blessed to be on this journey with you!
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