"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."
- I Corinthians 10:13
The Lord is really taking me through a spiritual growing season in my life. A lot of times things happen in life that we don’t understand "why?" or "how?", but the fact is that it simply is.
This morning at our women’s bible study on being an intentional mom, Wendy challenged us to read this chapter of The Purpose Driven Life, where is talks about seeing life from God’s view. She challenged us with the question, " What extenuating circumstances do you find yourself in that requires a new perspective?" She discussed how hardships are new adventures & opportunities for growth & we are to teach & MODEL this before our children. So that when they are tested, they will trust in the LORD that HE is their source of strength & that He will not give us more than we can handle. And that through our trials and tests in life that God wants to teach us something about Himself, which will strengthen our trust in Him!
---------------------------
(The following is some excerpts from Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life”,
chapter, “Seeing Life from God’s View”. )
“The way you SEE your life SHAPES your life….
How you define life determines your destiny. Your perspective will influence how you invest your time, spend your money, use your talents, and value your relationships.
The Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God’s view of life: Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment.
Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and ALL of life is a test. You are ALWAYS being tested. God constantly watches your response to people, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, & even the weather! He even watches the simplest actions…
We don’t know all the tests God will give you, but we can predict some of them based on the Bible. You will be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, & even senseless tragedies.
A very important test is how you act when you can’t FEEL God’s presence in your life. Sometimes God intentionally draws back, and we don’t sense His closeness. A king named Hezekiah experienced this test. The Bible says, “God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him & to see what was really his heart.”
When you understand that life is a test, you realize that NOTHING is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. EVERY day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to Demonstrate love, or to depend of God. Some tests do seem overwhelming, while others you don’t even notice. But ALL of them have eternal implications.
The good news is that God wants you to pass the tests of life, so he never allows the tests you face to be greater than the grace he gives you to handle them.
In the book of James, it says, “Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
--------------------
My oh my! How I needed this word from Him today! I hope that be sharing the following excerpts from this devotional might help someone else today look at their circumstances in a new light!
I know it did mine!
“HE holds the pieces of us together when we are broken!”
Here are some encouraging scriptures to pray over & promises to MEMORIZE!!
-Psalm 73:28, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
- Romans 8:28, “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to His purpose.”
-Psalm 40:5, “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak & tell of them they would be too many to declare.”
- Psalm 89:1-2, “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.”
-2 Corinthians 1:9, “Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead!”
