Greetings to you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! Wow! another new day…a late winter’s day, to experience God’s creative goodness and purpose! I know that it is lacking bright sunshine and colour, but that is coming – I see the blades of grass poking their way through to the light. The challenge, for you and I, is to not let ourselves be influenced by these weary, dreary days…and I know that it is a battle but the Words says…you are more than conquerors! Today I will be praying for, asking Father to let His light rise up within you and shine for others to see…and that you will be refreshed by God’s healing rain.
This morning as I drove along to the office I was thinking of a few people who seem to be going through some ‘down days’. I was wondering what I could or should say to encourage them. On my morning calendar I had read a quote – God is looking for those who believe that what He says is more important than what anyone else says. That what He thinks is more important than what anyone else thinks. That what He wants is more important than what anyone else wants. That His will is more important than their own. – Anne Graham Lotz. Therefore I stopped focusing on how I was going to respond…and I started asking God for what He wanted me to share — and, you guessed it – He gave me a few of His words.
First, He gave me: Jesus speaking: “Peter ( add a name), my dear friend, listen to what I’m about to tell you. Satan has demanded to come and sift you like wheat and test your faith. But I have prayed for you, Peter (name), that you would stay faithful to me no matterwhat comes. Remember this:after you have turned back to me and have been restored, make it your life mission to strengthen the faith of your brothers (sisters).” Luke 22:31-32 TPT. Right now I am aware that there are folk who are being sifted and therefore being prepared for mission.
Second, He gave me: David strengthened himself with trust in his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 The Message. All too often we want someone to make it all better for us, we want to avoid the discomfort of the moment, we want some magic formula – but what we need is only found in our relationship with God through our faith.
Third, He gave me: This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together…because we need each other! Hebrews 10:25. When the enemy starts ‘sifting’ – the plan is to isolate us from each other, keep us out of worship gatherings, stir up negative feelings, and disrupt the unity of the family. God then reminded me that fifty-nine times in the New Testament the phrase “one another” is part of imperative advice. Oddly enough, God’s Word never says one time that we are to “go it alone” – no ‘Lone Rangers’.
So – God what is it that You are saying to us today? God what do You think about what how we should respond to this ‘sifting’? God what is it that You want in our lives today? God what is Your will for us today?
Something to think about — have a blessed day!