And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (Hebrews 12:5-7 NKJV)
It's definitely not all pleasant when you keep walking with Jesus Christ. There will always be trials and tests. There will be blessings and breakthroughs. And one thing that I definitely have learned in earnest today is that there will be chastening - there will be times when we will be brought low. There are times that we set ourselves on high - yes, we are to strive for excellence in all things, but we must watch the heart behind our operations.
The subtlest hint of pride is a gateway for the enemy to attack. The smallest thought of insecurity can nudge the heart off-course, and you can expect that it would drive our whole being to push God off center stage for self to be exalted. And, like in the tower of Babylon built so long ago, the Lord would confound us so it would absolutely cease from getting any worse.
Regardless of what happens in our lives, if we keep focusing on the Lord by the grace shown to us through Jesus Christ, He will continue to direct us to the right path. This is not always as simple as a sign on the road to turn back - sometimes the engine has to break down for us to realize how we could not do it on our own.
But take heart, because regardless of how painful chastening is, it is another great assurance that God loves us so much to keep it from getting worse! Our God is an absolutely great God, worthy of all our praise!
My friends in Christ, let us not stop seeking the Lord in all that happens. I am convinced that the Lord loves us with such a perfect love, beyond all that we can humanly perceive as pleasant.
Seek Him this week, and be blessed for His glory!
God bless you!
Shared in http://jibee.blogspot.com/. יהוה bless you!
It's definitely not all pleasant when you keep walking with Jesus Christ. There will always be trials and tests. There will be blessings and breakthroughs. And one thing that I definitely have learned in earnest today is that there will be chastening - there will be times when we will be brought low. There are times that we set ourselves on high - yes, we are to strive for excellence in all things, but we must watch the heart behind our operations.
The subtlest hint of pride is a gateway for the enemy to attack. The smallest thought of insecurity can nudge the heart off-course, and you can expect that it would drive our whole being to push God off center stage for self to be exalted. And, like in the tower of Babylon built so long ago, the Lord would confound us so it would absolutely cease from getting any worse.
Regardless of what happens in our lives, if we keep focusing on the Lord by the grace shown to us through Jesus Christ, He will continue to direct us to the right path. This is not always as simple as a sign on the road to turn back - sometimes the engine has to break down for us to realize how we could not do it on our own.
But take heart, because regardless of how painful chastening is, it is another great assurance that God loves us so much to keep it from getting worse! Our God is an absolutely great God, worthy of all our praise!
My friends in Christ, let us not stop seeking the Lord in all that happens. I am convinced that the Lord loves us with such a perfect love, beyond all that we can humanly perceive as pleasant.
Seek Him this week, and be blessed for His glory!
God bless you!
Shared in http://jibee.blogspot.com/. יהוה bless you!