Sojourners realize no place, circumstance or situation is permanent. So, as one who sojourns, never get fixated on one place. Always possess forward motion, while yet remaining grounded and disciplined in your inner being. Remember, linear movement is necessary and essential to productivity in our journey.
Life's Perils
Life presents circumstances that result in situations that lead to an expected end (destination, boundary, final point, finish, completion, conclusion, outcome, appointment, purpose, ultimate design; the predestined or predetermined end of a journey or voyage). The Apostle Paul learned to journey well with a deep level of rest and contentment in his heart and his mind, even when he faced misfortune while on his journey. Misfortune and opposition were obstacles Paul learned to press through and overcome. Moreover, as Paul presevered through his circumstances and his situation, He always beheld and experienced the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. (2Corinthians 4:8-18, NLT).
Paul ministered to many people in many places while on his journey (Galatia, Corinth, Philppi, Ephesus, Athens, etc.), but he knew his destiny would lead him to Rome. He said, "I must visit Rome (Acts 19:11)." Again, in Acts 23:11, while facing a Jewish mob and the Sanhedrin, then taken by force and put into the barracks, the Lord visits Paul in the night, and as He stood near Paul He said, "Take courage! As you testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
So what must we grasp from Paul's attitude while on our journey as we, too, face hardship? We must know that the faithfulness and sovereignty of God will carry us through our circumstances to our final destination. We will get to the other side. Amen.
Journeying through Hardship
Sometimes we get weary in well doing or grow anxious in our processes, because we are distracted by the misfortunes happening in our lives or how long the process in our journey is taking. However, the Bible says, "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite request), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7, Amplified Version).
It is important to journey with the mindset that the best is ahead of you with the intent to get there. Pace yourself and take deep breathes along the way. Furthermore, while we are not encouraged to stop and make a permanent dwelling out of a temporary circumstance or situation, we are impelled to retain what it is we learned from our experiences along the way. I know that there are people, places and things we would rather forget about, but remember, in all we go through in life, there is a lesson to be learned. What you're going through now is only a stepping stone into your future. So don't let your past or your present test barricade you into a dead end of hopelessness. Press into what you are believing God for in faith and trust, even when you don't see any signs of its arrival.
Embrace what life has taught you and keep forging ahead. God has a way of bringing beauty out of our ugliness and our mess. The Bible reminds us of this truth in Genesis 50:20 in Joseph's journey to greatness. He said to his brothers, "As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day." You see, 'We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose'. (Romans 8:28.)
Not only did hardships work in Joseph's favor, but he also gained a godly perspective as he endured hardship as he journeyed to greatness. His present affliction was storing up future glory that would impact nations of people, even His own who had betrayed him out of jealousy. Can you forgive and bless those who hate you without a cause? Hum...time will tell.
As we journey with God, like Joseph did, we become mature, complete, lacking in nothing. We learn to work from a whole place, love from a whole place, live from a whole place, forgive from a whole place, lead and give from a whole place. If you never go through pain, you'll never mature, obtain the promise of your purpose, or your heavenly hope in Christ Jesus.
You're journey will introduce pain, but the presence of pain births the promised hope of blessing. James says, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have her perfect work [in you], that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing [necessary for the journey]. (James 1:2-4.)
God's Ways
As we journey, we also adapt to God's ways that will carry us through our process. God's ways, His Word and His personal thoughts toward us enables us to evolve and not grow weary in well doing. Moreover, evolving is the result of one's refusal to faint or quit. Tell yourself, "I am evolving." This signifies growth; one's ability to develop gradually through process; change {to alter or make different; modify; transform; mutate; shift; make different; vary; to become in some respect; to make a new make of; to make a better quality of someone or something}. God is making each of us different, yet better than before.
The Holy Spirit's Role
Everyone's journey is different. Moreover, although we all have different journeys, we all need the Holy Spirit's involvement in our journey. It is never okay as a Christian to journey without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit acts as both an eternal Guide that never gets lost and a Light that never goes out.
Isn't that Good News? You know it is!!!
My friend, JOURNEY WELL.
KINGDOM BUILDING UNITED
(Promoting the Good News of Jesus Christ around the Globe)
No comments:
Post a Comment