a theologian by the name of Martin
Luther once said something remarkable
he said
I have held many things in my hands and
I have lost them all
but whatever I have placed in God's
hands that I still possess
think about what we're being told here
everything that this man has held on to
put his hands on
everything that he's tried to fix and
change he's lost it all
he's been unsuccessful with but he says
whatever I have placed in God's hands
that I still possess
in other words he's saying I've had
better success in life when I've left
things in God's hands
and dear friends
that's what I want to encourage you to
do today
leave it in God's hands that means pray
about it
stand on God's word concerning that
issue or problem
fast and believe God for it
but more importantly leave it in the
hands of the master
and let me tell you this
when you take things into your hands you
are being disobedient to God because the
Bible says trust in the Lord with all
your heart and lean not on your own
understanding
the Amplified translation for First
Peter chapter 5 verse 7 says
casting all your cares all your
anxieties all your worries and all your
concerns once and for all on him
for he cares about you
with deepest affection and watches over
you very carefully
furthermore
Philippians 4 verse 6 to 7 says be
anxious for nothing but in everything by
prayer and supplication with
Thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God
and the peace of God which surpasses all
understanding
will guard your hearts and Minds through
Christ Jesus
this is telling you that if you have
something you're worried about pray
about it
make your requests known to God
and leave it in his hands
if there is something that's making you
anxious
the Bible tells you to cast all all your
cares on Jesus Christ
is there an issue with your children
is there a private sin you're wrestling
with
whatever it is
remember that we are not to worry about
anything
instead pray about everything
tell God what you need
and thank him for all he has done
only then can you and I experience God's
peace which exceeds anything we can
understand
his peace will guard your hearts and
Minds as you live in Christ Jesus
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in Psalm 119 verse 71 David said
it is good for me that I have been
Afflicted that I may learn your statutes
and I've always asked the question
how can it be good for you to be
afflicted
how is there any good for you to go
through pain tribulation and hard times
now if I could draw your attention to
acts 14 verse 21 to 22 the Bible reads
they preach the good news to that City
and made many disciples
then they return to lystra and to Iconia
and to Antioch strengthening and
establishing the hearts of the disciples
encouraging them to remain firm in the
faith saying it is through many
tribulations and hardships that we must
enter the kingdom of God
now I believe that Affliction although
is unpleasant it is necessary for the
Christian man or woman
because if it were not for the struggle
you're going through
how would you know that God will never
leave you nor forsake you
if it were not for the Affliction in
your body how else would you know that
by his stripes we are healed
if it were not for the financial
challenges that you faced how would you
have known that the Lord is a provider
I believe that as we go through life and
face different trials should we remain
in the Lord should we continue trusting
in the mighty name of Jesus Christ
should we stand firm and believe God's
promises to be true
then we will experience what the Bible
talks about in James 1 verse 2 to 4.
consider it nothing but joy my brothers
and sisters whenever you fall into
various trials be assured that the
testing of your faith through experience
produces endurance leading to spiritual
maturity and inner peace and let
endurance have its perfect result so
that you may be perfect and completely
developed in your faith lacking in
nothing
afflictions bring about a result in you
it leads to spiritual maturity it
produces endurance
afflictions will result in you praying
with a purpose
afflictions will leave you with a desire
to really connect with God because you
know that you cannot go through this
battle with your own strength
when the Lord allows you to go through
tough times when he allows you to face
certain obstacles he is refining molding
and shaping you
in his divine plan he knows that this
situation will build your character
this situation will build your faith
this situation will build your prayer
life so be encouraged the Lord is
Sovereign the Lord is in control
I'm sure that each of us when we've gone
through certain things in life
when we Face difficulties or challenges
if you're anything like me then you will
go through that situation trying to
figure out how will this work for my
good
when we are in trouble
how many of us want details from God
how many of us ask God why am I going
through this
how many of us ask God questions like
God if you're going to make a way out
for me how exactly are you going to do
it
at precisely what time
will you come to my rescue
how long will I have to go through this
before things actually start turning
around for my good
but God doesn't always give us answers
while we are in the fire
all we can do is have faith in his
promises
promises like those found in Mayhem 1
verse 7 which says the Lord is good a
stronghold in the day of trouble and he
knows those who trust in him
we ought to hold on to the promises like
those found in Psalm 55 verse 22 which
says cast your burden on the Lord and He
Shall sustain you
he shall never permit the righteous to
be moved
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as you mature in Christ
as you grow and develop in your
knowledge of God
the holy spirit will work within you to
broaden your horizons and shift your
perspective
second Timothy chapter 2 verse 21 says
therefore if anyone cleanses himself
from what is dishonorable
he will be a vessel for honorable use
set apart as holy useful to the master
of the house ready for every good work
so the experiences that I go through
the hardships the difficulties the
testings the trials the sorrows they're
all a part of God's necessary
preparation
as he is seeking to prepare the vessel
to be used by the master as he empties
me of myself
that he might fill me with his fullness
that I no longer live for my own Glory
but I Live Now for his glory that I
serve him in such a way that it brings
glory to him
this is why the Bible says in Matthew
chapter 5 verse 16
let your light so shine before men that
when they see your good works they
glorify your father which is in heaven
as you experience the love of Jesus
Christ as you experience a deep and
rewarding relationship
perspective what is your perspective as
a believer in Christ
I asked this question because at some
point in your walk with the Lord
as you know him more and more you have
to shift your perspective from God take
me here take me over there
two Lord I Thank you for how far you've
brought me
I thank you because I am no longer where
I used to be
perspective
your perspective goes from always asking
and always seeking to receive from God
and it shifts to you always seeking to
serve him
your prayer becomes Lord how can I serve
you
Lord make me a vessel for your use we
can never repay the sacrifice that Jesus
Christ made for us on the cross
we could never find the appropriate
words to fully Express how thankful we
are for his Amazing Grace for his
Everlasting mercy and Providence
now it is my belief that all we can
offer to the Lord as a sign of gratitude
is our lives
all we can offer Jesus Christ is
ourselves
we cannot repay him we cannot compensate
the Lord or do anything to equal his
sacrifice but I tell you the least we
can do is serve him the least we can do
is to become a servant of the Lord
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thank you
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