Tested, Pray, Rescued, Praise

The LORD will test me. I will pray for relief. The LORD rescues me. I will Praise Him. And again and again and again and again and again.

I know that when things are not going as I have planned or I am presented with a test/trial in life, I reach out to the LORD in prayer for relief. At the proper time, the LORD rescues me from the trial at which time I praise Him. This is a recipe for the relationship with the LORD that I must continue.

This morning I continue my study on the word “tested” and was brought to the passage in Psalm about the awesomeness of the Lord’s deeds. The passage discusses this recipe for us to follow and care for us that He gives.

“¹⁰For you, O God, have tested us;

you have tried us as silver is tried.¹¹You brought us into the net;

you laid a crushing burden on our backs;

¹³I will come into your house with burnt offerings;

I will perform my vows to you,

¹⁴that which my lips uttered

and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

¹²you let men ride over our heads;

we went through fire and through water;

yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

¹⁵I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,

with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;

I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah”

— Psalm 66:10-11, 13-14, 12, 15 (ESV)

I know that these verses may be out of order from a written word, but they share the recipe as I see them. First it is mentioned of the tests/trials that the LORD has brought upon us in verses 10 and 11. Next in verses 13 and 14, is the reminder that while going through the tests/trials we have made promises in our prayers to the LORD. And in verse 12 we are assured of our deliverance/rescue from the tests/trials. And finally in verse 15 we praise the LORD for the journey and deliverance/rescue.

Every day I have the opportunity to go through with this recipe. God will test me. I will then pray for deliverance from the test. God will rescue me at the right time (not to be confused with my timing request). I will then praise God for the experience and the deliverance.

By following this recipe, I am continuing my deep relationship with the LORD. He is there for us all the way from start to finish. There will be high points where I will praise Him and there will be low points where I will pray for deliverance. Following each of those points, there are tests and rescues that are fulling in the control of the LORD. I am to continue with my part, prayer and praise to experience all that the LORD has for me.

Tested, Pray, Rescued, Praise

What tests have you been led to/through by the LORD? Are you only looking at the rescue of it all? What if you saw the entire recipe and embraced it to deepen your relationship with the LORD?

Just Respond With “Here I Am”

How often are we asked something and before we even offer to be available, we are looking for clarity first? Ex. “Can I get your help?” — “With what?”, “Will you do me a favor?” — “How can I help?” Now it may seem as though we have placed ourselves in a position of offering, when in fact we may be looking for the way out, the excuse to avoid. Abraham did not seek clarity first, he simple said to God that he was there and available.

“¹After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’” — Genesis 22:1 (ESV)

I have to be better at this. I have to give the response of “here I am”. I have to just do and not look for the why or the how. I have to act and not sit on the sidelines. I have to do more.

In 2023 my word of the year was “act” and after reflection, I do not feel as though I accomplished what I set out for at the beginning of the year. I feel as though I may have sought clarity and was looking for the “perfect” opportunities. I was not saying “here I am”.

With 2023 in mind I have chosen the word “more” for 2024 with the intention of just that for the year and forward. I have to look at each opportunity as a chance to just be there and take on whatever asked. I have to get out of the mindset of picking and choosing to help and just be available to help. I know, asking how or what help is needed does not seem to be out of bounds, but as I read this morning, I see that it can be restrictive and setting up for the out.

Abraham did not qualify his availability to the LORD. He simply said “here I am” and was willing to take on whatever he was asked. He had sojourned and waited. God did not provide for Abraham at the instance he asked, Isaac came along well after God said he would have a child with Sarah. Abraham, just heard God and said he was there.

I have to do more to just be there. I have to say “here I am” more. Whether that is to God or anyone who asks, I have to be there. I have to remember that someone has asked me and I have to go, regardless of what is needed.

When have you been asked and sought clarity first? Are you maybe looking for the way out of it as opposed to looking at helping? What if you just went with “here I am” and took whatever came?

Know That God Will Rescue From Trials

God knows what He is doing. I struggle with that on a day in and day out basis. I wonder just what it is God has for me as I struggle through the days and the trials presented. I am not “in the know” and that really discourages me. I know that the end result is glory in heaven and I know that God has a plan that is perfect and that I am indeed part of that plan. But, I find myself down as I encounter trial after trial.

“⁷and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked ⁸(for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); ⁹then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,” — 2 Peter 2:7-9 (ESV)

In the above passage I find that God does not abandon us. Lot was living in the debauchery ridden city of Sodom and struggled daily with all of the lawlessness that he witnessed or heard of that was the goings on. God knew the heart of the man and rescued him from the trial he was under. I have to continue each day with my study of God’s Word to find my encouragement to press on.

I am not going to find an easy path each and every day. I am going to find myself in the trials that God has presented to me. I will struggle with them and even at moments like this morning, I will be down as I work to understand them and try to get out of them. But, I have to remember that God has place me in this position for a reason and that reason is not necessarily for me to understand. I only have to know that when the time is right I will be delivered from the trial and move on to the next as I continue to do His will.

Where these trials are presented from God and He will deliver me from them, I still have work to do. I have the duty to work with what He gives me and do my part to complete the work He has given to me. I will be delivered when the time is right and then and only then will I have the relief I so want to have now. Without the trial, I would not develop the strength to carry on to the next and continue doing the work God has for me.

What trials are you experiencing in life? Are you seeing those trials as the end? What if you pressed on, knowing that God will provide the strength needed to endure and will deliver you when the times is right?

Trials Only for a Little While

I feel as though I am always being persecuted and going through trials. I feel as though I am never given a moment to just enjoy.

“⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,” — 1 Peter 1:6 (ESV)

As Peter says here those trials are “for a little while”. I have to remember that where God will put me through trials, it is really only for a little while. I am not tested continually. I am given tests to build up my endurance and then I am given the chance to use that endurance in the completion of the work He has for me. I am then able to rejoice in the accomplishment of the work and move on to the next.

Yes, I am not really rewarded here in this world other than knowing that I have indeed done the work God has for me. And those tests seem to be coming and remaining for the long haul. But, I have to remember that this is not my final destination. I am only here in this world for a little while and only really just passing through. I have heaven waiting for me and my time in heaven will be an eternity while my time here in this world is finite and short by comparison.

Knowing that I am in this world for only the short while, the trials that come are only during my time here in this world and therefor are short. These trials are only for a little while and are building up my endurance so that I will have the strength to do Gods Work. And that work will be for the long haul in heaven. I am being prepared for the eternity of work for God.

What a revelation for me this morning. I am being prepared in my short time here in this world to enjoy my long time of eternity in heaven. I will be able to fully enjoy my eternity thanks to the trials and tests I am experiencing in this world. The short term tests are good for my long term joy.

What are you going through in this world? Are you looking at these trials as the long haul? What if you were to look at these trials as the temporary and know that the eternity with God in heaven is what you are being prepared?

Endure Trials, be Rewarded in Rest

I am in the position, as a Christian to endure trials. I am to continue with the work of the LORD through my life here in this world. Rest is not in the plan right now, although it is in the plan in due time. Once I have finished the work, there will be plenty of time for rest, and when that time comes, I will be able to do so and be rewarded as well.

“⁹Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. ¹⁰Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” — Revelation 3:9-10 (ESV)

I am enduring the trials before me today. I am working through them with the guidance of the LORD and as such, will prevail. More importantly, I will be rewarded for the work. No, maybe not rewarded in the now as would like. I will be rewarded when the work is done. I will have the opportunity to rest and as I am, God will make those else in the world have there time of suffering through trial. I will be resting and the world will come and see that I have done the work before and know that the LORD has cared for me all the while.

I know, rest once the work is done, but I finished the one thing. The work of the LORD is not just the one item we are able to scratch off the to-do list. I am not just able to go to church and then revel in the blessings of the LORD. I have more to do. I may get a moment to “catch my breath” after completing a task, and then it is back to the work to bring glory to the LORD. Once I have caught my breath I am able to draw on the strength of the LORD and proceed on to the next and complete that work as well and then on to the next and so on.

All of the work for the LORD takes time and effort and endurance that comes from the refining the LORD has put me through in the daily trials. I have to embrace the trials knowing that I am being refined and built up to make it through and on to the next. I will have plenty of time to rest when all of the work is complete.

I know that the work of the LORD seems to be never ending, but it will come to an end. And when it does, God will provide the chance for me to rest. In that rest I will be rewarded and that reward will be enough for me to recharge and take on again the next that He has for me. I will be able to see the work that was done and the trials endured. I will see the trials on those remaining. I will be recognized for being loved by God. I will be allowed to recharge in preparation for the work to come.

God loves me and rewards me for all that I have and will do. I know that the work is hard and that there is more of it than I can endure as a human. But God is preparing me daily through the trials before me. He is giving me the strength to endure and will also give me the opportunity to rest and be rewarded once the work is complete.

What trials have you endured? Are you looking for the rest in the moment and to be delivered from any more of the trials? What if you just keep working, knowing that you will be able to catch your breath and then have the strength to make it through to be rewarded and have the chance to fully rest, once the work is complete?

Trial, Why are You Surprised?

“¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” — 1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)

Being a Christian was never billed as being easy. In fact, as you study God’s Word, you will find that it was the same for all. All of those who follow Christ are put through the ringer of trials and persecution. As early as Adam and Eve who had it all, were tempted by the evil one. Moses was denied the promised land. Joseph was sold into slavery. Paul was imprisoned.

Even as they were put through the trials, they continued with the work of Christ. They did not let the trial be the end of them. They continued to fight for the work of Christ as they were well aware of the reward they would receive in heaven. I do believe to some degree there may have been some surprise as to the level of trial or test, yet I also believe that the surprise was short lived and they moved past it quickly and on to God’s work.

For me I have been tested and continue to be so. I am no longer surprised at the trials that come my way as a result of my work of Christ. I know that I will have difficulties and have begun to understand that they are there as refinement opportunities. I am being purified so that the work is truly for Christ and not for me or some other social acceptance.

I recently read of a brother in Christ who is struggling with a loved one they are caring for. Where I pray for guidance and comfort for them in the situation, I also remind them that the trial they are experiencing should not be a surprise. Service and the work of Christ is not and was not billed as a breeze and rewarding in the immediacy. It was and is billed as the right thing to do and done as an example of Christ’s Love. To them I say, don’t be surprised and embrace the service knowing your reward is in heaven and the trial is only refining and making you stronger.

God’s Love is full. It is there always. It is meant to be shared. It is for all. I have to remember these things and not be surprised when it feels as though God’s Love is missing in the trials that are presented. These trials are by design and I have to remember that they are to be expected and embraced as the way to grow stronger in my faith and use them as the example of what right looks like in the pressing forward in the work of Christ.

What trials are you presented with on the daily? Are you surprised by those trials and wonder why? What if you embraced them and accepted them as the norm and used them to be refined and strengthened in your faith?

Trials Produce Results

Scientist conduct multiple trials as they work. Weight lifters attempt ever heavier weights to reach a maximum. God provides trials for me to purify me and my work for Him.

“⁹And I will put this third into the fire,

and refine them as one refines silver,

and test them as gold is tested.

They will call upon my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people’;

and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

— Zechariah 13:9 (ESV)

I will be tested by God to make me stronger for Him and to continue to build my endurance.

“³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” — James 1:3 (ESV)

With my endurance, I am able to withstand even more and more trials and tests. I am also able to overcome temptations that I encounter along the way. As I am dealing with and working through the trials as are presented by God, I am avoiding the idleness that leads to temptation through my engagement in the work of God. As I have studied and written before, it is this avoidance of idleness that keeps me away from the temptation as I will not have time for it as I am otherwise engaged.

“¹²Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” — James 1:12-13 (ESV)

God will test me, He will not tempt me. I am here to do His work and the tests are to build me up so that I have the strength and stamina to take my part to the end and be able to hand it off to the next in line to complete their part. Yes, that sounds like the recipe for a relay race and I meant it to be. I have but my part to be concerned with. God has already set the work to be completed and completed successfully. I have to remember that I have to do my part. I am unable to complete my part if I am not prepared and that preparedness is in the endurance that comes from the tests and trials that are presented me as I do the work of God.

God’s work will be filled with tests and trials to which I am joyful to have. No, they are not easy to deal with, they are tests and trials. What they are there for, as I included earlier, is to refine me and ensure that I am indeed working for the LORD and not my own gain.

I know there is a lot of God’s Word included here in my post. I have found that it is not my words, but God’s that are important. I am writing only to give my thoughts on what God has shown. I again stress that I am no theologian and am only a sinner working to do the work God has for me. I am willing and excited to do the work and count the tests and trials as a blessing from the LORD.

What do you think about the tests and trials presented to you? Are you downtrodden with all of the challenges that comes when doing God’s work? What if you were to embrace the tests and trials as refining you to accomplish your work for God?

The Promise, The Law, Now Faith

I am continually reminded of God and His wisdom and faithfulness. This morning I am reading in Galatians and have been led to the passage of the law and the promise in chapter 3. As I am reading I find that God started with the promise of a savior in the lineage of Abraham. And the promise is not amended or updated or changed by anyone. God made the promise and then kept it as we all should have as well.

Next, the law was introduced to keep the promise as the human spirit will always look for the ways to get around things. The law was not to take the place of the promise, only to keep things in line until the promise was fulfilled. Once the promise was fulfilled the law will then become obsolete.

And then the promise was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus. He provided the completion of the promise and faith now takes the place of the promise as that promise was kept. A new promise was made and again it will not change by anyone, God or man the like.

“¹⁶Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ. ¹⁷This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void…²³Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” — Galatians 3:16-17 & 23-24 (ESV)

So why the law in the first place, if the promise was to be kept? Why not just bring faith immediately instead of waiting “430 years”? Well, my thoughts are this way. What good would it be to promise something and then meet the promise at that moment. Wouldn’t it be just to act on as opposed to promising to act on? I know that I my work, I have things that are to be done and there are things that are done. If they are done, there is just the completion of the work. If there are things to be done, I commit to taking care of them by a point in time. Credibility in the promise is what is gained as the work is not that impactful in the grand scheme of things. I see that God has gained the credibility with the grand impact of Jesus. He promised and then delivered.

Until I am able to deliver on the commitment to complete things to be done, it is my duty to provide updates as to where I am in the process. I can complete things early, or if not able to meet the point in time, I am able to negotiate or report on the new point in time when expected to complete them. God provided updates in the form of laws to guide us through the time between the promise made and fulfilled. We had no defined point in time when the promise would be fulfilled, yet the laws were there to keep us on the path moving forward as we waited on the fulfillment of the promise. God gave us the promise and the updates to keep us engaged in the promise until fulfilled.

“¹⁹Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.” — Galatians 3:19-20 (ESV)

As I sit here this morning, I have to take away, once again, that our approach in this world to completing work is driven by the example God provides for us. God makes promises (I make commitments), God provides laws until fulfillment (I provide updates), then God fulfilled with faith (I provide completion). I am thankful for the LORD and His wisdom in my life to guide me through it all. God promises (to come again) and then fulfills those promises (returns with victory), yet He does not leave me unattended through it all, He guides me with His Word until the promise is fulfilled.

What beliefs are you finding in this world? Are you leery of the promises that you have been given? What if you were to lean on the promises that God has made and fulfilled as the example of how we should proceed?

Different When Christ’s

As I am Christ’s, I am different than society. I act different. I respond different. I proceed different. I am seen as different. I am different.

“⁹For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.” — 1 Corinthians 4:9 (ESV)

In the above, Paul is writing to the Corinthian Church and is discussing the ministry of the apostles. He is pointing out in this verse the reality of being seen as completely contrary to society. Notice the word used, “spectacle” which is defined by Merriam-Webster Online as: “something exhibited to view as unusual, notable, or entertaining, especially: an eye-catching or dramatic public display”. So as a member of the body of Christ, I am something to behold, and gawk at as seen by the world.

“¹⁰We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. ¹¹To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, ¹²and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; ¹³when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” — 1 Corinthians 4:10-13 (ESV)

I am different than the world and that is not accepted, despite the fact that we are currently in a society that wants to celebrate differences. The thing that I see is that the differences are celebrated only when those differences make me like everyone else. My differences are not accepted by the world since they are contrary to the world.

Belonging to Christ is not much different today than 2000 years ago. I am treated as the outcast and the one who is separated from reality. I have not embraced the world and gotten with the times. I am to see and do things like the rest of the world in order to be a part of the world. I am to be “different” and yet the “same” because the world says so.

Doing things in the world different than the world is seen as counter, yet expected. Let me explain. I am to be different in my service to others, as long as it benefits “me”. It is okay to serve others, yet if the world does not agree with who is being served, then my service is wrong. I am to serve one and not the other. As of today world it is not right to serve the pro-life groups, the nation of Israel, the non black or brown groups, the Christian community, as well as others. What would be considered okay would be the service of whatever group the world is on fire for “in this moment”. I am different and vilified for not serving the “right” groups, regardless of how many or how much service is provided.

“¹⁴I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.” — 1 Corinthians 4:14 (ESV)

Belonging to Christ is a being love. I am to, as noted in another writing, wear the badge of Christianity. I am to love all and provide for all and be accepting of all that comes with that badge. I am here to do the work of Christ and if that make me different, then so be it. I am and will persevere and will be provided for by work as that work is for Christ and not the world. As I belong to Christ, I accept being different.

What is it that you do in this world that makes you different? Are you even aware that you are different or are you preoccupied with trying to be the same? What if you wore the badge of Christianity and accepted all that comes with the badge and understood that belonging to Christ makes you different?

Badges as a Christian

Who wears a badge, law enforcement, emergency personnel, generally officials of some kind, whether a true badge or name plate. What about us as Christians?

As I continue my study into my Christian identity, I have come to another passage in 1 Peter that I have been to many times. This passage is titled “Suffering as a Christian” in my ESV Bible. The basics are this, as a Christian, we are going to suffer and that should not be surprise as it should be expected. We should also rejoice in our suffering as we are able to find ourselves in the company of Jesus as He suffered similarly.

I would add one additional thing that I have taken away from the passage and that is the badge of honor I should be wearing as a Christian. I have to remember that the suffering is expected and that I should be proud to suffer. Just as law enforcement, emergency personnel, and officials wear their badges and receive all that come with it (good and bad), I should do the same.

“¹⁶Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” — 1 Peter 4:16 (ESV)

Everyone wants to be a part of something when it is going great, only the true want to be a part of something meaningful. I remember in high school, I was a part of athletics and played all the big sports. In Texas, football is the king sport and my high school had a reputation for being great, except for when I was there. We were not very good and in fact did not have a winning season while I was part of the team. Support in the school was waning and someone (I know who you are) posted on the walls their support, even in the bad times they were and called out those who were losing the focus on the badge worn as a member of our high school. I am proud of my school and all it represents and will support them good times and bad.

As a Christian, good times and bad times will abound. It is part of the gig. Thanks to salvation, I am always a member of the team. We will celebrated when we do what society feels we are supposed to do and will be vilified when we are seen as counter to the societal norms. In each case I have to remember to wear the badge of Christianity with honor and be proud to represent Christ in all that I do.

What badges do you wear and when? Are you wearing the badge of Christianity in good times and bad? What if you found comfort in Christ and proudly put on your badge of Christianity every day and represented Him in all that you do?