Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 5, 2016
It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Amos 5:19
Sometimes, things have to get worse before they get better. Your finances, relationships, job, and health may all have to get worse before they get better. This is not fun, but it is reality. The wheels of God’s will are in motion and this is part of the process, but a better day is coming. Adversity can be agonizing but it does not have to be forever. Indeed, it is hard to follow hard after God when times are hard. You want to take matters into your own hands and fix them, but you can’t do it alone. You need God and you need others. Use this time in the downward spiral to look up to your Savior, Jesus. Let go, and allow Him to love you. Search your character and see what needs to change for the better. It is during this time of crumbling circumstances that dependence on Christ needs to be front and center.
Yes, fear may be pursuing you like an uncaged lion. In your mind, there is a lion behind you and a bear in front of you. There is nowhere to turn; it seems you have used up all of your options. Your home was a sanctuary of peace, but now its serpents of insecurity attack you. People are more patient when things are going well, for they overlook indiscretions or idiosyncrasies during the good times. But now things are in the process of going from bad to worse. People’s patience is wearing thin, and they are looking for a scapegoat. So surrender to your Savior during this surreal time.
Trust God and take responsibility by not running from your role as leader. Get down on your knees in prayer, and then get up and lead on in the power of the Holy Spirit. Confess and repent of your sin, and then rise with a radical faith that will see you through. Now is the time to increase your dependence on God and decrease your need for clever tactics. Use this transition from bad to worse as a reason for self-denial. Come alive in Christ and conform to His image. Do not complicate things and miss the fact that faith in Him is your greatest asset. Reject fear, and replace it with raw reliance on the Lord. Paul experienced survival with his Savior:
“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move” (2 Corinthians 11:23b-26a).
People are watching for you to waver in your commitment to God’s call, so stay where He has called you, and watch Him work wonders. Faithful is He who has called you, for He will do it (I Thessalonians 5:24). Face your fears with faith, for you are kept and protected by the grace of God. The Lord is good, and while things may get worse, His will does prevail. You can look forward to the better, knowing you did not compromise your convictions. You stayed true to your calling because you knew Christ was in control. He will see you through this, so follow Jesus by faith. Through thick and thin, be true to Him. His work will not be stopped, and what He initiates, He completes. Let go of hell’s harassment, and hold on to the hope of heaven. Allow your character to become better during this bad time. Christ is your Master, not circumstances. Therefore, walk with the Lord from bad to worse to better.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I trust You even if my circumstances need to become worse before they get better.
Application: What commitment do I need to stay true to, because I know Christ will come through?
Related Readings: Ecclesiastes 7:14; Isaiah 5:4; Luke 22:42-43
Post/Tweet this today: Let go of hell’s harassment and grasp hold of heaven’s hope. #WisdomHunters #badtoworse
Worship Video: 8 minutes – United Pursuit: Since Your Love
Today’s reading is taken from Boyd’s most popular book: Seeking Daily the Heart of God, a 365 day devotional.
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That was so good. Thank you. I feel the strength of this Word because I realize that nothing, absolutely nothing can thwart God’s will for us and His will for us is always miraculously good for us in that special way only He can bring about. Truly this life is not about us, it is all about His Sovereignty at work in His people for His great purpose.
I have to say that the wisdom contained in this piece needs to be a book written because in times such as these, we so need this wisdom training of how to stand, endure and bring honor to God when things are: Bad to worse to better!
God bless your writing!
I don’t think that it will ever get better and I believe God hates me and is not forgiving and no one cares
Dear Jim,
Please my friend, re-read this devotional and then, get into the Word and cling to His Promises for you. His Word reminds us over and over of this indescribable LOVE that HE has for each one of us.
God gave up His Only Son for YOU and if that isn’t LOVE than what is?
“For God so loved the world that He gave up His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
As Boyd writes in the devotional, “Use this time in the downward spiral to look up to your Savior, Jesus. Let go, and allow Him to love you. Search your character and see what needs to change for the better. IT IS DURING THIS TIME OF CRUMBLING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT DEPENDENCE ON CHRIST NEEDS TO BE FRONT AND CENTER.”
Jim, could it be that this time of testing that you are going through is a way God is growing your faith? Could this time of hardship be a precious time of learning what HE wants you to teach you?
Does HE love you so much, with the love of a real Father, that He is teaching you valuable life lessons? And at the same time, HE is walking right next to you, as you are learning and hurting.
Now, that is LOVE.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
Jim, I do not presume to know what you are personally going through and please let me apologize to you if I sound like I do, but I do know that we have a heavenly Father that Loves Us, is there for us and who hears our prayers.
“O you who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.” Psalm 65:2-3
Boyd summed it up in this “call to action”: “Get down on your knees in prayer, and then get up and lead on in the power of the Holy Spirit. Confess and repent of your sin, and then rise up with a radical faith that will see you through.”….”Reject fear, and replace it with raw reliance on the Lord.”
Jim, I would like to continue our conversation, if you would like to. I also have something I would like to send you. My email address is gwynne@wisdomhunters.com.
In the meantime, the Wisdom Hunter’s team would like to pray for you, Jim. My prayer for you is that you will feel His Presence in the midst of this trial. He is waiting for you, Jim. Please reach out to Him.
Believing and trusting~
a sister in Christ
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1
Praise God.
Thank you Kimberly, for once again, blessing us with your kind and encouraging words. Please know that Boyd will see your comments and will be grateful for them.
Honoring God and bringing Him Glory is what it is all about, especially in the “bad to worse” times.
Praying for endurance and guidance and thanking HIM for always being at our side!
Thank you Kimberly.
Blessings,
Gwynne
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you will be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Hebrews 3:13
Dear Kimberly,
Beautifully said. You are so right: “Truly this life is not about us, it is all about His Sovereignty at work in His people for His great purpose”.
In “Bad to Worse” Boyd, reminds us “Faithful is He who has called you, for He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Face your fears with faith, for you are kept and protected by the grace of God”. Amen and Amen!!!
We are always blessed to hear from you, Kimberly. Thank you for reaching out to us.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“But encourage each other daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10