Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- January 31, 2012
“They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.” Psalm 73:4-5
Having no struggles at all will never happen in this lifetime. Non-existent struggles are not possible, until you graduate to heaven’s struggle-free environment with your Savior. The nice and the naughty alike struggle, though outwardly they may seem void of vexation. The righteous and the wicked both struggle to varying degrees. No one is exempt from struggles.
Yes, there may be seasons of minimal conflict; however struggles are on the way. You are either struggling, about to struggle or have just finished struggling. Indeed, everyone from monks to the mafia struggle. Therefore, don’t spend your life trying to insulate yourself from struggles. Instead, prepare spiritually for the snares of an unseen enemy.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
You will stress out more from trying to avoid struggle, than you will from accepting its reality. This is not to say God would have us solicit struggle into our lives. But He does understand that struggles are meant to send us to Him. Struggles look for a Savior, and Jesus is our friend in our fight against those struggles.
Furthermore, envy can erode your eternal perspective by giving you a false impression of others who seem to live life without struggles. This is inaccurate and ill conceived. No amount of money or power can completely drive struggle from someone’s life. In fact, it may compound struggles because of the complexity of choices that wealth creates.
Someone’s large amount of discretionary time may, on the surface, make them seem like they are without struggles, but they are not. There are still the internal struggles of sin and self against God’s best. And there are the external struggles created by other people’s choices and circumstances that are out of your control. Accept struggle as the Lord’s way to grow you in His ways, for His glory. Struggles send you to pray for yourself and others.
Paul requested prayer, “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Romans 15:30).
Who can I join in their struggle through personal and persistent prayer?
Related Readings: Genesis 32:28; Hosea 12:3-4; Philippians 1:30; Hebrews 12:3-5
Post/Tweet this today: Accept struggles as the Lord’s way to grow you in His ways. #struggles #growth
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Amen!
I needed this word today
Yes, thank you
I am a witness to the fact that there “will” be trials and tribulations in this lifetime. The more you lean on the Lord, the harder your burdens will appear. I have learned that this is because the devil doesn’t want us to be close or worship the Father. He wants to succumb our souls so that he can try to win over God, but he is too ignorant to know that God won’t let that happen. He said He will turn rocks into souls before He let Satan win.