Proverbs 20:30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, as do stripes the inner depths of the heart.
Truth is a most powerful word and it occurs 223 times in 210 verses in the New King James Version of the Bible, so there certainly must be something to its implication for our lives as believers.
I got up yesterday morning in much the same way as I always do; bright (well not always!) and early (always!). This practice of mine has endured over the years in order that I might get on top of my day. I fixed my coffee and then listened for the Holy Spirit to guide my prayer life in a very specific manner that morning. Intercession can be intense and I always try to make certain that I “pray down” the will of the LORD. I concluded with praying out loud scripture, got up, shut up, and began to walk through my day.
After an hour or two, I became burdened with something that I could not place my finger on. This type of occurrence has taken place many times over the span of the last twenty years, so I knew there was an internal truth that had to be dealt with. I began to speak and moan to the Father (out loud), for I have always known that we never served a mind meld God (like Spock), and the more I spoke of the dilemma at hand the more I realized that I had been the cause of much of this, not God. The situation (my deeply ingrained thought pattern) had to be pulled up by the root in order that I might be set free. This particular thought had taken such a deep root that I truly believed it was the way I was ordained to live. I discovered through many tears, coupled with repentance, that I had been deceived and this was never God’s intention. I was the one, however, who had to admit the truth to not only myself but to God. Then as usual I was delivered, being set free by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What I have tangibly witnessed over and again in individuals who really, truly love the LORD is great deception by the enemy as truths are not faced and come to terms with. Truth can be debilitating for a time, and yet liberation must occur in order that one might walk in the fullness of one’s divine destiny.
Our true freedom is a gift, which was paid with a heavy price. Many shout out freedom (in Christ) but have no clue as to what that really entails. We, as His followers, have been given a mighty inheritance that I see rarely embraced in its fullness. It is time to stop pointing fingers at others, accusing them for your lot in life, and grab hold of that same finger and turn it back to your face, for “they” (whoever they are), are not the problem. Whom the Sons sets free is free indeed, but I see many who still are behind the bars of condemnation, abandonment, self-hatred, generational curses, depression, lack and lust. YOU are the problem because you will not allow God to deliver you. You have to face the truth as hard as it might seem.
The cross brings healing of the spirit, soul, and body, but you have to go to the Father in order to receive it.
If you are seeking to be all that God would desire of you while you are alive, then you will have to come to an understanding that warfare is certain. Many times though, and in our darkest hours, we tend to shrink back from the one place we need to go to in order to be set free from this type of encounter with the dark forces —the cross. There will always be trials and tribulations which must be endured along our specific path in life. At times, it can feel as though your very being is caught between two clamps with the screw tightening with each passing moment. This is warfare. It is not the time to give up and quit, but a clear indication to you that the time has come to press through keeping a stiff upper lip. Life is not easy by any shape of the imagination. Your level of warfare will depend on how close you actually come to the cross and your divine destiny. Take heart for you are not alone. These particular types of feelings have been experienced by many icons of our faith throughout the centuries. But know this; the fourth man is always in the fire with you (Dan. 3: 1-28).
I am trying to encourage you to weather whatever is plaguing you at the moment. Now is not the time to give up, shrink back from responsibilities, or quit. Rejoice that you are experiencing this type of warfare, for it means that something is going right, there is a breakthrough up ahead, or this is being allowed to mature you into the individual that God desires of you. If you knew the gift that God longs to give to each of you, you would run to the cross for His help. Our inheritance as a child of God is more than attending a church service on any given Sunday. What God longs for in us is a full on relationship where He is glorified by the life you live, which ultimately will stand as a testimony to others (who do watch) that He is real.
I have walked through years of warfare in varying degrees, and I can tell you with certainty that you will come through (even if your crawl the last quarter mile!) with a greater knowledge of how much God does love you. You might cry, get mad or angry, but you will come out the winner if you don’t give up and continually stay at the feet of the only one who can turn the problem around.
In my home I have a specific spot where I kneel before the LORD God to pray. It is considered my altar and place where I commune with Him. I would strongly suggest that you find a place such as this in your home and use it specifically as the place where you go and talk to God Almighty. Write down (it does not have to be fancy) what is driving you crazy at the moment and then LEAVE it with Him. Ask Him to deliver you from rotten feelings, the unforgiveness of anyone, or any concerns you have. Get up, believe that God has heard you and watch and wait for Him to speak to you. Most of the time, He will not actually speak (eventhough He most certainly can) but there will be something or someone who gives you an answer to your specific situation. It is possible to hear your answer from the television or radio. God speaks to us in the way He knows we receive and process because He designed us. Do not box Him in.
Consider the things which I have said to you. Please know that not one time in the past twenty years, has the Holy Spirit (God’s agent in this earth) not given me direction of some nature. The answers were not always what I wanted, but I came to understand each and every divine move was what I needed for the moment. Allow Him to do more for you in this life in order that you can become all He desires for you.
The trials in our lives seem to be at an all-time high and are escalating on a worldwide scale. We are not only going to need to be in the safest place we can under the covering of the wings of heaven, but we need to be there because it is the best place we can exist while here. God’s mercy is magnificent; I do not, for the life of me, understand why you wouldn’t want to be captured by it. His love is so abounding, reaching down into the deep recesses of your very being with healing that can’t come from anywhere else.
At prayer, I told the Lord how much I loved Him. It wasn’t a romantic sort of love but a love that is hard to explain. It is bigger than romance (although romance is good), it is bigger than anything I have ever known, and it makes me feel whole and peaceful. To have sinned as much as I have, seemingly right in front of God’s face, He still chose to forgive me when I turned to Him for help. In spite of it all, He chooses to use my life to help others. It is more than I can comprehend. His agape love is just more than we realize as humans. Yet it is that very love that keeps me going.
Yes, God wants good things for you and He wants to give them to you abundantly. This does not mean that you will have everything that everyone else has in terms of material goods and you will not receive what He wants you to have in the same way He has chosen to get things to others. You are the individual God made you to be, with your own identity. No two people are alike, and He treats you in that way. He knows your life, your heart, and your motives. You need to understand God for who He is; He is omniscient and you cannot fool Him with anything you are doing or saying. If you would learn to go to Him with everything that is going on in your life, you would soon come to understand that He would move for you in whatever situation you have. The key is learning to ask Him for the help you need and then trust Him to move in that situation.
Forgiveness: If you cannot first forgive yourself then you cannot truly forgive others—(Do not just forgive but forget.)
Trust God. It is a relational building process you grow (which will take time) coming to understand God ‘one rung at a time’ as you walk through your life and circumstances.
Respect the process of God. Life, after Christ, is not what you are doing through God it is what He is trying to accomplish through you so your purpose can be realized. Remember: He is God and you are not. Step down off the throne.
Learn to love yourself. If you do not love yourself then why do you think that others will love you? Being continually downtrodden within your own mind can cause defeatism in facets of your life that will trickle down to those around you….especially children.
‘Clean hands’ before God. If you have anything against any man repent to God for it and try and settle this with the individual. Your heart before the Lord needs a daily cleansing.
Attitude is crucial.
Words you speak—the enemy will use your own words against you, so be careful.
Do not point fingers.
Do not ever run from confrontation. Stand firm for God is for you.
Be Congruent.
Be Consistent.
Have “Bull dog” faith—grab God with your teeth and never let go.
Stop focusing on others, what they have, what they are doing, and where they are going. Stay focused on yourself and what God is trying to do through you—angst will stop the flow of the Holy Spirit. Do not grieve Him.
“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Prov. 17:22).
Attached below is a link to a teaching video that was executed, for laughter, close to five years ago. You probably will know who I am impersonating, but I will leave that little mystery for you to discover! The total amount of running time is 11 minutes and 11 seconds. If you like to laugh or need a good laugh today, while understanding eternal precepts, copy and paste the link to your browser and enjoy.
And remember, life is a long time and it is a good thing to pull back, take in a deep breath, and laugh a little. It is important to our mental/physical well-being to try to enjoy the life we have been given. God bless you all this week and knowthat each and every one of you is being lifted up in prayer by an intercessor of God (me!). On an end note—many times I have discovered that IF I take the time to listen or read something that I honestly do not have the time for (I have experienced this through my life over and again), it was just the thing that would enable me to have a much better day or week.
Copy and paste the link below to your browser. I think you will find it will be worth the effort!
Many, many times, over the last fifteen years, I have asked God, “Please tell me what to do,” or “You said in your Word I would hear a voice behind me saying go to the right or to the left.Please (and there was always begging added in for emphasis, of course!) let me hear that voice.” There have been many choices made, many paths walked down (for good and ill) and many decisions executed. I have a solid history of choosing, which affords me the luxury of what I am about to tell you.
One of the great lessons I have learned from all of this seeking, with at least some sort of action involved is that, eventhough you might not understand at the time, faith must be exercised in a lot of instances, and one other thing has become crystal clear, and that is that the truth, (which stands eternal), will always prevail at some given point. It is in those times, when we can look back (the “looking glass effect”)and see the decisions we made (whether right or wrong) and learn, if we can get our hard heads (and I think I have the biggest one of all!) out of God’s way.
Exodus 6:3 “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them.” I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.
God remembers us, His original covenant, and His sending Christ to die for mankind, so He remembers you (through prayer) and what you are going through or facing at this very moment. Realize He is ready and willing to help you.
I certainly have known the LORD by His name Jehovah –my Provider, but there are still many facets of God which I have not personally experienced. My question to you is this— what characteristics of God have you experienced? How has He shown up on your behalf ? Are you listening for His voice, for it is distinct. You have to understand this one major fact— you cannot box God in to your ways of thinking or doing because then you stifle parts of Him that He longs (I think) to show you. There comes a time when God lets you have what you keep saying or insist on doing. I KNOW this from experience. It is critical to search the scriptures, pray, and seek God’s face, but it is also important (having done the former things) to sit under the teachings of those who have the experience of walking in truth, who show the outward signs of maturity in the LORD, with victory. Ask the Holy Spirit to place you under and settle you with those you need to currently learn from (for this time in your life) and He will.
Jesus tells us in John 18:37 as He stands before Pilate that He has come to bear witness to the truth. The truth will stand as just, the truth will stand as eternal, even if others try to sugarcoat it or water it down by erroneous teachings. My challenge to you this day, and for this upcoming week, is who do you say God is? Do you know when God is speaking to you? I have taught many times that hearing from God is not an art form, but hearing that voice is an inheritance as His child.Will it always be clear?Will you always know for certain that this is the way?No.But, if you don’t ask for help chances are it is not just going to rain down from heaven. Matthew 7:7 would not have been inserted into the New Testament if we weren't supposed to ask.Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, and then listen for His voice. Click here for His names:names_of_god1
Here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail. Hippity Hoppity Easter’s on its way…
America is getting ready to celebrate Easter. The Bible states that the first thing that happened is that Jesus came into Jerusalem lowly riding on a donkey. Branches were cut down and spread on the road in anticipation with many spreading their clothes on the road (Matt.21:8). It is Palm Sunday. The multitudes who went before and those who followed Him cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna in the highest!” Hosanna means “Save Now.” People were acknowledging out loud that Jesus was the Messiah. They were acknowledging that He was the Christ who had come to deliver them. The Bible teaches that hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Jerusalem for Passover. Passover was celebrated as the feast commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian bondage (Luke 22:1),a tradition that still stands today.
This, to me, does not sound like Peter Cottontail. Today I place before you Chances or Choices…Jesus or Barabbas…
When I was little, I would have a brand new outfit for Easter, which included, most of the time, a little hat and certainly gloves to match. Flowers were ordered from the local florist and delivered the day before “the big day.” We lived right across the street from the First Presbyterian church, in St. Albans, W. Va. We awoke to full Easter baskets that were carefully arranged on the large round dining room table. They had been filled the evening before with colored Easter eggs, awaiting the “Easter Bunny” who would hop right in the front door and fill them with candy.
The family (except my dad) would attend church service and show off our new clothes and then come home, have an Easter egg hunt, and a big dinner. Of course, the Easter baskets fizzled out as we got older and were replaced with material gifts. Church fizzled out as well. The choice was given to us at a certain age whether or not to continue having to attend. I can tell you I couldn’t wait till I didn’t have to go. My choice had been set early on and I was just waiting for time to pass me by so I could act upon it. So what did all of this excitement and hoopla mean when I was little? They were good memories that I tried to recapture with my family when I became older but it was never quite the same. Why? What was it all about, Alfie?
When my life was going down the tubes and I needed more than an Easter basket full of candy, I was driven (though I didn’t know by whom at the time) by the Holy Spirit to the Bible. The only thing I remembered about Jesus was in relation to the Crucifixion…but what did it mean? When I would bother to read it, it was with always with a remorseful heart. Tears would blop out on my cheeks and I would say,” I want to get this but I don’t get the “thees” and “thous.”
Much to my amazement, I discovered (finally after having shock treatments) that the Crucifixion meant everything to me, but the choice of my future would have to be mine. God was not going to make me come after Him. He would lay the “carrot” before me, so to speak, but the choice of whether or not success of future life was mine. THAT crucial week of our history was the week that God sacrificed His Son on a cross, paying for your sins and mine, so we could have Resurrection Power. This single act given, straight from Heaven itself, could change our current state of existence if believed.
The choice is before you as you read this now. I have already drawn the line in the sand and made my decision. What choice will you make? Jesus came so that we could have life and have it more abundantly, but we behave as though we have no power at all. When I first started to delve into the Word of God, I kept coming across the word POWER. Well, I wanted some power, don’t you? This one act brought us the POWER if we will believe.
The Elders of the people, the chief priests and the scribes, didn’t like Jesus shaking up their religiosity (They represent the people in the churches.) He had already been doing great miracles and they didn’t like it. He had also gone into the temple, taken a whip and had gotten very upset, telling everyone that His Father’s house shall be called a house of Prayer (John 2: 13-22). But religion wanted Him gone. However, He was a man on a mission. He knew God had sent him. He knew what He had to do. But the flies in the ointment were the greatest supposedly well-learned teachers of the day. They stirred up the people to come against Jesus. They had been doing things (God) their way for years, and here comes Jesus doing things a “new way.” They knew it would cause an uprising and they wanted Him gone. Therefore, they took him to Pilate, the Governor.
The Romans had taken from the Jews the right to inflict capital punishment, thus Pilate would have to execute any sentence. It was the custom to release one prisoner at Passover celebration. Pilate knew, the scripture states, that Jesus had been handed over to him because of envy (Mark 15:10). Can you imagine what would happen today in a church if someone came in doing miracles by healing the sick, raising the dead, opening blind eyes to see?
Peter, who was one of Jesus’ first disciples, was spying on what was taking place as Pilate interrogated the Lord. Prior to Jesus’ captivity, He had told Peter that he would deny Him three times. The exact words were, “You will deny Me three times before the cock crows” (Matt 26:34). You have to imagine this scenario. Peter had been with Jesus day in and day out. He knew in his heart that He was the Son of God. But now, faced with public awareness, knowing that they intended to kill Jesus and probably whoever else was with him, he became very scared. He had seen Jesus perform miracles and it had been revealed to Peter divinely that He was the Christ (Matthew 16:16).He knew, yet he got scared….choices. How many of us get scared in the heat of the moment? To believe in the Word of God when all the circumstances point to our very own defeat and maybe death? Choices… He shrunk back.
Now please understand this scenario. Jesus was taken to Pilate. Pilate knew He was guilty of no wrongdoing (Luke 23:4),but the people wanted him ousted. Changes. Pilate, not wanting to pass judgment on him, sent him to Herod (Luke 23:7). Jesus spoke nothing. Herod sent Him back to Pilate because he found no fault in Him (Luke 23:9). Pilate and Herod had been enemies but now became friends (Luke 23:12). Pilate told the crowd he found no fault in Him. He knew in his heart that Jesus had done nothing deserving of death, but he also knew that he had to calm this crowd down or there would be an uprising. Luke 23:20 again states that wishing to release Jesus, he again called out to them….
So here, we have “ThePeople's Choice”
Barabbas OR Jesus
Barabbas was a rebellious murderer. Jesus, on the other hand, had only preached hope, a new kingdom of which you cannot see, faith, healing and above it all, love, but the people persisted and as the scripture states (Luke 23:18) “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.” They liked their status of superiority over man and did not want Jesus messing this up.
(Luke 23:21) says “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
(Luke 23:22) Then Pilate said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
But the voices prevailed. Then, Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
He washed his hands of Jesus’s blood.
Voices cry out I want it my way! I am not going to do this. It hurts too much to believe that God could really heal me. I want, I want, I want. The voices prevail out to Heaven and the choices are made to “have it your way.” Defeat and death come to you when they don’t have to. Their ways of believing, their ways of thinking, their wants and desires and what they were used to were being shaken by Jesus and they didn’t want it. Give me what is comfortable! Choices. Give me Barabbas!
Barabbas represents your way. Jesus represents a better way. Do you want something that will ultimately lead to your resurrection of new life or do you want to stay in the muck and mire of your current life that fits like an old shoe? The choice is before you. Jesus OR Barabbas?
You can shout and mouth off about what you know, what you think you know, and what you have. You can make the choice to be in rebellion as Barabbas did. God will let you have it.
Or
You can make the choice to stand up for Jesus. Yes, you will suffer and yes, people will call you crazy. But, you have a King who died a horrible death for you that you might live with peace and to be able to hope for something more than you have known.
Peter denied Jesus three times (Luke 22: 57-62) and the text said Peter wept bitterly. Peter looked straight at Jesus as He was being held captive, knowing what he had done and still made a choice to deny Him three times. This was the same Peter who stood up boldly not too long after the Lord's death, burial and resurrection, proclaiming in front of everyone that Jesus was the Christ, the risen Lord, and the Messiah. Changes. This time he didn’t shrink back.
We all have choices to make because of resurrection week. The choice is before you. Jesus or Barabbas? Will you be singing “Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord," or here comes Peter Cottontail? Do you want changes?
Life your way or the Savior’s way? There is a big difference.
It is your choice to follow the risen Lord this year. It is not just by chance that you have read this. The choice is up to you. Peter denied the Lord three times. Pilate gave the people three chances not to crucify Jesus. Choices you make do hold great consequences at this moment.
He said, “Turn to Me I’ll set you free from the bondage you feel inside.
I promised you I’d give you peace abounding love and happiness.
I’ll fill the void of emptiness. I’ll give you joy unendless.
My grace is yours…just believe in Me and you will live for eternity.
Jesus said, “I died for you to give you grace. Would you have died for Me?”
I thought I had learned myself these last twenty years. But, as ever, the Holy Spirit knew the time had come for me to learn some more. Clearly, I needed a refresher course renewing my hours of understanding in humbleness. I think I got a graduation certificate in this course today!
I was reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 55:8, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. My flesh has really needed some work in a very specific area and God put me in a place where I would listen and obey without lip service. Can you imagine?
I have had to learn (again) to push through when I didn’t feel like it, want to, or could see the outcome. At my age, and we don’t need to talk about that one, it has become continually more difficult to push through. This has nothing to do with a physical fight or strength, but recognizing oppression (tactics) from the enemy who tries to keep me from attaining God’s best. Can I get an AMEN from anyone?
Matt. 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” It is time for the children of God (you and me/Sons and Daughters of the Most High) to rise in this earth fulfilling our God-given tasks and assignments. Whether it is to mentor little children, or to be the best Sunday school teacher there ever was, or to lead the choir in worship, or coaching young adults in the ways of Christ, or filling in for absent pastors, it is time to give it your all. The work we do, whether in a church building or not, is what Martin Luther (the Great Reformer) called vocational evangelism. Personally, I wanted to save the world singlehandedly, but I have come to understand that if I can touch those in my sphere of influence I will complete my God-given responsibilities, hence the goals laid out before me from the foundation of the world. KNOWING God’s will is crucial for peace of mind and flesh.
I came home from school (in the tenth grade) and told my mother that I wanted to join the Peace Corps going half way around the world. She was at the kitchen stove and calmly (as only she could) said, “Molly, if you can help those people you are around in this life, then you will have done something.” God spoke through my mother that day. Discernment is not that difficult if you are willing to receive God's will.
Let His light in you be the beacon of hope for everyone you come in contact with. Let them know Jesus was in the house. Let them feel His love, His compassion, His steadfastness and His ability to always do the right thing in every situation….then we (Christians) will take back what Satan is trying to destroy. And my friend, if you think there is not a battle at the door then he (Satan) has got you where he wants you.
There is talk about God today, talk about Jesus, but there is not a lot of messaging about the Holy Spirit. Who is He anyway? What is His purpose? How can He be beneficial as a follower of Christ?
In the very beginning of my ‘walk of faith,’ I always prayed to Jesus in the name of Jesus and I was always talking to Jesus. He really was all I knew of God. At the age of thirty-nine, I was hurt a little child and turned to the only God I knew a little about, Jesus.
Then, several years later, after a heavy concentration of time spent learning the Word I heard, “You need to start praying to the Father in the name of Jesus.” I had matured enough that I now needed a Father and so little by little God rose in my heart as my true Father, which to me was nothing short of astounding. I actually separated Jesus the Son and God, the Father, not only in my thinking but in my prayer life. That occurrence was a turning point for me in what would become a lifestyle of a real living Savior.
Later, even still, it was made very clear that I needed to talk to and call upon the Holy Spirit for help and guidance. The Spirit of the Lord was very precise in the way He ministered to me giving me ‘a little here and a little there’ (Is. 28:10). Frankly, I was so full of hell that it took a very long time to change my thinking patterns (of a life time) and prepare for the more of God and His ways and thoughts (Is. 55:8).
Is there anyone reading this who is like me?
Who—the Spirit of the Lord is available to each of us who have committed our hearts to Jesus Christ.
What—He comes into our hearts to teach, train, counsel, help, guide, and love us. He is our helper (John 14:16).
How—Taking over and consuming our hearts is a miracle which is God-given (our inheritance/promise), but no one knows exactly how this occurs; it is by our faith in Christ alone.
Embark upon the fullness that Christ died to give us by turning your hearts fully to a loving Savior, won’t you? It is time to come up off the milk of the Word and eat the meat of the gospel in its fullest measure (Heb. 5: 12-13; 1 Pet. 2:2). The earth groans (Rom. 8:14-22) for the ‘sons of God’ to rise up to help combat the wickedness that is enveloping our existence.
I know there are times when we just do not want to smile or something has taken place that has robbed us of our joy and it truly takes effort to even function. But, let’s face it, IF God lets you wake up today, that is something to smile about. You get yet another chance to live, to love better, and be a better person, or friend to those around your sphere of influence.
The world truly is in a mess right now and it seems to be grower ever worse. That is when we must turn to the Bible to see what God tells us. God’s Word is what we follow, not the dictates of our own hearts, which can be deceptive (Jer. 17:9-10). Do not get trapped into feeling, thinking, or believing something without consulting God’s Word. His Word is your final authority and what is more is that it gives us hope to go on.
Now, let’s get back to the smiling thing. Have you ever noticed someone who walks into the room and they just light up the place? Everyone wants to be around them. They smile and ask how everyone else is. Their focus is always on the other person. How do they do it?
I have always visualized circumstances to try and understand how others might feel. I imagine sitting in an office (and I have sat in many) and a co-worker, who I have to be with day-in and day-out, continually comes through the door, each and every morning, with a scowl on their face. You sit there watching this day after day, so what or how do you respond? It can be tiring to everyone and very disheartening.
Years ago, I heard someone say, “Fake it ‘til you make it!” I think the first thing I thought was ‘fake what?’ But, the principal goes right back to the Word of God. The Apostle Paul was a prisoner and through a series of events lands before King Agrippa to explain what he has done. He is there to plead his case in order that he might not be killed. He tells him point blank (without hesitation), “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews” (Acts 26:2). Now, if Paul (a prisoner) can rise up within himself in the midst of a great trial then we, as followers of Christ, take our cue from him and his actions. He could have cried, begged and been downtrodden, but the fact remains that he totally trusted in a living Savior to help him. Get the point?
Yes, we all go through trials, but it is how you handle those trials showing your actions to a holy God that can (and will) turn your circumstances. Show Him you believe He is real, pray and ask Him to help you. Show Him that you are not going to allow anything to get you down. The great Apostle had a living relationship with a sovereign God, so he could depend on His help and be happy in the midst. I can tell you from experience that no one wants to be around someone who is dreary all the time. As a matter of fact, they will separate themselves from you.
And, what is more (and this is a secret key), when you purpose to smile you will begin to feel better inside and it will show. Life is hard, but it is how you handle life that can ultimately win the outcome for you. Make the clear choice this day to smile. The world says that anything goes. The Kingdom of God says, ‘transform your world, and influence others, by letting them see Jesus in you.’ It might be the only time that they catch a glimpse of Him. And, when you smile just see if the whole world won’t (eventually!) smile with you. One thing is certain, though, you will be a happier individual.