And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.
The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines.
God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him.
All that has perplexed us in the providences of God will in the world to come be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find explanation. The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying.
He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes from Christ. He has no need to resist evil, for Christ is his defense. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission, and “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.”
Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.
As a little child, trust to the guidance of Him who will “keep the feet of his saints.” 1 Samuel 2:9.
As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.
The Faith I Live By p. 64
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Prayer Requests
—–Would like to ask for prayer for my son’s friend who was just diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer. Tammy
—–Please keep family in prayer 4 out of 6 of us have the flu. My husband, our two boys and myself. The only two that are well in family is our daughter and my mom. So please keep our family in prayers. Alysa
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Dear Friends,
When Esther was a little girl, she loved to sing. As she got older, she not only sang but learned to play several musical instruments. I praise God that she has used her musical abilities for our Loving Saviour.
How true is the statement: “Music is as much an act of worship as is prayer.” Music can be a blessing or a curse. How important it is that we choose music that is a blessing, that lifts our mind and heart to the very throne room of God. Zephaniah tells us, “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy, he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zeph 3:17 Think of it! Not only will we sing praises to the Great Creator in the Heavenly courts, but He will sing to us! What glorious music that will be! How our hearts will thrill at the sound of His Joyful Voice!
Is our music getting us ready for that great worship service above when ” the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto [the Heavenly] Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away?” Isa 51:11 Does it draw us closer to God through its words, its melody, its rhythm? Where is its focus? What is more noticeable, its message or its beat? What is its lasting effect? Is it drawing our heart Heavenward, or do we feel a false excitement that tends to take our mind from the spiritual to the physical?
David bids us, “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery, upon the harp with a solemn sound.” “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations.” Ps 47:7, 92:1-3, 100:2-5
May we choose our music well that we may draw closer to Him. May we praise our God with our whole heart as the words and melody of the music uplift our heart to the Master Musician. May we “be filled with the Spirit, speaking in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in [our] heart to the Lord, Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph 5:18-20
Rose