As a Christian, trails and troubles aren't a place to be discouraged. In trouble we REJOICE! When we are broken we are content, because we have the JOY of our Heavenly Father. “When it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things” James 1:2.
When we face persecution or trouble we know we also walk in the favor and blessing of God. It is impossible for us to be hopeless, because we have THE HOPE inside of us! Pain is temporary. Grief is but for a moment. We see through a lense of eternity, and the things we experience that should traumatize us have no affect (with the power of the Holy Spirit) and the transformation of our mind.
Jesus said “How enriched you become when you are poor, for you will experience the reality of God’s kingdom realm. 21 “How filled you become when you are consumed with hunger and desire, for you will be completely satisfied. “How content you become when you weep with complete brokenness, for you will laugh with unrestrained joy” Luke 6:20-21.
Our joy is not attached to circumstances, our peace isn't based on whether we are in an environment that is peaceful. Our reliance is completely on our Heavenly Father. It doesn't make sense to the natural mind, but it is a kingdom reality which we are called to live in
This mentality isn't living in a fake reality, this is believing in the "Truth that trumps whats true".- Al Brice. It is the other reality that is even more real than the one we touch and see and smell. It is the reality that drives everything we do. This type of joy, this quality of living, is the essence of what sets us apart from the world. This type of abundant life is meant for EVERY son and daughter of God... not just a "extra special person" who always sees the positive. This is actually the way we are all called to live.
If we walked in this reality those around us would be stunned and truly experience the power of God. Paul said “We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that the extraordinary overflow of power will be seen as God’s, not ours.” This is in reference to suffering, he continues:
“Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. 9 We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. 10 We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity” II Corinthians 4:8-10.
Can you imagine if we actually lived like this? If we responded to the most dire circumstances with laughter and hope? This is why I renew my mind daily and fill it with God's heart and God's mind... because it isn't natural (in an human fleshly sense) It is supernatural. We are supernatural beings. We have a eternal spirit that (if you are born again) has been made new. Now we have to make the choice to every day renew our mind to the truth that we have inside of us and who we are.
I will leave you with this verse which sums up everything:
“6 So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day. 17 We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, 18 because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.” II Corinthians 4:16-18
When we face persecution or trouble we know we also walk in the favor and blessing of God. It is impossible for us to be hopeless, because we have THE HOPE inside of us! Pain is temporary. Grief is but for a moment. We see through a lense of eternity, and the things we experience that should traumatize us have no affect (with the power of the Holy Spirit) and the transformation of our mind.
Jesus said “How enriched you become when you are poor, for you will experience the reality of God’s kingdom realm. 21 “How filled you become when you are consumed with hunger and desire, for you will be completely satisfied. “How content you become when you weep with complete brokenness, for you will laugh with unrestrained joy” Luke 6:20-21.
Our joy is not attached to circumstances, our peace isn't based on whether we are in an environment that is peaceful. Our reliance is completely on our Heavenly Father. It doesn't make sense to the natural mind, but it is a kingdom reality which we are called to live in
This mentality isn't living in a fake reality, this is believing in the "Truth that trumps whats true".- Al Brice. It is the other reality that is even more real than the one we touch and see and smell. It is the reality that drives everything we do. This type of joy, this quality of living, is the essence of what sets us apart from the world. This type of abundant life is meant for EVERY son and daughter of God... not just a "extra special person" who always sees the positive. This is actually the way we are all called to live.
If we walked in this reality those around us would be stunned and truly experience the power of God. Paul said “We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that the extraordinary overflow of power will be seen as God’s, not ours.” This is in reference to suffering, he continues:
“Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. 9 We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. 10 We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity” II Corinthians 4:8-10.
Can you imagine if we actually lived like this? If we responded to the most dire circumstances with laughter and hope? This is why I renew my mind daily and fill it with God's heart and God's mind... because it isn't natural (in an human fleshly sense) It is supernatural. We are supernatural beings. We have a eternal spirit that (if you are born again) has been made new. Now we have to make the choice to every day renew our mind to the truth that we have inside of us and who we are.
I will leave you with this verse which sums up everything:
“6 So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day. 17 We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, 18 because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.” II Corinthians 4:16-18
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