How Are We Empowered to Do God's Work?

A crisis doesn’t usually happen without some advanced warning. A prelude to a health crisis is often pain at some level. Relationship troubles usually evolve over time as a warning that changes need to be made.

A series of events that determine the future can be the introduction to possible trouble ahead for a person or a relationship. On a positive note, indications of trouble can be the time for making corrective changes to intercept possible trouble. It’s comforting to know that God observes with compassion each person’s pain and potential suffering.

His Word assures us he knows our sorrow and opens his heart to those who seek comfort and healing. One gift God offers us is strength to endure trouble that’s unavoidable. 

Our part is to activate changes the Holy Spirit empowers us to make. Christ Jesus is honored as we comply.  

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Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!

~Hebrews 4:15  Contemporary English Version

 

…I, the Lord All-Powerful, will be here to help you with the work… Don’t worry. My Spirit is right here with you.

~Haggai 2:4-5 Contemporary English Version

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On Saturday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Do You Believe the World Is a Pretty Good Place?

It’s important to celebrate and give thanks for each new day since some facet of it could prove to be meaningful and purposeful. It’s true that everything in the world is not good or beneficial, yet you still can have an attitude of optimism. How difficult is that for you ?

Ben Franklin wrote, “Taking all things together, the world is a pretty good place, and it’s our duty to make the best of it by being optimistic.” If you’re in a rut with life, have you lost the willingness to be appreciative that today is a new day and there is hope for the future?

Begin this moment to focus on one thing for which you can be thankful and then determine not to lose sight of it. Situations eventually change, and as you wait, the Holy Spirit will provide strength to endure whatever trouble or hardships you may encounter. God will take care of you, so praise him and give thanks for the gift of Jesus, your Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. Tell one other person what God has provided for you today.                               

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The Lord has done this, and it is amazing to us. This day belongs to the Lord! Let us celebrate and be glad today.

~Psalm 118:23-24 Contemporary English Version

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Meeting Challenges with Confidence

Unexpected challenges periodically slip into our comfort zone to dislodge a well-ordered status quo. Strength of character can be defined by how we accept and respond to these challenges. There are times when a challenge seems beyond our ability to manage, but God promises to give us strength to endure and accept his good purpose for us.

Psalm 46:1 gives us God’s word for challenging times. “God is our hope and strength: a very present help in times of trouble.” When we've done all that we can do, we then turn over to God what we’re facing that’s beyond our skills and knowledge and wait for his purpose to be revealed.

So what is required from us as we turn over to God what appears to be an impossible situation? Trust is definitely a prerequisite for releasing into God’s care our deepest concerns. He provides faith to endure what can’t be changed, and endurance builds character that God approves of. What wonderful gifts!  

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See, God has come to save me! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength and song; he is my salvation.

~Isaiah 12:2 The Living Bible

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

Endure: Press Upward and Onward - Part 1

Value clarification and renunciation are teammates. Value clarification is necessary when facing conflict and difficult choices. Renunciation compels us to forsake sin and deny Satan access to our lives. Renunciation demands the abandonment of the broad, easy way Jesus said leads to destruction.

Renunciation is emboldened by godly values, as 2 Corinthians 4:2 implies.  “We have renounced secret and shameful ways. Neither do we use deception to distort the word of God. By setting forth the truth plainly in God’s sight, we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience." In moments of weakness we’re tempted to take the broad and easy way by acting as if we’ve never been redeemed.

When and if this happens, pledge to forsake sin and deny Satan access to your choices. Permit God's grace and mercy to restore, reclaim, cleanse and forgive you completely. With this renewed determination, endurance and moral character grow stronger. That's good news!  

Endure: Don't Give In or Give Up - Part 3

Numerous examples of endurance derive from exceptional individuals who are handicapped. I sat beside a young woman in a college class and did not discover she was severely hearing impaired until the end of the semester. She took notes by reading the professor's lips. Can you imagine being deaf and attending a state university and being an A+ student?

When I'm faced with situations requiring value clarification and perseverance, I’m reminded of this young woman. Jesus' words from Matthew 7:13 speak to the issue. "For the gate is narrow and the way hard that leads to life, and those that find it are few." Every worthwhile endeavor may have a narrow gate and eventually require endurance.

The temptation might be to give up because the way is difficult. The alternative is to look for an easy way, the path of least resistance. Jesus was offered this alternative, but chose instead the narrow gate, leading to the cross. Consider the consequence for us, if he had chosen the easy way.