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It is important that we focus on the right things when discouragement tries
to infiltrate our being. We must have our minds set on things above and
not on things below. We should never allow a temporary setback to make us
murmur and complain about how tough things are, but rather we should use
that situation to remind us of the goodness of God, of the many times that
He has delivered us in times past and made us better because of them. The
lessons that are learned through the trials are priceless. No matter how
bad a situation may seem in that moment, it is serving a purpose even if
we don't realize it in that moment. What we must do is stay in peace,
trust that God is in control and have a deep and assured knowing that all
will be well in the end. I know the benefits of staying at peace in the
midst of difficulty firsthand. Ever since I gave my life to the Lord, I
have been at peace in Him. I've had a childlike trust that God is with me
and that nothing shall be able to take me out of His Hands.
Recently, I had a minor health scare. I had been having some issues with
my stomach and no medicine was really helping. I tried antibiotics and
that didn't solve the problem. I finally went to my doctor and had an
x-ray done to see if they could find anything wrong internally. A couple
days later my doctor called and wanted me to have a CT Scan because they
found a “mass” near my pelvis. When we hear that word mass, it makes one
think of cancer, but I chose not to believe that. I was very calm and at
peace and knew that nothing would come my way that God didn't already have
the provision for. It took nine days to schedule the scan and another day
to get the results back, but when we did I was not really surprised.
In those nine days that I was waiting to get the scan, I was not worried,
I was not fearful, I was not complaining, I was acting as I normally did.
Nothing in my demeanor changed. I stayed focused on the goodness of God
and I knew that all things would work together for good. When I next saw
the doctor to get the results, he was amazed that there was nothing there.
That mass that was visible on the x-ray had disappeared and after taking a
different set of antibiotics, my stomach issue was resolved.
The reason I'm sharing this is because I want you to have that same trust
and assurance that all will be well no matter what the report says and no
matter how bleak the situation may seem right now. Stay in peace no
matter how hard the storms are raging and no matter how tempted you are to
murmur and complain. If the Lord hasn't left you in times past, then why
would He leave you now? In those times of uncertainty, I would encourage
you to bless the Lord with your words of praise and thanksgiving. Let
your confession be praise filled. Speak only positive, overcoming and
authoritative words of victory over your situation. Don't murmur, don't
complain and don't magnify the negatives, but rather magnify all of the
positives. Remember your past victories and make every effort to focus on
the right things. When you do, you will see your situation turn around to
bless you and make you better than you were before it.
Praise the Lord who is good, whose mercies are renewed every day and whose
love never decreases towards us.
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to focus on the
right things in every circumstance that comes before you. When you do, you
will see your negative situation resolved in ways that you can't imagine.
A MATTER OF FOCUS
My friend Marge had an experience aboard a plane bound for Cleveland,
while waiting for takeoff. As she settled into her seat, Marge noticed a
strange phenomenon. On one side of the airplane a sunset suffused the
entire sky with glorious color. But out of the window next to her seat, all
Marge could see was a dark and threatening sky, with no sign of the sunset.
As the plane's engines began to roar, a gentle Voice spoke within her.
“You have noticed the windows,” He murmured beneath the roar of the
engines and thrust of the takeoff. “Your life, too, will contain some
happy, beautiful times, but also some dark shadows.”
“Here's a lesson I want to teach you to save you much heartache and allow
you to “abide in Me” with continual peace and joy. You see, it doesn't
matter which window you look through; this plane is still going to
Cleveland. So it is in your life. You have a choice. You can dwell on the
gloomy picture. Or you can focus on the bright things and leave the dark,
ominous situations to Me. I alone can handle them anyway.”
“The final destination is not influenced by what you see or feel along the
way. Learn this, act on it and you will be released, able to experience
the peace that passes understanding.”
By Catherine Marshall
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Proverbs 3:5-8 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall
direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and
depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed
on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for
in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”
Psalm 138:6-8 “Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the
lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of
trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against
the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me. The LORD
will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for
ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.”
Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the
humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and
let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and
delivered me from all my fears.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: GOD'S PROMISE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem18.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: THE PINK BIRDS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony155.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
