trials

God’s Word Is Pure

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Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”

Yesterday I listened to a message on how prayer is to be our priority 

He said, “Prayer is the breath of dependence.”

He talked about the Welch revival. A group of folks were praying. A young deacon read Psalm 24

Then asked the Lord. “Are my hands clean? Are my thoughts pure?”

Our thought life is purified when we bring God’s pure word into our hearts

David wrote Psalm 26. Verse 2 is a prayer of dependence we can use. There is only One who knows the source of our thoughts 

It says, “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.” 

Prove means to test. Try means to refine. Our trials are designed to expose the hidden dross that will weaken our faith. 1 Peter 1:7

Grace Strength ~ Part Two

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Hebrews 4:15 is another picture. It says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Since we do have Jesus as our High Priest, verse 16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Humility acknowledges we have a need. Pride seeks to figure out a way to navigate. Humility looks to our Navigator. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus died on the cross, fulfilling the will of His Father. Hebrews 10:26 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God…” Trials are endued with His grace strength to endure.

The Path Of Grace

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Philippians 2:8 says of Jesus, “…He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” 

Trials test our obedience as they build our endurance. Think of Abram. God appeared to him and said, “…Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.:” Genesis 12:1. 

Catch verse 4. It says, “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him…Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” In obedience he packed up everything, and with his family and livestock headed out to follow God. I moved lock stock and barrel in 2004 to take care of my parents 24/7. I left my friends and church family to follow the Lord’s leading.

The path of obedience is strewn with grace. As we follow the Lord, we walk in His footsteps. Psalm 85:13. He always goes before us to prepare the way.