I'll be honest. I don't like trials or mountains or bumps in the road of life. For some reason, I think life should be easy for me in the present and future, I guess because life in the past was so hard. I have an aversion to pain and difficulty, but I must come to terms with the fact that life is hard sometimes.
I know that many of my readers are going through difficult times. I hear you, and I feel your pain. I want you to know, though, that while God never promises that we won't go through hard times, "The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us" (Hebrews 13:5, CEV). As you're trudging up your personal mountain, how you view it will make all the difference.
You might wish that your mountain was smooth, but if it was smooth, you wouldn't be able to climb it. There are rocky places along the way, but it's up to you whether you view them as stumbling blocks or stepping stones. It's all in how you look at your mountain, as something to be dreaded or something to be conquered.
James 1:2-4 [Amplified]
"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking nothing."
What this has to do with weight loss: I was talking to my life coach last week, and I was complaining about this weight-loss journey being "so hard." He likened it to the hard work of climbing a mountain. You get about halfway up the mountain, and because you're tired and sore and your breathing's a bit labored, you begin to entertain thoughts of turning around, of quitting. You begin the back and forth thoughts of "Quit" and "Keep going," and that banter continues for the remainder of the climb. But then you reach the summit, and it feels so wonderful, because you know you kept going despite the difficulties. My friends, let's keep going...no matter what. Let's keep the summit in view, and if we do, we will be victorious.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, You know I'm going through a trial today, and it's hard for me to 'consider it wholly joyful.' Help me to see it as You see it, a way to prove my faith and bring out endurance, steadfastness, and patience in me. I want to be 'perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking nothing,' and if this mountain is the only way to make that happen, then give me the grace to climb it. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, and be a mountain climber.
Showing posts with label Hebrews 13:5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrews 13:5. Show all posts
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #46 [Next step]
As I was praying about where the Lord would have us go, after finishing the F.I.R.S.T. Place mini devotional yesterday, I kept "hearing" the words "next step." Each time I'd pray, "Yes, Lord. That's what I'm asking. What is the next step?" Again, I'd hear, "next step." Well, it finally clicked with me that He was giving me the content of today's devotion...next step. I'm a little slow, sometimes. :)
I remember when each of my children learned to walk. I'd get them to stand up, then I'd kneel a few feet in front of them and say, "Come to Mommy," holding my arms out and smiling (perhaps bribing them with a toy). Inevitably, the child would take a wobbly step and then promptly fall down. Each time the "game" was repeated, though, the child would take one more step than the time before, until, finally, he/she was walking. Precious memories.
What's the next step for you, that you need to take? God has a plan for your life, and He's right there, to help you take the next step. Perhaps life is dark right now, and you can't even see to take one step. Know that He "will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Yes, it does take faith to step where all seems dark, but as Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole situation."
Psalm 37:23-24 [NIV]
"The LORD delights in the way of the man whose steps He has made firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand."
What this has to do with weight loss: There are steps to success in the weight-loss journey. Many of them are well-known, but some of them are different, tailor made to the individual's weight-loss journey. When you're at a weight-loss journey crossroads, and you're not sure which way to go next, ask the One who knows what's ahead. He will order your steps.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, there are times when I'm not sure which way to go or what is the next step in Your plan for me. Those are the times when I rely on You to help me know what to do. I thank You that You have promised never to leave me nor forsake me. Thank You that Your promises are true, and You are a God of Your Word. I lift my hand up to You, and I ask You to take hold of it and lead me on to the next step of my journey. According to Your Word (Proverbs 3:6), I acknowledge You in all my ways, and I know You will direct my path. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, taking the next step illumined by the light of The One Who Is the Light Of The World.
I remember when each of my children learned to walk. I'd get them to stand up, then I'd kneel a few feet in front of them and say, "Come to Mommy," holding my arms out and smiling (perhaps bribing them with a toy). Inevitably, the child would take a wobbly step and then promptly fall down. Each time the "game" was repeated, though, the child would take one more step than the time before, until, finally, he/she was walking. Precious memories.
What's the next step for you, that you need to take? God has a plan for your life, and He's right there, to help you take the next step. Perhaps life is dark right now, and you can't even see to take one step. Know that He "will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Yes, it does take faith to step where all seems dark, but as Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole situation."
Psalm 37:23-24 [NIV]
"The LORD delights in the way of the man whose steps He has made firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand."
What this has to do with weight loss: There are steps to success in the weight-loss journey. Many of them are well-known, but some of them are different, tailor made to the individual's weight-loss journey. When you're at a weight-loss journey crossroads, and you're not sure which way to go next, ask the One who knows what's ahead. He will order your steps.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, there are times when I'm not sure which way to go or what is the next step in Your plan for me. Those are the times when I rely on You to help me know what to do. I thank You that You have promised never to leave me nor forsake me. Thank You that Your promises are true, and You are a God of Your Word. I lift my hand up to You, and I ask You to take hold of it and lead me on to the next step of my journey. According to Your Word (Proverbs 3:6), I acknowledge You in all my ways, and I know You will direct my path. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, taking the next step illumined by the light of The One Who Is the Light Of The World.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
