“It is no secret that grief has always fallen to people of greatness. Great is the easy conqueror, Yet the one who is wounded sore, breathless, all covered o’er with blood and sweat, sinks fainting, but fighting evermore~is greater yet.”
L. B. Cowman
Start With God
There are many things in this life that I can’t wrap my mind around, and some of them, I never will be able to. That is why when I can’t understand something, I should not over think it, because this leads me to a chaotic mind and a distressed soul. The best thing to do is start with God. I heard a message this weekend at Renovation Church, from Pete Hinson, who very aptly stated that wisdom for life starts with God, and the first step in learning is bowing to God in surrender of all things us. Simply-significantly, honestly just talk to God today. Pete went on to say that we don’t have to perform for God. It can be hard understanding prayer as we try to “do” prayer, rather than talking with God, being with God. In a theatrical world where fake reality is prevalent in the all of our everything, we are unaccustomed to being genuine, simple and honest. Isn’t it time that our focus shifts from us to God, and we genuinely pray it up, heart to heart with our God? Start now, it begins with God, like everything else in our life should. Start with God, right now, heart to heart in vital-vertical relationship with Him.
Feeling Trapped?
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. God took that evil deed and inside of the circumstances this sin created for Joseph, God gave Him great favor. God did not deliver Joseph from the really bad situation, He kept him in it, but He miraculously made Joseph rise as high as he could in that situation. I recently was questioning God about a situation that He has allowed me to be in. I do not like this situation I find myself trapped in; it feels more than what I can personally handle. My feelings feel have moved way beyond not liking, I actually feel like I hate this situation. These feelings overwhelmed me because I was entertaining them, they left me feeling depressed and discouraged. Listen Up to this 1 Minute Encouragement Video and change it up.
It Doesn’t Feel Right
I don’t understand why God would allow this at this time of my life. It doesn’t “feel” right, yet after all the prayers I have prayed for God to change it up, I am still in the middle of it. One of the things I said to the Lord, was questioning Him about why He makes it so hard for those who serve Him with their lives, yet others who sin, they seem to have it so easy. I reminded God about how we do everything right, we make all the right choices, yet it seems like those who don’t make godly choices, have it better than those who do. God reminded me about Joseph. Joseph made the right choice, yet the enemy seemed to have had the upper-hand. Seemed is the key word.
Genesis 39: 7 After some time his master’s wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” 8 But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority.39:8 Lit owns in my hand 9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?
A Step Backwards Is Not A Step Away
Joseph made the right choice, yet he ended up losing as he was taken from the palace to the prison. Yet, God was still with Him, nothing that mattered had changed. God’s miraculous favor was still with Joseph. I feel like in my situation, that I have taken a step backwards. A victory was won and now I find myself thrust right back into the situation before I had the victory. Has the enemy succeeded? He will if I give into my feelings, instead of letting go, and letting God stretch my faith. I have to remind myself that a step backwards, is not a step away from God. God is still with me. Even if my circumstances have changed in a negative way, God has not left me nor forsaken me. It is not about where I am positioned in this life, it is all about where I am positioned in my spiritual life, the one that matters, the one that lasts forever. Am I positioned in Christ, underneath His rulership of love? This is enough.
Genesis 39: 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him — “These are the things your slave did to me” — he was furious and had him thrown into prison, where the king’s prisoners were confined. So Joseph was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden. The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there. 23 The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority.
God’s Providential Care
This life situation that I find myself so unwillingly in, I need to embrace God in the midst of it. As with Joseph, and what I learned from his life with God, I saw that there is always a greater plan in play, God purposes in play in the unseen. We can’t always see the endgame of God, and that is where trust and faith come into play while we grow through the hard seasons of our lives. God is always on the move, His Providential Care is being played out as He works towards bringing forth good for His Kingdom and for us. I admit, I don’t like this situation I am in, but I choose to trust that God has an endgame, and I desire to grow through, to let be, be still and know God is at work for my good. I do not understand God’s ways, but I trust Him, and I am giving Him total access to my life, so He can stretch my faith as He sees fit. This situation feels more than what I can bear, but God, He is at work in the midst of it and He has a good endgame. There is a plan. Listen Up To This 1 Minute Encouragement Video and be inspired by God.
Genesis 45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt. And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7 God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Do You Have Iron In Your Soul?
Sometimes we are put in situations where it does feel we have “iron in our souls”, it is hard, it is heavy, and we have to patiently endure. God always has a good plan and if we are in a situation where we feel caught in the riptides and can’t seem to swim out, we need to look to the shore, stop thrashing about, trust God and go with the flow of His Holy Spirit. God is our Deliverer and He will purposefully deliver us in His impeccable, very purposeful timing.
Psalm 105: 16 So God decreed a famine upon Canaan-land, cutting off their food supply. 17 But he had already sent a man ahead of his people to Egypt; it was Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18 His feet were bruised by strong shackles and his soul was held by iron. 19 God’s promise to Joseph purged his character until it was time for his dreams to come true. 20 Eventually, the king of Egypt sent for him, setting him free at last. 21 Then Joseph was put in charge of everything under the king; he became the master of the palace over all the royal possessions. 22 Pharoah gave him authority over all the princes of the land, and Joseph became the teacher of wisdom to the king’s advisers.
Psalm 85:6 Revive us again, O God! I know you will! Give us a fresh start! Then all your people will taste your joy and gladness. 7 Pour out even more of your love on us! Reveal more of your kindness and restore us back to you! 8 Now I’ll listen carefully for your voice and wait to hear whatever you say. Let me hear your promise of peace— the message every one of your godly lovers longs to hear. Don’t let us in our ignorance turn back from following you. 9 For I know your power and presence shines on all your devoted lovers. Your glory always hovers over all who bow low before you. 10 Your mercy and your truth have married each other. Your righteousness and peace have kissed. 11 Flowers of your faithfulness are blooming on the earth. Righteousness shines down from the sky. 12 Yes, the Lord keeps raining down blessing after blessing, and prosperity will drench the land with a bountiful harvest.13 For deliverance goes before him, preparing a path for his steps.
ACTS 20: 24 “But whether I live or die is not important, for I don’t esteem my life as indispensable. 20:24 Or “I do not consider my life worth a single word.” That is, Paul viewed his life as not worth mentioning. We don’t need to see our lives as precious in our own eyes, for they are precious in the eyes of our Lord Jesus, and that must be enough. It’s more important for me to fulfill my destiny and to finish the ministry my Lord Jesus has assigned to me, which is to faithfully preach the wonderful news of God’s grace." TPT
“Tribulation is the door to triumph. Tribulation’s imprint is on every great accomplishment. It is no secret that grief has always fallen to people of greatness. Great is the easy conqueror, Yet the one who is wounded sore, breathless, all covered o’er with blood and sweat, sinks fainting, but fighting evermore~is greater yet. Tribulation has always marked the trail of the true reformer.”
L. B. Cowman
The Author Table in The Bridegroom’s Café is a spiritual meal with the flavor of the author working throughout the meal. We all live and grow through many things in this life and it is good to share them with others, it makes for a great spiritual meal. We hope your soul was nourished today as you listened up to The Bridegroom’s Voice. God bless you MUCH, KimberlyMac