“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” Philippians 1:29
You make a decision for Jesus and this changes your priority from the world to the kingdom of God. The concern of Jesus is for you to know Him personally and lose your life for His sake. Jesus will cause you lose interest in the glamour and appeal of the world as you experience His greatness and glory.
It isn’t any fun to encounter suffering or go through severe testing in your journey with God but unfortunately it is a reality in the life of a believer. You cannot escape this in your walk with God. I have suffered greatly at times as God has stripped away all the things that seemed important to me.
The dilemma is God promises an abundant life and to bless the desires of your heart but at times you look at your life and see pain, suffering, and deprivation. How can a loving God justify these actions?
The answer is you have to accept the totality of the cross. Your life will mirror the life and death of Jesus. You die to self and are born again as a new creature in Christ Jesus. This is the miracle of salvation.
The testing and difficult times are for a season and will strengthen your faith. In His perfect timing, Jesus will rise up and deliver you from your adversities and flourish you with the riches of His kingdom.
Jesus wants you to experience the reality of “My cup runneth over” but this cannot be your end goal with Him.
Jesus said man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Find your security in the words of the Living God and walk with Him by faith. Your hope is in God and never in the world.
Live one day at a time with Jesus and pray for unyielding faith in the promises of your Creator. Jesus will supply your every need. In fact, He will give you more than you ask or think.
Hal Hollister Ministry 