James 1:3
"For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."
When is your faith tested? When is mine? I often wonder this. When facing hardships and trials I typically turn to God for strength and support. When faced with joy and blessings I again turn to God with thankfulness, awe, and wonder.
Since becoming a Christian I've never questioned or lost faith. Yet trials come, it isn't always a smooth or easy ride. But the Bible says our faith will be tested. So maybe I don't understand what that means.
Recently and currently I am facing things that could be considered "trials". My patience has been tested. My ability to not bite off the heads of those I'm forced to do business with has absolutely been tested. My endurance is being tested. But a new trial has been added to my burdens and I briefly wondered if my faith was being tested.
After prayer and contemplation my answer is "no".
My faith remains as strong as it has always been. But I feel "tested".
Last night as I hugged my husband and the release of the day's stress surfaced I cried and knew...my faith is strong. Then I wondered how strong my trust and love for God was? Is it all it should be? Is it all it can be?
Psalm 66:10
"You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver."
Through the testing one is purified. Purification is a process that requires intense heat and must be watched very closely by the Purifier. It is during the trial and the testing that God holds us closest to His heart. He watches and knows that as we are refined and purified we grow closer to Him. He knows the process hurts and pain is involved. He desires only the best for us and wants the best in us.
Father God,
Hold me close as I endure this time of testing and trials. Be my strength when I am weak. Be the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all. AMEN
WELCOME!
T - i - double G - grrrr
February 24, 2011
February 1, 2011
Putting God First - Separation Anxiety
When I was a new parent I remember how intense certain feelings were. Those early days and years with a new son or daughter are so precious and go by too fast. Looking back I remember most the times when it was just me, my baby, and a rocking chair. I would love to have the ability to time travel and go back into one of those moments. What a great mini vacation that would be!
I also remember the first time I had to leave my toddler with a new sitter. I can still see my child’s eyes filling with tears and terror as I walked out the door – my heart breaking because I too was experiencing those same feelings. That heavy feeling would stay with me all day as I wondered how my child was doing. Were tears still flowing or was it just me? I couldn’t concentrate and all I could think about was that moment when I would return home and get to hold my child in my arms once again.
Did you ever think that God gives us those moments as parents to perhaps teach us about what He experiences with us? After all He is our Heavenly Father. We are His children. Does He experience “separation anxiety”? And what would that look like?
Sometimes we let the world babysit us, don’t we. Things like TV or facebook or whatever fills your time becomes your babysitter. It watches you as much as you watch it. And while you are busy in those things God is still there, waiting. Waiting for you to decide to spend time with Him. He misses you. His heart aches for those precious moments He remembers where you turned to Him and it was just the two of you.
Father God, forgive me for all the time I waste on things that pull me away from you. Hours spent playing video games without even taking five minutes in the day to open my Bible to study. I am humbled by the realization that You miss me. Hmmm. Abba Father, draw me to You. Guide my thoughts as I plan my day so I include You in it. Thank You for loving me, waiting for me, for teaching me, and for dying for me. AMEN
Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
I also remember the first time I had to leave my toddler with a new sitter. I can still see my child’s eyes filling with tears and terror as I walked out the door – my heart breaking because I too was experiencing those same feelings. That heavy feeling would stay with me all day as I wondered how my child was doing. Were tears still flowing or was it just me? I couldn’t concentrate and all I could think about was that moment when I would return home and get to hold my child in my arms once again.
Did you ever think that God gives us those moments as parents to perhaps teach us about what He experiences with us? After all He is our Heavenly Father. We are His children. Does He experience “separation anxiety”? And what would that look like?
Sometimes we let the world babysit us, don’t we. Things like TV or facebook or whatever fills your time becomes your babysitter. It watches you as much as you watch it. And while you are busy in those things God is still there, waiting. Waiting for you to decide to spend time with Him. He misses you. His heart aches for those precious moments He remembers where you turned to Him and it was just the two of you.
Father God, forgive me for all the time I waste on things that pull me away from you. Hours spent playing video games without even taking five minutes in the day to open my Bible to study. I am humbled by the realization that You miss me. Hmmm. Abba Father, draw me to You. Guide my thoughts as I plan my day so I include You in it. Thank You for loving me, waiting for me, for teaching me, and for dying for me. AMEN
Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
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