Adversity

From: Bob Gass Ministries

1 Corinthians 10:13 "...God will not let you be tested beyond your strength. Along with the test He will provide you a way out so that you can endure it."

The Bible says, when you are tested, "... God will provide you a way out so that you can endure it." Maybe you are in a situation - a relationship or a financial condition - that's not what you wanted. You feel like you will not be able to survive. But when you keep showing up, asking for God's guidance, when you offer the best you have - something good is happening inside you that far outweighs whatever is happening outside you. 

Jesus was facing adversity when He told His followers that, if they had faith, they could command a mountain and it would be cast into the sea. Now, when your focus is on the mountain, you are driven by your fear. But when your focus is on God, you are made alive by faith. But if you didn't have the mountain you'd never know that faith was in you, or to what extent. 

Adversity has a way of changing your values and priorities for the better. Ask God what changes He wants to make in your attitudes, your relationships, your habits and your lifestyle, and "He will provide you a way out."

Post - Traumatic Growth

From: Bob Gass Ministries 

Romans 8:37 "...Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ..."

Just as there is a condition known as "post-traumatic stress", researchers are now talking about "post-traumatic growth". One line of thinking is that adversity can lead to growth. Another is that the highest levels of growth cannot be achieved without adversity. 

But adversity doesn't automatically bring growth. Much of the outcome depends on how you respond to adversity. Joseph, who was betrayed by his family, falsely accused of rape and unjustly imprisoned, looked back and said, "...God intended it all for good..." (Genesis 50:20) 

The key to post-traumatic growth is in seeing God in all things - good times and times of difficulty, drawing close to Him, and trusting Him when you can't understand the situation. God called Paul into the ministry, saying, "I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." (Acts 9:16) But hard times didn't make Paul doubt his faith, or the God he served.

Keep Growing

From: Bob Gass Ministries

Proverbs 1:5 "Let the wise listen and add to their learning..."

To enjoy favor with God and others we must keep growing spiritually, mentally and emotionally. That requires we to do two things: (1) Never stop learning. Every experience in life, including the ones we don't enjoy, yields knowledge that can make our future better than our present.

(2) Never stop developing your talents. When asked as an old man why he still practiced six to eight hours every day, one of the world's best violinists replied, "Because I think I'm getting better." What a great attitude! 

It's not enough just to live longer; you're supposed to get better! Paul told Timothy, "...Stir up the gift...which is in you..." (2 Timothy 1:6) Your gift can either be mediocre or excellent; it's up to you."

Trusted With Silence

From: Oswald Chambers Ministries

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."

Has God trusted you with His silence— a silence that has great meaning? God’s silences are actually His answers. Can God trust you like that, or are you still asking Him for a visible answer? His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into an even more wonderful understanding of Himself. 

When you cannot hear God, you will find that He has trusted you in the most intimate way possible— with absolute silence. If God has given you a silence, then praise Him— He is bringing you into the mainstream of His purposes.

A wonderful thing about God’s silence is that His stillness is contagious— it gets into you, causing you to become perfectly confident so that you can honestly say, "I know that God has heard me." If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the understanding that prayer is for the glorifying of His Father, then He will give you the first sign of His intimacy— silence.

Attitude And Understanding

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

Ephesians 6:13 "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground." (helmet of salvation, breastplate of justice, shield of faith, belt of truth, footgear of zeal, sword of the Spirit-the Word of God)

Our passage today is not about the armor, but about our attitude and understanding, so that we can use the armor properly. First, it must be the Lord's strength that we rely on and not our own. If you are thinking that you can't make it through the battle, you are right. Only the Lord's strength can see you through. Do not rely on your ability but His.

Realize that it is not a flesh and blood battle. That seems obvious, but part of the enemy's tactic is to get you to think it is personally between you and an individual or group. Then you become bitter, and the enemy has the upper hand. Put on the full armor. Our adversary is cunning and looks for weak spots. Don't present any to him.

Take your stand against Satan's schemes. Realize where the battle is really coming from. Fight with the word of God and prayer. Keep your shield of faith up, trusting in the Lord to bring about good, because you are His.

The Peace Of God

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Here is the attitude of the Christian that has a living relationship with the Lord of the universe. They know they are in the palm of His hand and that nothing can get to them without the Father's permission. If things are difficult or painful, they know that there is good coming from the experience and that the Father will see them through. What peace the child of God should have as they walk through this life!

When troubles come your way, submit them to God and seek His desired response for them. This understanding and resolve allows God to give us His very own peace. As He abides in your heart and mind, you yield to His desires and thoughts about your situation.

Paul adds that we need to keep our minds on what is good. We must take control of our thoughts, dwelling on the things that are uplifting. This will affect your attitude about life, your countenance, and your health, not to mention your daily witness.

An Expression Of Gratitude

From: BBH Daily Devotions

Colossians 3:17 "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Anyone would recognize the need to thank someone who had given his life to save their own. Let your life, let your words be your expression of gratitude to Jesus.  

Whatever you say, whatever you do, Paul says, let it be under the authority—and for the glory—of Jesus Christ. Show the heart-deep appreciation and measureless love that you have for your Savior in the decisions you make, the topics you talk about, and the schedule you keep.

You show how much you really believe the gospel and truly trust in Christ’s sacrifice, Paul says, by the way you respond to Him in your daily life. What does your life say?

Trust God

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Isaiah 55:8 "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord."

Quietly and confidently the Holy Spirit searches for a humble heart to reveal the heart of Jesus. Sometimes we are like Peter before Pentecost, impetuous and fleshly in our faith. But post Pentecost, Peter was transformed by the Holy Spirit’s power. Love is the baseline of belief that understands and embraces the mind of Christ.

How do you know if you walk by the Spirit? As you abide in prayer you hear God’s heart. Silence is the preferred communication method of the Holy Spirit. In prayer you enter into Scriptural experiences and you experience God.

Above all, you can trust the heart of God. You may not understand today why you need to obey what He says, but tomorrow He will affirm His trustworthiness. You may struggle to see good in your situation, but the Holy Spirit will give you peace to persevere. By God’s grace you will rest in knowing Him, period. Know God’s heart and your service will be inspired by the Holy Spirit. Know Him to know His will.

Discipleship

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

John 8:31-32 "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you remain in My Word, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"

If you hold to Jesus' teaching, you are truly His disciple. We put a lot of emphasis on the decision to believe. Discipleship requires a continuing process of holding to the words that Jesus spoke. Clinging to Christ's life transforming words that came from the Father keeps us on track to fulfill God's purpose for our lives.

As we live in the Word of God, it will change the way we think. Changing our thoughts changes our desires. Changed desires cause us to act differently. The freedom that comes from holding to Jesus' teaching is something the world cannot understand. 

Your freedom to turn down temporal pleasure looks like bondage to them. Demonstrating your freedom with joy and love can help them see the difference. 

Peace

From: Every Day Light - Selwyn Hughes

Philippians 4:7 "Then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

"Peace" occurs eighty-eight times in the New Testament, and it appears in every book. This makes the New Testament a book of peace.

The peace of which we are speaking here is not something that can be manufactured. We cannot make it -- any more than we can make the other fruit of the Spirit. It is divinely and supernaturally given -- a glorious consequence of God's presence in the soul. 

Jesus knew this kind of peace and He offers the same serenity to every one of His disciples: "My peace I give to you ... Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27) Remember this -- when you remain in Him, you have access to a peace that not only passes understanding -- but all misunderstanding also.