Getting Through What You're going Through
Part 7
This session is talking about Psalm 23 where it says, Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
The rod was used for punishment and justice, but the staff was used for rescuing and comforting. The rod has a variety of uses. If a wild animal or a rustler tried to make off with one of the sheep, the shepherd could crack open the head of the invader with one swift blow. The rod could be used to spread the fleece of the animals so they could be inspected for cuts, bruises, parasites, infections, or dislocated bones. The rod could also be used to nudge and prod hesitant sheep to move back to the safety of the herd. The rod was a source of authority, power, and protection.
The staff was in constant use to rescue sheep from dilemas and to help them in times of need.
God's rod is his sense of justice, the examining he does of our lives. God also has a staff of assistance to help us. (Jesus) When we become entangled in sin, God's staff responds to our prayers of need and pulls us free again. When we become wedged admist the troubles of life, Jesus pries us loose and leads us back to the safety of His watch and care.We must endure the disciplining and cleansing as part of the rescuing and comforting.
We must recognize the need for cleansing in order to draw us closer to God. Sin seperates us from God. The cleansing power of the rod enables us to be drawn closer to God. God forgives us freely and allows us to retain our honored positions in His family.
God restores our honor before hm. Having restored our honor, we are then open to opportunities for service, positions of leadership, and the development of a personal determination to be successful.
God often stretches us to breaking point before stepping in.
Opportunity minded people discover opportunities to advance because they are looking for opportunities.
Perspective makes all the difference in assessing a situation. If your perspective of yourself is that you are worthless, you will not find opportunities before you.
God wants us to slow down at time and appreciate what we have.
When God says yes to our prayers we have to be ready. When God says go, he will hold you.
Getting Through What You're Going Through Part 8
We need to believe we can do it. Our trust in God should outweigh our fear of our enemies. Through God we are more than conquerors. God is not hesitant to place us in the midst of our enemies. The bible contains numerous accounts of how God brought his spokesmen before their enemies in order that His power and strength would be evident.
Often what we fear most is more imaginary than real. We often discover that our enemies are nowhere near as fierce as we imagined them to be.
With God on our side, we become the ones whom others tremble over. If God is for us, who can be against us. Why should we be afraid of anything or anyone? God protects us even in the worst of situations. He's always there to watch over us and to put a protective arm around us. For greater protection, we only need to draw closer to God.
We cannot expect God to alter His spiritual laws for us. If we stray from Him, we must not be surprised by the injuries we may suffer as a natural consequence of our folly.
Anytime you doubt your capabilities you become your own worst enemy.
Getting Through What You're Going Through Part 9
We need to learn how to relax and allow God to heal us from within.
The difficult takes a day, the impossible takes a little bit longer.
Everyday we must determine to let God's spirit and love direct our actions.
Every thought affects the body in some way, and every physical movement or change is accomplied by some mental alteration.
The possibility's creed is:
When faced with a mountain, I WILL NOT QUIT! I will keep on striving until I climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath - or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine, with God's help.
If you were the think negatively you would never be able to accomplish the things that need to be done. We need to think positively. We can move mountains if we try.
Getting Through What You're Going Through Part 10
Being christians does not mean we are always going to be happy. Happiness isn't a matter of "being" anything. It's a conscious decision we make. Our feeling of sorrow and depression don't go away. Life continues as normal - but with a difference. We can face our problems with faith.
Christianity does not make you a better person than your neighbor. Christianity makes you a better person than you would be if you were not a christian.
Christianity builds faith.
We no sooner come out of one going through stage than we enter another. We are just pilgrims. But those of us who know Christ as our saviour never walk alone. God can use our going-through stages to prepare us for greater things.
Christians who are eternally secure in Christ have a sense of security that lifts them above the worries of life and even above the fear of death. People who know where they are going can move with confidence and assurance.
With Gods help we can get through what we're going through.
Michelle Cozins
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