Today's trials and tribulations are tomorrow's testimony. The Lord has this servant in a period of growth that requires some discomfort. During this season the Spirit of the Lord shared the above thought ^^ about trials turning into testimony. How can we share a testimony if we havent been through something ourselves? The Lord God would have each of us finish the race strong, not coming limping across the finish line.
Be the person you would like to see in the world. This is more counsel from the Lord to the servant who writes to you. The change we want to see starts with us. Each person is different but for us who believe in the power of faith and prayer it is up to us to lead from the front. Are we doing what needs to be done in this season to carry out our Divine mission? We were put here for a reason and that reason has everything to do with the season. The Lord did not make a mistake, we are the people who are/were supposed to be here at this point in world history. We have a job to do and that job was appointed long ago by the Almighty who sees the end from the beginning.
Each one of us was created differently to carry out some kind of work for our Father's Kingdom. Each one of us has unique talents, skills and abilities that are to be put to work right here and now and over the days ahead we are to develop/sharpen/train/grow those talents/skills/abilities to do our jobs in a way that pleases our Lord. We want to do our very best for Him and for each other.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Growth requires this mindset. Stepping out in faith with courage to fulfill our Divine mission requires this mindset.
In keeping with the general train of thought above, the Lord would have us consider the following as it is directly applicable to everything written above:
Joshua 1
1After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good successa wherever you go. 8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Notice in the text above 1. The great leader(s) of the past are dead/gone, you/me/we are the next man/woman up. And next, in order to be that next man/woman up we need to do what? "Be strong and courageous" Its kind of like Mark 13 where we see the Lord God who generally uses an economy of Words (because He knows how to communicate better than any of us) repeat Himself over and over again in a very short passage. In Mark 13 the command was watch, watch, watch and here its be strong and courageous combined with be careful to follow my directions to the letter...
It is time for us to step up and get comfortable with being uncomfortable in order to fulfill our Divine calling. Only the Lord knows what is directly ahead of us in our journey but you can be sure of this, what has gone on in our lives up till now has been preparation to do what we need to do. We are the tools in the Lord's toolbox to do what needs to be done on the earth today. Each one of us has a unique set of talents and abilities to do what needs to be done. It is time to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps in spite of our weaknesses, faults, uncertainties, fears and doubts. Courage is not acting without fear it is taking action in spite of fear. We have our fears and weaknesses but we take action anyway. Our action starts and ends with prayer, faith and belief. In between we do whatever else the Spirit of the Lord directs us to do as individuals.
We are all imperfect men and women just as Moses was:
Ex 3:11
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Moses was thinking the same thing "You want me to do what Lord!!!???" We are imperfect tools in the toolbox of a Master Craftsman. He knows who and what we are:
Ps 103
11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14For he knows our frame;a
he remembers that we are dust.
And yet He uses us to fulfill His purposes on this earth. Its time to go to work guys. Be strong and courageous and do what He is calling you to do. If you dont know, get down on your knees and pray, get in the Word and build yourself up in the Lord so you can do what you were put here to do. The Lord God wants each and every one of us to be great. "Great" means putting to work the talents, skills and abilities we have been given through faith, strength and courage. If you need more of something, ask Him for it:
Matt 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
We are dearly loved children of the Most High God. The Lord our God is very great. Lets get to work.
Glory to God
grace and peace
