Do you ever have those times that you feel overwhelmed with fear? Fear for your children, for your health, for the world? Yeah, those thoughts have been in my mind lately. Things that go 'twinge' or 'ouch', your mind begins to wonder what is going on. And when it doesn't go away, or it continues to 'twinge' or 'ouch'... one's thoughts can begin to wonder.... and mine have. But I choose not to live there in fear because I know that no matter what, I belong to Jesus. I am covered by His precious blood. Nothing can penetrate unless He allows it. I believe that, I truly do. My children may walk their own path, but I pray the blood of Jesus over them. They may have medical issues, they may have mental issues, they may have physical issues, but I believe that God will never allow anything that isn't first going through the blood of Jesus. Things, bad things, can happen, yes. And they may end badly for us. BUT, whatever it is that we may go through, I know that in all things God will bring good from it.
Romans 8:28 says so! "And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Jesus can take the worst thing, and bring good from it. He can take a financial crisis to help you see (for most of us, anyway), that we need to spend less and focus more on Him. Some people just don't get that... I know them... and I just shake my head. Just because He has got you through a financial crisis and blessed you, doesn't mean to go spend what you have. Yes, I have to rein myself in occasionally. I make sure my bills are paid and I try to keep money back for emergencies. But Christmas is coming and I am already buying things so that I don't have to rush in a few months. My problem with that? I sometimes will find such neat things I can't wait to give it to them.... and if they have a birthday between now and Christmas, it's so easy (and wonderful) to give them what I bought. I love to give surprises to my children and grandchildren. I even asked one son the other day if he wanted his birthday gift two weeks early! He said no, so I still have it. I've already given my youngest his birthday gift.... I bought he and I registration into the 9/11 Never Forget walk... and he has his t-shirt and medal, as do I. Now I want us to plan when we are going to walk. I see that 9/11 is on a Saturday so hopefully we can meet up and take that 10K walk (a little over six miles, I think it is).
Jesus can take a medical crisis and bring restoration... or He can let it run its course. He has allowed it; perhaps it isn't about you, but about those who know you, that through that illness they will find Him. We never know the outcome of what pain of loss has brought. 20 years ago this October 5th my daughter received her bone marrow transplant and has recovered from ALL + P. What did that journey do for me? It increased my faith in our loving Heavenly Father. I often remember with tears of when she told me of her darkest moments, when she had all but given up due to the pain she was enduring.... and she saw her dad sitting in a chair, letting her know she will be ok. But, the part that breaks me, is when she felt an arm across her shoulders, although she was totally alone in the room, and she knew that it was Jesus, and He told her that she will live. He was with her, and she would get through it. How could that not increase your faith? To know that no matter how dark life gets, Jesus is always there to walk with you through that journey?
Oh how we all need Him desperately! Life is hard, don't you agree? Things don't turn out the way we planned, or even what we had hoped for. Marriages we dreamed would be perfect years ago have not turned out quite the way we dreamed they would be. Finances and jobs and health.... all these things have changed and some are not what we expected. We get older, and our bodies start to break down. The twinges and pains we used to be able to ignore, now pound on our nerves like never before. The things we used to be able to brush off as non-existent... now roar their heads to be noticed.
The only way we are going to get through this life..... is walking with Jesus through it. Jesus said in John 10:9 (TPT) "I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction."
Revelation 3:20 (NIV) "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
Jesus is our great Shepherd, and He is standing at the door of our hearts and minds, knocking, waiting for us to open the door, so that He may come in and dine with us. To live with us. Are you willing to be open enough to open that door and let Him in? He can change your life. Oh, he won't give you rules to follow that you must do or He won't love you.... but His rules are in His Word, the BIble. Read them. It is your choice to believe and follow them. We all fail at times, but our Lord is a forgiving Lord. He will walk through this rough life with you. I would be lost without Him.
What are you going to do? Have you hit bottom yet and know you need Him to help you? Do you have to hit bottom first? Why not just sit back and ask Jesus to take over your life and help you in all things. Choose Jesus. He truly is all you need. Trust Him. Love Him. Worship and Praise Him.
Life belongs to Jesus. Choose Jesus, Choose Life. Today may be your last chance.
Blessings!
