Abundant Life

Ezekiel 22:30 states: "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: BUT I FOUND NONE".

The bible expressly states: "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Phil 3:3)

The road to learning how to completely trust God and believe that exactly what His word says, is what He will do is a long one. In Hosea 6:3 (KJV) states: "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

This scriptures explains why so many fall away from the church and go back into the world - they do not "...follow on to know the Lord". They give up too soon, often just before their blessings arrive for their faithfulness.

Job lost everything - - but he held on patiently - believing that God would make "right" all the terrible things that had happened to him.

Even when those he knew questioned his life and concluded that he must have failed God in some way, Job held on. Even when his wife told him to "curse God and die" as she looked at his circumstances - Job held on.

Job waited on the God he knew - not the one others described to him. He waited until others must have thought that he had lost his mind as his circumstances were not changing but were in fact getting much worse - yet he waited until it must have seemed all hope was lost.

The story proves that we will have adversity, many times instigated by the Devil himself. It proves that we will often go through those circumstances alone - much as Job did as there was no one going through those tough times with Job - He went through them alone.

We don't and should not worship God because of what we believe He can give us. But we should worship Him in spite of all our circumstances, hardships and the setbacks we face.

We should worship God expecting nothing in return and be content to only receive a place in heaven with the Lord for eternity. We should be prepared to stand and withstand all life throws at us KNOWING that God is faithful and will bring us through.

As bad as Job's trials were, and as bad as they appeared to be to others, God was watching over Job's life and in fact instructed the Devil when He told him: "behold he is in thine hand; BUT SAVE HIS LIFE."

God in fact placed a very specific limit on what Satan could do so no matter what the devil did to Job from then on, He could not touch Job's life.

WHEN WE LEARN that our lives are completely in God's hands - every moment of each day is observed by Him as He occupies His throne in Heaven. Jesus put it this way: "and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.".

Every struggle, every trial, every disappointment, every Challenge - no matter how alone you may seem - God sees them all. And he not only sees them, but has a plan for you to overcome them all and reign triumphant one day with Him.

ONLY THEN will we begin to understand what was meant by the words: "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more ABUNDANTLY." John 10:10.

A prayer for today: "Father, be my guide through all my daily challenges. Help me to see and believe you BY FAITH, when my natural eyes seek only earthly evidence.

Help me to believe WITHOUT DOUBT that my "times are in your hands" - not some aspects of my life - but as the "Author and Finisher" of my faith - Jesus sees and prepares me for all aspects of my life.

Help me to trust you for all my earthly needs, protections and my peace of mind.

Amen".