Aloha Dearest
Family,
This morning I was taking the elevator down to go to work, and as I was going
down, the elevator stopped on a floor to pick up a woman in our apartment
building. As we went down a bit further, the elevator stopped a few floors down
to pick up someone else. It was obvious she was very uncomfortable and she
said that we needed to be at least six feet away from each other because of
“social distancing”. She also stated that if one more person got on, she would
have to get off. I understood her
concern and I think it’s wise to stop the spread of this virus but I also thought of how many times her (and
our) ancestors faced floods, famine, deadly viruses, deadly plagues and other
adversities yet here she stands (and we stand) because not everybody succumbs
to every tragedy out there. The devil in its attacks has so many people thinking
that they are going to succumb; it’s just a matter of time. Hogwash!
Let’s say we are concerned about something such as
this virus. The first thing we do is see what God thinks about it and says we
should do. Let’s look at what God says about anything that tries to stand
against Him, Jesus Christ and us. 1 John
4:4 says,
“Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them: because
greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
John 6:33 is a verse that will set the course for
you whatever you face in life. It’s a course to victory.
“These things I
have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
God always tells the truth. He means what He says
and says what He means. His only Son that was sent for you and for me overcomes
any troubles we face if we simply believe it. You and I have not only seen and
heard of miracles but we have experienced them many times in our own lives.
People get healed, people see prosperity in times where it seems like these
things would be impossible. How? God is huge and He’s loving and He’s gracious
and He’s given us all things to have a winning life.
What does God say to do when we get afraid? Pray,
that’s what. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious or concerned for nothing; but
in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests
be made known unto God.”
1 John
5:15 says, “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we
ask anything according to His will He heareth us.” We can be positively sure that He hears us
and will answer our prayers because He said He would. He doesn’t lie and He
really loves to work with us to defeat the devil and the evil it does.
Let’s say
you wake up and you’re a little stiff and you say, “Hey, this is one of the
symptoms of the virus.” Stop what you
are thinking and begin to think what your Heavenly Father and His Risen Son are
thinking.
In Romans 8: verses 35 and
verse 37 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril, or
sword? NAY! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us.” You’ll notice I didn’t
put in verse 36 because Paul was stating what too many people at the time
thought when they faced adversity. He’s telling them that God thinks and acts
bigger than they do so get on track and win the day with Him.
The last
two things you should do when concerns seem overwhelming are to keep the Faith
and be thankful. Read Philippians 4:6 again – it’s two paragraphs up.
We
want God involved in fixing this situation, so we let God know that we need
help. Now keep in mind that God already knows what’s going on and He knows how
to fix it. But He won’t overstep our free will. So if we want His help, we need
to pray and ask Him to be with us.
“Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians
6:18)
We not only pray for God to help us in our situation, but we also pray
for one another. When we intercede in prayer for one other, God can work all
things together for our good.
Romans
8:28 “And
we know that all thing work together for good for them that love God, to them
who are the called according to His purpose.”
Finally, give God praise. We praise Him in good times and we praise Him during
trying times as well. The troubles we are seeing around us will pass. Then we
can truly give God prayers of thankfulness that He brought us through it, as He
always does. Keep the faith,
Baby!!!!
Love Always, Ray
“God is our refuge and strength, a
very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
“And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
