Thursday, April 2, 2020

Crushing Carona - God's Way


                                                                                                                                 How to Find Joy in Every Day (Even the Hard Ones)          
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) 

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