By Mary Lindow
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Psalm 139:14
WE ARE STRANGE AND EXQUISITE CREATURES.
We can ache for God tremendously; yet find ourselves getting nervous if God gets too close! After all, the closer God gets, the more we hear the call to be “unpolluted”.
It is both exciting and frightening to hear that call!
A STORY
“Once upon a time there was a little plant that was small and whose growth was stunted, for it lived under the shade of a giant oak tree.
The little plant valued the shade that covered it and highly enjoyed and lavished the quiet rest that it’s majestic friend provided. Yet there was a greater blessing prepared for this little plant.
One day a lumberjack entered the forest with a sharp ax and cut down the giant oak! The little plant began to weep, crying out, “My shelter has been taken away”. Now every fierce wind will blow on me, and every storm will seek to uproot me!”
The guardian angel of the little plant responded, “NO! Now the sun will shine and showers will fall on you more abundantly than ever before! Now your stunted form will spring up into loveliness, and your flowers, which could never have grown to full perfection in the shade, will laugh in the sunshine. Many will say, look how that plant has grown. How gloriously beautiful it has become by removing that which was it’s shade and comfort!
THE TRAINING OF A SPIRITUAL COMRADE
We need to see that the Lord wisely trains his soldiers by calling them to difficult travels and service. He strengthens them through wildernesses and mountains. God knows that spiritually armed Soldiers can only be developed in battle and are not developed in times of calm. We can only become true seasoned soldiers of Christ when we train and serve in the preparation time of the inhospitable surroundings.
TRUST FOR A SEASON!
It's all about trusting God in the end. Oh yes it is!
We often ask in the heat of difficult battles whether they are mental battles, spiritual battles, and financial battles…
”Will He REALLY refresh us in this time of struggle?”
His Loving Word says so.
“For I satisfy the weary ones
And refresh everyone who languishes."
Jer. 31:25
THE LORD IS PRODUCING STAMINA…
…WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT!
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;
For once he has been approved,
He will receive the crown of life,
Which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
James 1:12
THE FATHER IS URGING US TO RUN TO HIM, TO CRY TO HIM!
He is there! Even in this fog of struggle, loss, anxiety, or seeming success! He wants us to be desperate for Him and is training us to rely on His voice. To make our decisions based on His plan for the whole earth!
TIE YOURSELF TO THE HAND OF GOD!
Get a "rope of expectation"(the word of God) and tie yourself to it.
Hold on! The boding evil is nearly over!
“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.
So let us put aside the deeds of darkness
And put on the armor of light.”
Romans 13:12
INTIMATE PLACE OF COMMUNICATION
It would be a powerful opportunity for all of us to get on our knees in an “intimate place of communication” with the Lord, and refresh our commitment to purity, and with a willing heart to yield to the bidding of the Father.
They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line, not swerving from their course.
Joel 2:7
LET OUR HEARTS WILLINGLY...
…Give Him Room to Move Freely in our daily actions in this Life.
We do this by clearing away or removing anything that feeds and pampers our flesh and our own concepts of the Kingdom.
WE PREPARE HIM A PLACE
At throne in our hearts from which He can reign
and activate His anointing.
"No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—
He wants to please his commanding officer."
2 Timothy 2:4
1 John 2:27
"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him."
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Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You Copyright © 2011 " THE MESSENGER " ~
Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
