True Victory

In the past I had circumstances that would just knock me off my feet. I would pout, beg, get angry, moody, and fight my way through it. Did it change anything? Did it make it end any faster? Did it change the outcome of the trial?? NO!!! All it did was cause my life to be absolutely miserable through out the whole situation. Not only my life was miserable but I am sure I made alot of other people miserable too. So...what have I learned? Well today as I drove to work I began to think of my current situation of stuff and start getting all mad again. I thought to myself how today was going to be a bad day because of the last couple days of stuff that has come up. I was getting in that mood all over again! Then as I had the radio on to a worship station...I realized that no matter what the circumstance is God is worthy to be praised! He is in control. So even though to me this is the end of the world and the thoughts come and tell me that " this is reallly bad" and "I cant possibly be happy during this" and "its never going to get any better"...I began to worship God and get my mind of the problems and on Him! Guess what happened! I felt better. No, my problems are still there, but now I can face them knowing God is in control. And now I can rest in Him because I gave my burden to Him to hold on to. I will allow Him to guide me through this situation. He is my GPS. He is my guide through this fog. I dont have to walk with my head down and my spirit burdened. I can be guided through this forest with my head held high knowing I am not in control but God is!!! That is true victory: when you can be in the valley and only see mountains surrounding you...but you begin to praise the Lord and have joy in your spirit. Nothing can steal my joy! But I can give it away...Dont give your joy away, its especially helpful to have when you are in the shadow of a mountain! True Victory is being able to face a trial with your head held high and your spirit lifted and hopeful to what is to come!!!

You thought it for evil but God meant it for good

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.

How many times has someone done something to you in your life and you were hurt so bad by it? I bet your first reaction was not as this scripture says it. One of my favorite people to read about is Joseph. Though he was the favorite son he was later despised by his brothers. He was sold into slavery! And that was the lesser betrayal his brothers decided than actually killing him. I can not imagine sitting in prison for something I did not do. I can't imagine my own siblings despising me enough to get rid of me. And yet Joseph ended up becoming such a great person. A person used greatly to save many people through the drought in Egypt.

I think back to my life and realize now that it really is true that the things in my past, the hurts that have been done to me, the betrayals, the wounds inflicted...each and every circumstance God meant it for good even though each individual thought they were just hurting me. They didn't realize that God was actually using them. Even though there are rough areas in my past, God uses them for the good of not only my future but others. I pray that God would use me to affect people for the good! I thank God for every opportunity to do His will. Love people no matter what they have done to or for you. That is what God wants us to do. Use our lives to help someone else. We all go through things that are unique to what God wants us to go through, so we can reach others that are struggling.

Unanswered Prayers

Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of country music by any means! But...Garth Brooks, I believe wrote a song several years ago "unanswered prayers". I dont know the words but a few. I know the meaning of the song though without even hearing it. I know from years of experience the emotions behind such a song. As a parent I have to know when to say "no". If you don't ever tell your children no, they become selfish, self centered, and they will grow up thinking that everything they want, they get. Can you imagine someone in your life that you may have met or a family member that comes to mind that has never heard the word 'no' before? The person that if told no, either makes a way or runs someone over to get their way? Yeah, I have met them. People need to have a good balance of "yes' " and "no's". Adults are the same way, in that aspect, as children. God is now our parent. He is our Father. He knows what is best. He is looking out for our future. I tell my children, its your job to ask for something you want or think you need, and its my job to decide whether you need it or not. Its their responsibility to deal with the outcome. Its my job to enforce the outcome. Its the same way with God. We pray to Him for our wants and our "needs". Even though He knows what we need, I think He enjoys it when we ask Him. It's up to Him to decide whether we really "need" this in our life. Will it benefit us in some way or will it hurt us in the long run? Will it hurt someone else in the future? Is it worth the risk now for a future cause? Its alot to decide, thats why He is God! I am not smart enough sometimes...most of the time, to decide what is really best for my future and for the future of my children. I dont know what life has waiting for me if I make the wrong decision. I take comfort in knowing God has my future in His hands. I ask, He says "no" and I deal with it! He knows my heart's desire. But He also takes into account our future. I am grateful for that because looking back at all my prayers, I am thankful He did not answer some of those prayers. I prayed them in selfishness, I decided right now mattered more than my future, my kid's future. He knew all of that! I thank God not only for my answered prayers, but more so for the unanswered prayers because I believe just as a parent has a hard time saying no, so does God. I feel that as a heavenly Father, He wants to give us everything we desire, but its just not good for us. If you're a parent you may understand this concept more so than if you dont have any children.

Thank you Lord for my unanswered prayers, and I pray that you will lead me through the difficult situations in which I must endure. It would be so much easier right now if you answered my prayers, but I trust in you that you hold my family's and my future in your hands.