Showing posts with label Trials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trials. Show all posts

Hurry up, God!



Today’s Reading: Psalm 54-56, Romans 3


Today’s Reflection:  Psalm 55:8   I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

Not one of us would prefer the windy storms and the tempests over blue skies and sunny days, for we see not the value of the storm; we see only the destruction.  But were it not for destruction close by, we would not soon be close by our Savior for refuge!  

I have quoted him before, but it is worth repeating; Charles Spurgeon once said something to this effect, “I have learned to kiss the wave that thrusts me against the Rock of Ages!”  Psalm 107:23-24 says, “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.”  

“Why?” might you ask, “Why must we face the storms of life which bring such destruction?”  My dear friend, according to the scriptures, it is because the Lord has something He wants us to see that we would never see anywhere else!  Think not of the storm as a force that has come to destroy, but rather a force that has been sent to open your eyes to the wonderous works of God.  

For in the storm you will learn of His might!  You will learn of His faithfulness!  You will learn of His promises!  You will learn of His steadfastness!  You will learn of His glory!  You will learn of His wisdom!  You will learn of His comfort!  You will learn of His peace that passes all understanding!  In fact, there will be far more you will learn of Him IN the storm, than you will ever learn in smooth sailing.  

Faith that is not tested is faith that is not reliable.  Our Father uses the trials of this life to purge us of the impurities of the heart, mind and soul which would otherwise blind us to His power and glory.  Many times we find ourselves as King David, wishing to hasten the process along.  We wish, as it were, to hasten our escape from the windy storm and tempest.  

However, we must learn as Job did, that our times are in the hands of our Lord!  He will calm the storm, rest assured!  Only know that He knows when best to do so.  If we learn to trust Him when we have absolutely no clue why or how this storm could EVER bring ANYTHING good, that is when we begin to see the kind of faith that moves mountains!  Perhaps the Divine objective, more than anything, is to learn that we don’t need perfect conditions in order to be safe; we need only Him!  Meditate on this!

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Floodgates of Heaven
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copyright © by Gary D. Caudill

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Preacher, God will help you bear your burden!!!



Today’s Reading: 1 Chron. 13-15, John 7:1-27

Today’s Reflection: 1 Chronicles 15:26 And it camp to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

Try to imagine the sheer weight of responsibility that rested upon the Levites to transport the Ark of the Covenant to its rightful place. Already, one Uzza had died for having attempted to help with this task in a previous effort. 

However, because it was not done exactly as God had commanded, when Uzza reached out to stabilize the ark after the oxen which was pulling it stumbled and caused it to destabilize, the Lord smote him right then and there. 

You see, Uzza broke a very direct order from The Lord not to touch the Ark. Furthermore, the Ark was to be carried by the Levites…not simply placed upon a cart to be pulled by an oxen. So you see several things already out of place. 

And now for my point: when God called the Levites to be the people who were to tend to the entire ministry of the tabernacle, it was an enormous task. It was also a great burden to bear, as God expected precise obedience in every step in the process. There was no room for error. Uzza was proof of that. 

So, here we are, considering the fact that after Uzza made a seemingly innocent mistake and was killed by The Lord because of it, now the Levites are brought back in to do it right. 

At this point, I can’t help but wonder just how nervous they must have been, as they wanted to be absolutely confident that they were doing everything the way God expected them to. They knew that to mess it up would likely cause them trouble they were not ready to face with The Lord.

In other words, the call of ministry is not just a call, but a certain burden to be carried. Ministry is never to be taken lightly, and is always to be administered with a spirit of reverence and holy fear. 

Think of the precious cargo we ministers carry with us every time we preach The Word. As symbolized in our text with the Ark (which contained among other items the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments), we are not to touch God’s Word (that is, alter it in any way) with human hands. We are to deliver it with the same respect, fear, and accuracy as the Levites did with the Ark. And the good news is, The Lord HELPED them with this task! 

Dear preacher, God knows the burden you are under, and will help you with it!

To catch more devotions like this which may speak specifically to you as a minister, be sure to follow us by email today!

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Floodgates of Heaven
Volume 2
Entry 141 of 365
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copyright © by Gary D. Caudill

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If you can handle the pressure, then you can handle the promise!

Day 60 (Category: Trials)

Today’s Reading: Num. 20-22 & Mark 7:1-13

Today’s Reflection: Numbers 21:4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

Do not lose sight of your destination because of the journey. Too often we forget that we are headed somewhere! But wait…are we? May I say, that’s up to you? Understand that when you focus entirely on the journey and lose sight of the final destination, you have become a person with no vision and therefore no direction, left only to get snake-bitten and poisoned to death in the harsh wilderness of your bitter complaints. Though the wilderness was a harsh way to go for Israel in order to get them over to the Promised Land, it was the ONLY way to go. A closer look into today’s reading will also reveal that the wilderness wasn’t just necessary because of its geographical position, but it was also necessary because of its testing qualities. God had to gravitate Israel from weak and beggarly, slave-like tendencies, to a strong and resourceful, kingdom-minded people in order for them to be prepared inwardly to manage and handle the blessing He had waiting for them. SO, their faith was to stand trial through the wilderness. If they could handle the pressure, then they could handle the promise. HOWEVER, many did not pass the test. Instead of remembering who God has been and presently was to them, they forgot His mighty works and reverted back to natural-minded ordinary means of provisions that required no Divine purpose, but yet cost them their freedom. Yet, they thought they’d rather be back in Egypt than to have to learn to trust God day by day for their provisions, even though they were now a free people. That said, God then did something very powerful; He required that they look to the thing that they detested the most for healing. He forced them to look at their tribulation as their triumph. As snake-bitten friends, family, and neighbors were already dying because of the snakes, those who were still breathing had two choices; either continue to complain and die in their soul-poisoned condition of bitterness, or trust God to turn the very thing that was cursing them into a blessing. It was really just about perspective. So, as they looked to the fiery serpent which Moses lifted up, all who were bitten and looked on the serpent were healed. Here’s the word; instead of cursing your journey, your situation, your condition, your trial, or what have you, simply take another look at it from a different perspective, asking God to turn your trial into a blessing, and He will do just that. Now, will YOU pass the test?

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From Triumph to Trial...why? ~ Read more...

Day 26 (Category: Trials)

Today’s Reading: Exodus 14-15, Matt. 17

Today’s Reflection: Ex. 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

Immediately after the great triumph of the Red Sea deliverance came the first trial for the children of Israel. Could you imagine the spiritual high they must have been on directly after they walked through the midst of the sea on dry land, and after their enemies were destroyed right before their very eyes? I can see it so clearly in the eye of my imagination. They must have been ecstatic! They had been in bondage as a people for 400 years, and God supernaturally delivered them from that bondage, out of the grips of the super power of the world at that time. This is their chance; their “declaration of independence”, if you will! The air is full of hope & laughter, and then, something unexpected occurs…more hardship! Isn’t it interesting how that the best of our days are often soon followed by what we might call the “reality checks” of life? Just imagine how easy they must have thought it would be for them from here on out, and then, NO WATER! What? But, didn’t God lead them there, you may ask? Exactly…that’s the same thing they were questioning. They (like we so often do) assumed that because God was now their leader, that they were immune to trouble from then on. But the truth is, our journey with God does not eliminate trouble; it just makes the journey possible! So, why does God do this? What is He up to when He leads us right into the midst of adversity? Well, verse 25 gives us some insight in stating that God sent them there to “prove” or test them. It was a matter of teaching His children how to walk by faith, fully trusting their new Master to supply their needs, instead of a government or a leader. This will be the first of many tests for Israel, but the point I wish to make today is this; learn to thank God for the times He puts your faith to the test, because He is only purifying your faith to be able to later bless you all the more. You will have other tests as well, but with each one, you will be made a little wiser, and a little stronger. Think of it as prep time; God is preparing you to be able to handle the blessings He has in store for you in Canaan land; only get through this wilderness with your faith intact, and you will see the milk and honey flow!

Blessed? Email Us! testify@floodgatesofheaven.org

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copyright © by Gary D. Caudill

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