Daily Diary - February 1st, 2016

Overcoming Trials

Once we have concluded that God is good and loves us based on His word.  We can begin to accept our “position” with Him:  He is God and we are His children.

Many times it’s the trials of life that cause us to dig deeper into God’s word. There are 2 important scriptures that are often quoted to help us get through these times.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

The truth is that God’s word does work in all things.  It has the ability to shine light on darkness.  The past mistakes and shortcomings of your life can become a testimony and a place of ministry if God’s plan of salvation is given a chance to work on your behalf.  It’s simply how God works.  He is good and our flesh in genuinely bad.  If “Good” defeated “evil” at the cross then God’s Word will ultimately reverse the plan of evil and make it work for the good. Overcoming difficulty is proof God’s work was finished at the cross and the victory was won. 

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.    But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I’ve concluded that if I trust God, then there must be a reason and a great outcome for my struggle.  God must have good for me in ALL THINGS!  I need to change instead of God.

The majority of trials in our life come from our flesh nature and our wrong choices that we have invited the darkness in.  Most of the time our trials are our fault.  The trial gives us an opportunity to change and make better choices in the future.

Both of these scriptures tell us about trials and the results are good for our outcome when we follow God’s plan and have patience.  But it doesn’t tell us how we “Overcome” the enemy. 

Revelation 12:10-12 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. ¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. ¹² Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

It’s clear in this scripture that we overcome by 2 things; the “Blood of the Lamb” and the word of our Testimony.  When I read this scripture it brings humility to me.  It reminds us that we have no power over the enemy other than what is given to us by God based on the Blood of the Lamb, which is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Many times people try to handle their struggles and trials on their own.  They may even pray to God for help in times of need.  But the facts, based on God’s word, are that we overcome when we are saved and the Blood of Jesus has covered our sins. 

When we testify to how we have overcome by the blood of the lamb we are reaffirming to ourselves and the world around us that our source is “Jesus”.  So our testimony is a part of how we overcome.  This is why I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.  I will put my name on the ministry to affirm that He is my Lord.  This is my testimony.  In fact anytime we talk about God and how He has changed our lives it is “Our Testimony”.  It is an expression of God being our Lord and master of all.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Father, We thank you for the Blood of the Lamb that gives us the Victory to overcome the trials of life.  It is by what you have done for us that we are able to “Testify” that you are our source in Jesus Name! Amen