Quiet Moments With God -- Living Water

As many of you know I've been facing a challenge in recent weeks. But as is always true, God wastes nothing. I've drawn closer to Him and I'm learning a lot. I've got the questions and He's got the answers.

Today in my reading, once again, Oswald Chambers words ministered to me. Throughout my life I've faced a good deal of obstacles, but there is one particularly unruly affliction that persists in getting in my way. Again and again I've come up against it and today when I read that rivers of living waters will flow from me to bless others I longed to be an unobstructed river.

Mr. Chambers said, "A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers." And my mind cried -- I want to be that river! How do I overcome this barrier? The answer came quickly. "Keep paying attention to the Source (of the living water) and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it." My vote--remove it. God still does miracles.

Mr. Chambers went on to say, "Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty." I must confess my eyes have been firmly planted on the trial. And no good has come from staring at it. I've gained only fear. I know better, but just like you I'm not always wise or courageous. And in this I've been especially foolish, for I know that my source of deliverance is reliable and powerful. First John 4:4 says, "the Spirit that lives in you is greater than the spirit that lives in the world." Amen!

Believe. Cast away fear. We are filled with the Spirit of the Living God! We can be free-flowing rivers of blessing.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie

Quiet Moments With God -- Training Ground?

I've recently been thinking about soldiers. They're in the news a lot, or at least the wars they fight are.

Soldiers go through grueling, intensive training before they're sent to the battle field. They're challenged and required to do the impossible. While training they live with deprivation, discomfort and pain. It's not fun. It's hard work. And it's necessary, for one day they will face the enemy.

If our commanders went easy on the men and women we call on to defend our country where would we be? Where would the soldiers be? They'd be in harms way . . . unprepared. It would be foolish and unjust to send our fighting men and women into battle without proper training. They know it. While they train you won't hear them complain (well not much anyway) because they understand tough conditioning is necessary to their survival and to victory.

Once on the battlefield brave men and women perform feats that take great discipline, stamina, strength and courage. They will be called on to do things they may have considered impossible. And yet, they succeed because they've been properly prepared; they're ready.

Have you ever considered yourself a soldier? We are, you know. We don't fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. But we do fight. God has called us into battle and like a drill sergeant he readies us.

Ephesians 6:11-17 tells us how to fight and what armor we must wear if we're to succeed. We are to gird our waists with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, shod our feet with the gospel of peace, and take on the shield of faith. We must wear the helmet of salvation and carry the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

God prepares us by taking us through our own "boot camp". Life is a good training ground. We'll be hit with the hard stuff. We won't be comfortable. We'll be challenged to be faithful and courageous. God is wise and just. He knows what we need if we're to be victorious.

I'm thinking that the next time we face a test (training) we need to be thankful. Without proper training one day we'll step onto the battlefield unprepared. So, give thanks for the hard stuff. God is building our faith, our knowledge and our courage so we'll be ready. For the battles are coming.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie