COUNT IT ALL JOY

Greetings -

Do you ever wonder why our Lord allows certain things to happen in our lives instead of showing us how to avoid certain instances of opposition? I have asked Him something like, “Why didn’t You have me to avoid this or that?” The Lord answered me with His Word.

Our Lord gave me Isaiah 45:7, “…I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” And He referred me to Matthew 4 when the Spirit led JESUS into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. GOD could have allowed an “avoid” in that but it was His design to have JESUS to be tempted of the devil. The devil opposed JESUS and JESUS won the battle! Satan quoted scripture, and JESUS quoted scripture in response. The difference is that when JESUS quoted scripture, He possessed the MOST POWER because the power of Christ always trumps the power of Satan. The devil knows the Bible but he does NOT obey it - which means that the devil has no holy power/anointing that accompanies him when he cites scriptures from GOD’s Holy Bible.

One wilderness benefit that our Precious Lord also revealed is that if He did not lead us into the wilderness, we would not know what He has made of us. Issues that, in the past, would disturb or anger us, no longer have that power to do so. Yes, we will still have our “moments” when we will be sorrowful, and when we do wrong and need to repent, but those “moments” occur less and less as we yield to the commands of our Father. It is such a joy to me to know that because of what the Lord has worked in me, I now sometimes laugh at opposition when previously I would react with ungodly anger. Increasingly, my responses to opposition have changed to Word conduct – count it all joy. The Lord reminded me that through the wilderness opportunities, we learn how we have changed, and matured to levels where the effects from opposition are greatly lessened. Also, the Lord moves us to spiritual places where none of these things move us – The Acts 20:24.

Our wilderness experiences can be occurrences to get us more in tune with GOD and His awesome purposes! Our count it all joy attitudes are rewards that prove that the Lord’s investment in us is bearing fruit to evidence that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. His investments provide vital dividends and benefits that we need in this life to be meet for our Master’s use. Glory to our Lord. Joy! Joy! The joy of the Lord is indeed our strength.

Psalm 95:3
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Prayer:

Father, in the holy and powerful name of JESUS, Your beloved Son, I pray that more and more, we Your people, and the sheep of Your pasture will respond with love, control, laughter, confidence and the fruits of Your blessed Spirit. Let it be our continual reality that we, for real, count persecution all joy because we know that all things work together for good to those who love You. You can certainly turn curses into blessings and what the enemies mean for evil - You shall turn for Your good. It is truly all about You, Lord, and what You elect to manifest.

Thank you, Lord – Amen.

Sandra

Written April 24, 2009

Revised December 2, 2010

© Copyright 2010

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Note: Please read the post directly below this one, "GOD SPEAKS TO SPIRITUALLY WOUNDED SOLDIERS IN HIS ARMY."