What I was made of
Ever wonder about yourself, and your ability to “go through a storm”? Have you wondered: How do I know I can go through a testing, a trial, and be strong in it?
An experience I had when I was 36 showed to me what I was made of. Our two kids were young, junior high school age, and we were staying as guests at a friend’s house while they were away. It was just the four of us.
In the early hours I was awakened by a noise downstairs. Someone was in the house! Burglars, or worse… were about to burst in and — we were all alone.
I had no weapon to defend the family, and here we were “trapped” upstairs with no other exit. I quickly grabbed a wooden suit hanger. Holding it like a club, I placed myself at the top of the stairs. My wife and kids were behind me. I was about to die for them.
Standing there, ready with a hanger in my had, I was resolved: Nobody, absolutely nobody was going to come up those stairs to harm my family! Nobody!
That was one of those “aha” moments. Later I’d look back on that and see: Yes I had what it takes to stand up and fight for our survival. I was ready to defend my wife and kids – to the death.
Oh. So, what happened? Well, as it turned-out, our host friend had unexpectedly returned to his house, to rummage through his garage downstairs. That noise? It was my friend! Not some criminals. Whew!
That morning I learned what I was made of – experientially. No doubt in my mind. It confirmed to me that, no matter what may threaten me — I was up to the challenge.
What about you?
* Have you measured up?
* Has some experience “tested your meddle” (MWebster)?
* Have you been “put to the test“ (MWebster)?
* You know “what you’re made of”, “where you’re at” (MWebster: one’s true position, state, or nature)?
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Sum it up
What about your spiritual life, your relationship with Jesus? Are you sure about it – who you really are in Christ? If God were to sum it up, what is the state of your spirit?
Has something you experienced
shown you that, Yes! –
I am ready, steady, and able?
Trials
What good is “a trial”. It hurts!
2 Consider it nothing but joy, my [a]brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.
verse 12 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 1
If we trust in God, He will confirm in our hearts that we are His. I look to Scripture to show me who I am — spiritually, in my inner soul (“inner man”).
I am not who Satan says I am! I am not the sum of all my past sins. I am what Jesus promises I am — in Him.
Do you look to Scripture…?
A strength like “not of this world” (NOTW)
In Christ I am a strong person – as in “not of this world” strong. I know that — because I’ve been tested. And Scripture tells me that.
I do not count on failing. I’m in it to win it!
I have failed, but then I got back up and back on the right track (Psalm 40:2). How about you?
See: | Body by God |
| The man of God, the lion, and obedience |
| The sins around us and the sins we do |
| The Reality of Incompleteness on Earth |
| Being faithful little by little |
We all can be strong in Christ. He sent His Holy Spirit to reside inside our insides – to make us strong in Him. Are you a strong person in Christ?
In our own power
In myself… I am anything but strong. Not strong. In fact, Scripture teaches us,
Christ followers are not spiritual giants, walking tall and mighty, full of ourselves. We are weak creatures that need to be full of Him.
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.’ – Zechariah 4:6
We’re not mere puny humans now that we have been made brand new through salvation in Christ — but we are weak in our own power while on this planet. – Source: The Hand of God
To be strong I must center my thoughts on Him, trust in Him, rely on Him …not run off wrapped-up in myself. Jesus said:
“If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.” – John 8:31
When I call on God, THEN — “I can do all things….”
“13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do]
through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency;
I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]
I am exceedingly powerful as a “beyond earth” new creation of God. But only in Him.
– Source: The Hand of God
…be strong
in the Lord
and
in the strength of His might.
– Ephesians 6:10
FOR MORE:
Seven Signs You Know Jesus
How to know for sure you’re not a false Christian
By Jimmy Evans | Sep 25, 2022
The Apostle Paul’s Criticisms Excerpt: Many false christians are the tare next to the true wheat in churces nowadays. Don’t be a God Damned Christian – be the real thing.
* Don’t waiver because of how the many phoney baloney believers live-out their faith …the “unrepentant” and confounded, the chaff, the weeds, the “tares” growing right alongside the good wheat, [happily] content in their wayward thought. [See: Matthew 3:12, Matthew 13:verses 24-30] – Source: The Apostle Paul’s Criticisms
Promises God makes about your salvation
What God secures – you cannot “lose”
Your spiritual journey to eternal life
Maintain yourself faithful – out of loyalty to Christ
Jesus Promises an End Time Rapture
Excerpt: If we face death because of our faith in Christ, we can be confident knowing that He is with us all the way. He alone is our hope. “Fear not.” At the moment of our death – we put on Immortality. God’s Home Heaven will soon be our new Eternal Home. Is your faith strong enough to die for?
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 12:4 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do.
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We know what Jesus believes. Do you agree with Him?
We know the will of God in this
Footnotes
- James 1:2-12
2 Consider it nothing but joy, my [a]brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. 7 For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].
9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God]; 10 and the rich man is to glory in being humbled [by trials revealing human frailty, knowing true riches are found in the grace of God], for like the flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; its flower falls off and [b]its beauty fades away; so too will the rich man, in the midst of his pursuits, fade away.
12 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. – James 1:2-12.
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