So a few weeks ago, God had given me a string of "pop quizzes" also known as "trials".
Not sure if you've been following my blogs, but a few weeks ago, I was in a stressful financial situation where I came to this Christian forum and asked for prayer. I would like to say "Thank you" to those that prayed for me and my family. I was in desperate need of a miracle and God showed grace and mercy on me. Needless to say, He provided for me, when I could not see a way how. I put my faith in Him that He would carry me through, and He did just that.
I was really in a great heap of trouble. A bind as you call it. Not only did I not have enough money for food. I had no money for gas to take me to and from work and school. No money to feed my dog. I got a second parking ticket that cost $65. I got a speeding ticket of $360. The bills just kept piling up!... And on top of that, my headlight to my car blew out. The troubles just kept coming. I thought I was going to have a heart attack from all the stress I was under. The night that my car light blew out, I just had a big laugh. I said, "Lord, You sure are testing me today, aren't you?" And I laughed as I walked into my apartment, knowing that whatever happens, God has me under His wing. He won't let anything bad happen to me. He's just testing me. He's given me a string of "pop quizzes". The next day, He answered my prayers.
God provided $ in my checking account. I was able to transfer some money from my savings. It wasn't much, but somehow God had just provided enough to last me through till my next paycheck. He gave me food by providing friends that fed me. I was invited to dinner a few times. My roommate was kind enough to cook dinner. I was able to scrounge up some money to buy food for my dog.
Soooo... I listen to Pastor Greg Laurie from Harvest Christian Fellowship on my way to school. Here's something to explain a little on the trials or pop quizzes of life.
Pastor Greg Laurie - Greg’s Blog
"Why are there trials?
James reminds us, “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers,
don’t treat them as intruders but as friends! Realize that they come to TEST YOUR FAITH
and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots.”
The way to pass this test is to see your utter inability to do anything on your own (see James 1:2)." - Greg Laurie
You see, God was testing me. He was testing my faith. Now I'm not a perfect Christian, but boy I am sure glad that I did not lose faith in Him. Many times, we find Christians that lose faith because life throws at them "trials" or hardships. They forget to put their trust in God and try to control the situation on their own. In our own vanity, we fail miserably. We stumble and fall. Only God has the ability to control or fix the situation. We're nothing but mere mortals. From these tests, I grew as a Christian. I know that life will throw obstacles at me. It is my duty to myself to hold fast. Be strong and have faith. There's no need to freak out every time I hit a bump in the road.
All roads have a bumpy streak from time to time. Doesn't mean that we should stop our journey. We continue. Pressing forward. Our endurance builds up. Our Christian characters become great. He gives us these trials here and there so that when a really big one comes, we're ready for it. It's like preparing for a marathon. You just don't run a 50 mile marathon without training.
So let's all heed to James and have patience and long suffering. Let's hold on and have faith. God will grant what we pray for. But pray with confidence and faith.
James 1:6 - "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave in the sea driven with the wind and tossed".
Thanks for reading...
Not sure if you've been following my blogs, but a few weeks ago, I was in a stressful financial situation where I came to this Christian forum and asked for prayer. I would like to say "Thank you" to those that prayed for me and my family. I was in desperate need of a miracle and God showed grace and mercy on me. Needless to say, He provided for me, when I could not see a way how. I put my faith in Him that He would carry me through, and He did just that.
I was really in a great heap of trouble. A bind as you call it. Not only did I not have enough money for food. I had no money for gas to take me to and from work and school. No money to feed my dog. I got a second parking ticket that cost $65. I got a speeding ticket of $360. The bills just kept piling up!... And on top of that, my headlight to my car blew out. The troubles just kept coming. I thought I was going to have a heart attack from all the stress I was under. The night that my car light blew out, I just had a big laugh. I said, "Lord, You sure are testing me today, aren't you?" And I laughed as I walked into my apartment, knowing that whatever happens, God has me under His wing. He won't let anything bad happen to me. He's just testing me. He's given me a string of "pop quizzes". The next day, He answered my prayers.
God provided $ in my checking account. I was able to transfer some money from my savings. It wasn't much, but somehow God had just provided enough to last me through till my next paycheck. He gave me food by providing friends that fed me. I was invited to dinner a few times. My roommate was kind enough to cook dinner. I was able to scrounge up some money to buy food for my dog.
Soooo... I listen to Pastor Greg Laurie from Harvest Christian Fellowship on my way to school. Here's something to explain a little on the trials or pop quizzes of life.
Pastor Greg Laurie - Greg’s Blog
"Why are there trials?
James reminds us, “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers,
don’t treat them as intruders but as friends! Realize that they come to TEST YOUR FAITH
and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots.”
The way to pass this test is to see your utter inability to do anything on your own (see James 1:2)." - Greg Laurie
You see, God was testing me. He was testing my faith. Now I'm not a perfect Christian, but boy I am sure glad that I did not lose faith in Him. Many times, we find Christians that lose faith because life throws at them "trials" or hardships. They forget to put their trust in God and try to control the situation on their own. In our own vanity, we fail miserably. We stumble and fall. Only God has the ability to control or fix the situation. We're nothing but mere mortals. From these tests, I grew as a Christian. I know that life will throw obstacles at me. It is my duty to myself to hold fast. Be strong and have faith. There's no need to freak out every time I hit a bump in the road.
All roads have a bumpy streak from time to time. Doesn't mean that we should stop our journey. We continue. Pressing forward. Our endurance builds up. Our Christian characters become great. He gives us these trials here and there so that when a really big one comes, we're ready for it. It's like preparing for a marathon. You just don't run a 50 mile marathon without training.
So let's all heed to James and have patience and long suffering. Let's hold on and have faith. God will grant what we pray for. But pray with confidence and faith.
James 1:6 - "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave in the sea driven with the wind and tossed".
Thanks for reading...