Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Relief for All Distress

Psalm 4:1 tells us that God can and will relief our distress. It points out at the beginning that He is the God of our righteousness. When we focus on Him and His Presence relief comes from daily struggles and heart aches. He tells us not to look ahead nor behind , but that He will equip us with ALL we need to face today and our tomorrows which ONLY He knows about. I watched the biggest loser last night and her personal trainer,  coached and was her encourager. He was in her corner for the whole year. She was successful even beyond her goal. How much more is our Lord? The lady paid attention and trusted her trainer more than that inner voice that attempted to cause her to fail. We, too, are in an inward battle. It is called Spiritual Warfare. The Spirit wars against our spirit. At the 9 month mark this gal went on a 100 km bike ride. Most was up hill and with her attaining to stay up, her inward battle tried to get her to quit because it was too hard and something she had never experienced before. How familiar is this scenario to our journey with Christ? Change is hard an upward battle at times and in topography we have not experienced before. Like her coach He is encouraging us, through the Word and His Spirit, to keep going we can make it. As this gal looked back from whence she came, with tears streaming down her face and that of her husband who was with her every step of the way; it reminded me of my journey with the Best Coach and Encourager in the Universe. Christ was not just by my side encouraging every step needed to take, every burden to release, He was personally involved more than any earthly coach could imagine. Christ paid for my salvation; He offered me New Life, made me(and still is) a New Creation. This gal walked out on the stage a completely different person externally and for all intense and purpose a new person on the inside. But was this transformation complete? I personally doubt it for it did not seem that what was the catalyst for her 355 pounds was not external it was internal; attacked at 14 years old. Yes, one can change the external and maybe some of the internal wiring, with a lot of work and determination, but the root of the problem for her and many of us, is sin. Our sin or others sin that perpetrated upon us. No amount of weight loss, surgery, clothes or the adulation of others can bring permanent change. Only the Great Physician can do that. Life is hard, and ought to drive us first to the Cross and Christ, then to His Word, which is our daily bread. Two young women I know and love are facing tough pregnancies and ONLY God knows the outcome. My heart breaks, but He is in control and formed those two little boys in the womb of their mother. He knows how many days they both have, He knows the hearts of both mothers look to Him for their unborn child's life both in and out of the womb. Humanly speaking we cry out in our distress to the ONLY ONE who can bring this maladies relief. He knows their journey and now they are peddling uphill; but soon much like the gal on the 100 KM ride, the downhill ride comes and will be exhilarating when they give the final push and the boys are born. They will love them, care for them and bring them to their blessed Savior and Lord for He knows and loves them even more. None of us know the outcome of that delivery, but praise God we know, trust and believe in the ONE who does. For He is our shield and we can lay down our head and rest in Him. Fear and dread are tools of the evil one; NOT our God! Rest and breathe in His breath and smell His fragrance, trusting Him for all the answers. My love and prayers are with Trisha and Caley, may He hold you both close to His chest and hold your little one with the hands that formed them. To Him be the Glory. Psalms 143:8

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