01/13/2022
No matter what troubles we face as Christians, we not only find that God leads us through them, but that during the most immense, intense, and frightening of them, the love of God gives us not only victory, but leads us triumphant through Heaven’s streets in celebration of our complete victory over them. We not only survive life’s ordeals, but thrive in the midst of them. How exhilarating it is to feel the wind in our face during a storm, or how alive we are when we experience the intense fear of standing too close to a precipice. So God is with us in our storms, and in every danger, but not to simply watch over us, but to lead us through them victorious, and then in triumphant procession as we reflect His glory.
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Romans 8:37 ESV
What do we expect the outcome to be when we kneel before the Lord, and ask for His deliverance? Do we anticipate a halfhearted effort from Him, or a complete, and total victory over whatever enemy we are facing? So many times we approach the Lord in such a desperate state that we are wanting nothing more than the bare minimum from Him. In times such as this we might feel completely beaten down by life, and consider ourselves unworthy, stained beyond the ability of Christ’s blood to cleanse us, or like second rate citizens, but this is not true. God sent His Son Jesus to bear ALL of our sins, and we are now the children of God.
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:11 ESV
The Lord doesn’t want us to love Him, or worship Him halfway, or to live our lives with one foot in Heaven and the other on earth. No, He wants our best, and that is exactly what He desires to give us. We are not meant to be lukewarm because our Father is not.
““‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16 ESV
God is love, and His love is complete. He doesn’t dole out His love for us in degrees, but in total… all at once, and all of the time. While we were yet sinners He gave for us His most precious possession, Jesus, so why would we think that He would do less for us now?
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 ESV
The wind that we feel in our face with such exhilaration is more than a storm, it is His breath blowing around our prayer chairs, and through our prayer closets. The life that we feel so intensely as we stand with Him on the peak of His Mountain, or the edge of a cliff is more than physical fear… it is the rush, and quickening spirit of His impending rescue through Christ, and our absolute trust in Him.
“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
1 Corinthians 15:45 KJV
So fear not, and trust completely in Jesus Christ, and God the Father. Find in them a quickening of life as they see us through our most daunting trials and tribulations. Don’t dread the rushing sound of the wind, or quiver as we stand overlooking the deep valleys that surround His Holy Mountain. It is God who holds our right hand in His. It is He who looks through our eyes to see into our souls, and knows the depths of our heart.
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.””
Isaiah 41:10, 13 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the gift of love you have bestowed upon each of us, and your Son Jesus who is the embodiment of that love in its fullest. Help us to trust completely in you for deliverance from every trial and tribulation we face, and while feeling the exhilaration and quickening of life in your presence. We pray that you will hear our praise and worship echoing from the mountains, and bellowing through every valley. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God, whose love abides in us through Christ. Praised be your name for the hardships we face, and the storms that buffet us in life, because they reveal you to us in all your radiant glory. Merciful are you who reaches down to lift us up, and great are you whose grace extracts no price from us except the love we share for one another, and the strength of faith this fosters. Cleanse us of our sin Father by immersing us in the blood of Christ, and help us to be found worthy as we stand before you in judgement. Call us your children, hear our thanks for your gifts, and seat us eternally at your table where we will worship you now, and forevermore.
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.””
Isaiah 41:10-13 ESV
Rich Forbes