let me ask you to think about your greatest need. it may be an emotional need, a relational, physical, whatever. get that need in your mind and then let me ask you this: which of these four tests are you going through right now where GOD’s testing your faith in how much you’re going to trust HIM.
are you going through the pressure test? and is HE seeing how am i going to handle stress? turn to HIM or turn to other things to relieve my stress?
how about the people test? how are you handing a disappointment? are you complaining about it? are you griping about it? or are you realizing that GOD is a loving GOD and HE knows what’s best for you. maybe you’re trusting in the wrong thing because anyone who trusts in GOD will not be disappointed.
how about the persistence test? are you keeping your commitments? everybody starts off great at the beginning of the marathon but they start giving out about half way through. are you keeping your commitments to other people and even to GOD? it’s a test.
and the priorities test. what is first in my life?
some of you are saying, “i don’t think i’m going to pass this test. any of them. because i’m tired, worn out, weak, fatigued. i don’t think i have the energy to make this thing last.” what do you do?
look at GOD’s promise. isaiah 30.15 (ncv), this is what GOD says: “if you come back to ME and trust ME you will be saved and you will be strong.”
notice two things: salvation and strength. you’ll be saved and you’ll be strong. you’ll have the strength you need to do the right thing if you come back to ME and trust ME. that is a promise.
not only that, but GOD has eternal rewards in store for you if you pass these tests. GOD blesses the people who patiently endure testing. afterwards they will receive the crown of life that GOD has promised to those that love HIM. james 1.12 (nlt)
what is a crown of life? a symbol. a crown of life is a symbol of all that GOD wants to do in your life, all the blessings HE wants to bestow on you, all the needs HE wants to meet, all the rewards HE wants to give you in heaven. it’s all that GOD has planned for you if you will just trust HIM. it’s a symbol – the crown of life.
GOD has eternal rewards when we pass the great tests of life. when you depend on CHRIST when you’re under stress, when you trust GOD’s plan when you’re disappointed, when you keep your commitments even when it hurts, when you put GOD first in your thoughts and in your money and in your time (your schedule and your budget) GOD says two things: one, I will meet all your needs. two, I will give you eternal rewards in heaven. what a deal!
just a great thought from the front porch…
Showing posts with label persistence test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label persistence test. Show all posts
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
a weak or wise person?...
ecclesiastes 5.4 (ncv), if you make a promise to GOD don’t be slow to keep it. GOD is not happy with fools, so give GOD what you promised.
what commitments have you made to GOD that you have failed to follow through on? read your bible every day? tithe? join a church? get involved in small group? find a ministry? share with your neighbors about CHRIST?
what commitments have you made to CHRIST (GOD) that you’ve let slack off. this is a test of your character and your faith.
ecclesiastes 8.5 (lb), the wise man will find a time and a way to do what he says.
the wise person figures out a way to keep his or her commitments. the weak person cops out. the weak person says, “i made that commitment but i’m going to blow it off. i made that commitment back then but i’m not going to follow through on that one. i didn’t really mean it. times/circumstances have changed.”
weak people give excuses. wise people find the time and way to do what they say they will do. do you want to be a weak person or do you want to be a wise person? this is a test. it’s a test of the kind of character you’re going to develop.
this is one of the major faults in our society today. people give up in the test before hanging in there to make it through. they give up too soon.
people have one little marriage problem: “i can’t handle this. i don’t deserve this. i’ve got to get out of this relationship.” and they walk just because they have a tough time. “i can’t afford to tithe. i’m in financial pressure.” so they walk out on that commitment. “i can’t afford to do the right thing in the business because if i do the right thing i will lose my job.” this is a test. it’s a test of your character and a test of your faith.
the bible says in psalm 15 that GOD blesses the person who keeps his vows even when it hurts. that’s the kind of person GOD blesses and it’s a test.
just a thought from the front porch…
what commitments have you made to GOD that you have failed to follow through on? read your bible every day? tithe? join a church? get involved in small group? find a ministry? share with your neighbors about CHRIST?
what commitments have you made to CHRIST (GOD) that you’ve let slack off. this is a test of your character and your faith.
ecclesiastes 8.5 (lb), the wise man will find a time and a way to do what he says.
the wise person figures out a way to keep his or her commitments. the weak person cops out. the weak person says, “i made that commitment but i’m going to blow it off. i made that commitment back then but i’m not going to follow through on that one. i didn’t really mean it. times/circumstances have changed.”
weak people give excuses. wise people find the time and way to do what they say they will do. do you want to be a weak person or do you want to be a wise person? this is a test. it’s a test of the kind of character you’re going to develop.
this is one of the major faults in our society today. people give up in the test before hanging in there to make it through. they give up too soon.
people have one little marriage problem: “i can’t handle this. i don’t deserve this. i’ve got to get out of this relationship.” and they walk just because they have a tough time. “i can’t afford to tithe. i’m in financial pressure.” so they walk out on that commitment. “i can’t afford to do the right thing in the business because if i do the right thing i will lose my job.” this is a test. it’s a test of your character and a test of your faith.
the bible says in psalm 15 that GOD blesses the person who keeps his vows even when it hurts. that’s the kind of person GOD blesses and it’s a test.
just a thought from the front porch…
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
life and your commitments...
GOD also uses the persistence test to strengthen our faith. "will i keep my commitments?"
life is about making commitments. your life is shaped by your commitments. your character is developed by your commitments. your success is influenced by your commitments. your eternal destiny is determined by your commitments so you’d better choose what you’re committed to very carefully: heaven and hell are in the balance. you become whatever you’re committed to.
the problem we have today is that most people are half committed to two dozen things instead of being totally committed to the one or two things in life that really matter for now and eternity. that’s a waste!
if you’re going to develop any skill or any maturity, for that matter, you’ve got to learn to make and keep commitments.
let’s say you want to learn a musical instrument – to play the piano. that’s not automatic. you don’t just sit down and it’s instantaneous. to learn to play any instrument or develop any skill it takes practice and more practice and more practice, which takes persistence, which takes discipline, which requires commitment. the hallmark of emotional and spiritual maturity is you make and you keep wise commitments.
the uncommitted person there’s a word for them, it's immature. immaturity shows itself in the inability to make and keep commitments. some of you need to understand that no commitment that really matters is easy. they’re all hard if they’re important. so you can expect your commitment will be tested.
some of you are in the commitment test right now. your marriage vows are being tested. is it really going to be “‘til death do us part.”? i made a vow in front of people and before GOD, “‘til death do us part.” am i going to keep that or am i going to walk out?
now here is a sidelight for those of you who have had your partner walk out on you. don't emotionally beat yourself up right here. it was not your choice. ok. stay with me, ok?
some of you are having your personal integrity tested right now. i know the right thing to do but am i going to do the easy thing and the convenient thing, the popular thing, the thing that everybody else wants to do? it’s a test. it’s a test of your character.
just a thought from the front porch…
life is about making commitments. your life is shaped by your commitments. your character is developed by your commitments. your success is influenced by your commitments. your eternal destiny is determined by your commitments so you’d better choose what you’re committed to very carefully: heaven and hell are in the balance. you become whatever you’re committed to.
the problem we have today is that most people are half committed to two dozen things instead of being totally committed to the one or two things in life that really matter for now and eternity. that’s a waste!
if you’re going to develop any skill or any maturity, for that matter, you’ve got to learn to make and keep commitments.
let’s say you want to learn a musical instrument – to play the piano. that’s not automatic. you don’t just sit down and it’s instantaneous. to learn to play any instrument or develop any skill it takes practice and more practice and more practice, which takes persistence, which takes discipline, which requires commitment. the hallmark of emotional and spiritual maturity is you make and you keep wise commitments.
the uncommitted person there’s a word for them, it's immature. immaturity shows itself in the inability to make and keep commitments. some of you need to understand that no commitment that really matters is easy. they’re all hard if they’re important. so you can expect your commitment will be tested.
some of you are in the commitment test right now. your marriage vows are being tested. is it really going to be “‘til death do us part.”? i made a vow in front of people and before GOD, “‘til death do us part.” am i going to keep that or am i going to walk out?
now here is a sidelight for those of you who have had your partner walk out on you. don't emotionally beat yourself up right here. it was not your choice. ok. stay with me, ok?
some of you are having your personal integrity tested right now. i know the right thing to do but am i going to do the easy thing and the convenient thing, the popular thing, the thing that everybody else wants to do? it’s a test. it’s a test of your character.
just a thought from the front porch…
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