How strong are you?

We have been learning from brother Fred, about patience...that is 'Godly patience' or Godly strength. We already know how strong God is (ultimately so) but my opening question was, how strong are you?

We see in Pastor Marks, Monday Joy that,

The LORD does not lord over you ....or any other Believer.

 We are not forced to do what God wants us to do for His benefit. We are given choices for our own benefit. In Tuesday's evotion brother Fred writes,

So, HE built a system where we can choose HIM and HIS Path or choose ourselves and our own path.  Although there are troubles, trials and temptation, HE does not cause them.  HE is the one who gives us the will and the strength to overcome, but only when we choose HIS Path.

Imagine for a moment that we lived in a world that had no God (an impossibility but just imagine). There would be no God but there would still be the rent to pay, we'd still get sick and have our worries and get depressed. Aunty Molly would still die which would  leave you devastated. How would you cope? Mmmm, maybe ok? ..and on the other hand, we'd still win the lottery or come up trumps on the stack exchange, but ask yourself, without His strength where would you be? Yes, even in winning the lottery you need His strength / patience / wisdom to be able to handle the situation correctly....how many times do we see a persons whole life destroyed due to 'hitting the big-time'.  So, how strong are you?

Fortunately (bad word) we do have God (thank you Lord, for being the great, I Am) BUT, there is still the choice to make and if you make the wrong choice you will live in a world without Him (your choice, not His).

Bible Promises for Monday reminds us,

"HIS incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of HIS mighty strength."
Ephesians 1:19

"HIS incomparable power is for us who do believe".

and Bible Promises for Wednesday,

"And for this we labour and strive, that we have put our hope in the LIVING GOD, who is the SAVIOUR of all men, and especially of those who believe."
1 Timothy 4:10

In Wednesday's evotion we learn,

James Chapter 1

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

or put another way, every man is tempted (and succumbs) that does not follow the Lord's path. Still on the theme of temptation, we read on Thursday,

James Chapter 1

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.

In the same way that God does not 'lord over you' (we have choice), so it is with sin. Sin begins in the mind. The seed of sin is a single thought...

"Lust is the mind committing treason.  Sin is the body committing lust."

Yes, it's choice time again. Do you choose your way or the Lord's way? When you feel that temptation is just too much for you to cope with...

When the mental pressure is so great to go off into sin, just shout it out, "I CHOOSE JESUS!" and HE will take it from there!

James Chapter 1

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Of course, all this is often easier said than done. We don't always win the battle against temptation but God does not blame you for this, nor does He see your weaknesses as being an indicator of your unfaithfulness to Him. We read in Thursday Night Teens (brother Matthew)

"For the LORD loves the just and will not
forsake His faithful ones."
Psalms 37:28

Brother Matthew speaks of being faithful,

"To the point of overflowing."

If you are as faithful as you possibly can be (to overflowing) then in answer to the opening question, 'how strong are you?', the Lord will see that you are as strong as you can be...at this moment in time. Your strength will continually increase just as long as your strength is His strength and not your own strength for in your own strength there is nothing but weakness.

On Friday we read from Open Heart Women's Ministry (sister Deborah)

1 Peter 2:4-5   
"As you come to HIM, the Living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by GOD and precious to HIM - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to GOD through JESUS CHRIST."

 This is a great way to end our week of evotions, like living stones, you are being built into a spiritual house. So now we see that if we choose to follow His path we take on the strength of the whole house of God.

How strong are you?