| Author | Message | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 432 Registered: 8-2004  |
"Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Romans 8:37 "Paul is speaking of the things that might seem likely to separate or wedge in between the saint and the love of God; but the remarkable thing is that nothing can wedge in between the love of God and the saint. These things can and do come in between the devotional exercises of the soul and God and separate individual life from God; but none of them is able to wedge in between the love of God and the soul of the saint. The bedrock of our Christian faith is the unmerited, fathomless marvel of the love of God exhibited on the Cross of Calvary, a love we never can and never shall merit. Paul says this is the reason we are more than conquerors in all these things, super-victors, with a joy we would not have but for the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us. "The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super-joy of going clean through it. Apply that to our own circumstances, these very things - tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us the super-joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. The saint never knows the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it - "I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation," says Paul. "Undaunted radiance is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can alter. The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers | ||
| Cathy2 Registered user Username: Cathy2 Post Number: 49 Registered: 2-2006 |
Thank you, Mary! Learning of the 'joy of the Lord' is a lesson of a lifetime, has many dimensions and means in which the Holy Spirit brings it to us, I think, especially, through trials. And it does not depend on our own feelings. It has somehting to do with what he brings to us from the Holy Spirit like the 'peace, which passes[our own] understanding'. I think as well as the 'mind of Christ', we receive the emotions of Christ, beyond, above and replacing our own fallible, limited human feelings. Last summer, I asked God to teach me more of the joy of the Lord; I needed it. I didn't want to go out and seek externals, even other people, for fleeting happiness (although, connections with others can be a means of his joy like our children). I have felt his joy before, but I felt a deep need to understand it more so. I am still in the learning process or processing  ; I cannot explain any more than that. It is something hard to define and put into words. But I know it is real. And, when things feel 'cloudly', we know the light-joy of Jesus is still there, as we know the sun still shines above the earthly clouds. I'd be interested to know how others have experienced and known the joy of the Lord? In the past, my main expereince of it was finally understanding and knowing grace; what he actually did on the cross, for good, for me. Being flooded with that knowledge from scripture and of him, his pure love. Cathy | ||
| Anotherseeker Registered user Username: Anotherseeker Post Number: 50 Registered: 8-2005 |
The other night it dawned on me with a NEW DAWNING that if my life circumstances were the way that i think they should be and if i functioned the way I THINK i should be functioning. If i had the perfect job,relationship church life e.t.c. ...God would love me NO MORE than he does RIGHT NOW He loves me JUST AS I AM and any future improvements will not affect his love for me 1 iota!!!!! I nearly cried but i was too tired to do so as it was about 3:30am {haha} | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2369 Registered: 3-2004  |
That is something I have never thought about, but you are correct. It does not matter to God if my life circumstances are what "I" want because it does not affect God's love for me. I can only say, He is so awesome. Diana | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 640 Registered: 7-2004 |
Another Seeker, I have come to believe, in my New Dawning, that if my life circumstances were the way I think they should be - I would be further from God than ever. When life is smooth sailing I think we all become a little more self-reliant and a lot less Jesus-reliant. Sad to say - this is a least what I have found in my journeys. Iron sharpens iron. Those trails instill the need for complete surrender to our great all-knowing, Almighty God. All to You Lord... Denise | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3513 Registered: 12-2003  |
Denise, I completely concur with your observation above. I would be further from God than ever if my circumstances were the way I think they should be. Learning to trust Him means letting go of the "dreams", but thenódreams aren't "real". Jesus is, and He anchors me in eternal reality as I submit my circumstances to Him. Colleen |
