Three Keys to Overcoming Difficulty

^“We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the

 hope of living. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not

destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9 NCV).

Walking with Christ does not mean we will walk a life free from pain and difficulty. In fact, we can be assured that like the apostle Paul, we will face trouble all around. The real challenge then, is to CHOOSE not give into defeat or despair in the midst of difficult circumstances. Victory is learning to walk with Jesus through hardship while maintaining proper perspective and choosing right response.

Here are three keys to help you walk through difficult times:

Praise God despite your circumstances:

 We see numerous examples in Scripture of the power of praising God in the most difficult of circumstances. God is always worthy of praise, regardless of the struggle you may be enduring. HE never changes and HE is with you in the midst of it all. Rather than focusing entirely on your pain and the difficulty you are facing, why not focus on the GREATNESS of your GOD! Rather than magnifying your mountain, magnify your God instead!

Cultivate a heart of thanksgiving:

Just as praise adjusts your focus, thanksgiving takes the eyes of your heart off negatives and places them on positives. Thanksgiving is the seed that prepares a harvest of joy. Joy is not dependent on circumstances. Keep in mind the joy of the Lord is your strength that brings you through hard times. Regularly cultivating a heart of gratitude will empower you with a healthy perspective during difficult times.

Serve others:

 It is tempting to become self-centered in the midst of hard times. We can allow worry to consume us. We can choose to spend our energy and time striving to control circumstances that we really have NO power to change.  It is during these times that we have the greatest opportunity to touch the Father’s heart by pursuing HIS Kingdom first despite our pain.

In essence, we must commit to laying down our life (our own interests) with intentions to bless others. I believe this truly moves the heart of our Father and brings healing and freedom to our own lives as a result.

Remember, difficult and painful times will come. You have the power to CHOOSE how you will respond to them. Will your response bring honor and glory to God?

An Army of Lovers

^{Psalm 18 (NCV)}

³⁴ He trains my hands for battle
       so my arms can bend a bronze bow.
 ³⁵ You protect me with your saving shield.
       You support me with your right hand.
       You have stooped to make me great.
 ³⁶ You give me a better way to live,
       so I live as you want me to.
 ³⁷ I chased my enemies and caught them.
       I did not quit until they were destroyed.
 ³⁸ I crushed them so they couldn't rise up again.
       They fell beneath my feet.
 ³⁹ You gave me strength in battle.

Psalm 18 has meant much to me over the past year. I knew that God was indeed training me for battle – but I honestly had no idea what that meant. Even now I would not claim complete understanding but I can look back and see how circumstances were used by God to put me through that training.

Two things have become increasingly clear.

First, the body of Christ is entering a season when we must do battle to advance the Kingdom of God. We can no longer take a passive posture waiting to be attacked by the enemy. Instead, it is time to assemble together and storm the gates of hell.

Second, we will storm the gates of hell only by allowing God to transform us into an army of lovers. The kingdom of hell shudders when the body of Christ walks in the power of pure, Christ-like love.

Read verse 36 again. Compare it with the very last verse in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 “And now I will show you the best way of all.” What follows is typically known as the “love chapter”. Paul tells us that even though we have all the gifts to build the body of Christ and advance the Kingdom of God, the best way to live is to love. Love never fails!!

God is calling His children to train for war by teaching them to love deeply!  This is not the conditional, convenience based, limited love we’ve come to know from the world. It is a fierce love that never waivers. It is a love that does not seek the giver’s interest, but seeks the KING’S interest by committing to love others as HE does.

Be assured no person can love like this in his or her own strength – it is not “of the flesh”.  This love can only be found at the cross. It is only when we lay down our lives that we can walk in the resurrection power to love beyond our limitations – to love as our Lord loves!

We cannot love as Christ calls us to love without travelling the Way of the cross.

We cannot advance the Kingdom of God without loving as HE does

Kingdom advancement will only happen to the extent that we are willing to endure the brutal and absolute surrender found at the cross.

I don't need comfort, I need crucified

We have made Christianity a religion that says “follow Jesus and you will find a life of comfort, convenience and worldly blessings”. This is NOT the gospel of the Kingdom. In fact, Jesus makes it clear that there is nothing comfortable about following the Way.

Do you truly desire intimate fellowship with the Living God? We are quick to say “yes”, but even Jesus tells us in Luke chapter 14 to count the cost. He warns us that “those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (v33). Realize He is not just referring to our willingness to give up material possessions. He includes relationships, positions of respect and power, even our very “reputation”.

Again, do you really desire intimate fellowship with the Living God? Are you willing to let Him examine the depths of your soul and reveal to you those “things” you still value more than Him? Are you willing to let Him strip you naked of those competing interests?

These “things” aren’t necessarily evil in and of themselves. It could be your desire for a healthy marriage, a meaningful job, enough income to make ends meet, a strong relationship with your children, respect from your colleagues, respect in your church, or physical well-being and safety. Yet any one of these desires can hold a higher position in your heart than fellowship with God.

At times, we want to “use” our relationship with Jesus as a possible means to get these desires. We think, if I pray more; if I am more faithful in giving and service; if I read the Bible more, then maybe God will “grant me the desires of my heart”.

The only way to loosen the hold these “desires” have over our hearts and motivations is to walk the way of the Cross. By willingly surrendering our lives to the One who loves us beyond measure, we experience true victory. This victory is not a deliverance from circumstances - it’s the delight in our soul that remains despite the circumstances. This only happens when our greatest delight, our highest goal, our “pearl of great price” is communion with God.

Again, victory is not deliverance from our circumstances, its deliverance from our condition - the state of our flesh that values the “blessings of God” above communion with God.

When you value any of these things more than God Himself, you will not allow Him to be Lord over the outcomes - you will wrestle for control. You will become a slave to the lesser things of this life.

Jesus makes it clear, to be His disciple you must be willing to surrender it all. It is the only way these d
esires will lose their power over you. We must be willing to leave the cares of this world behind and enter into ever-increasing communion with Him - allowing Him to truly be God over every circumstance in our lives. That is the Way to abundant life. It’s costly, it’s messy, it’s even painful at times, but it is worth it!