The Struggles we Face

Monday, February 27, 2017

1st Thessalonians 3:4: For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

Christians struggle and suffer, just like everybody else. We face challenges and issues as well. The difference between the non-Christian and the Christian is the hope and promise from God in Jesus Christ. God does not promise that the lives of Christians will be perfect in this earthly lifetime. He DOES promise that we will have the perfect life with Him in heaven because of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

So in the mean time, before we go to heaven, we live lives that struggle. We will struggle with many things and issues that can take over our lives. Things like addictions, the pleasure of self and self indulgence. We struggle with things that may pull us away from God and His grace. Or at the very least cloud our judgment and sight based upon faith. So we try to "give them up for Lent." During the time when we focus our attention of the sacrificial life of Jesus, we too think that we can "give up" a few habits that are annoying at best.

This season we want to focus on "Getting Up (to Speed) with the grace and mercy and love of God and what He did for us through Jesus. In that way, we connect more fully to Jesus' life and the power of His life for us. Let's pray.

Dear God and Father, be with us by Your Holy Spirit and lead us through our challenges and struggles. Lead us to see the life You have for us and to focus upon the life of Jesus. We pray in His name. And all God's children say...