Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this day. This morning I made starch free Peach Crisp, chicken tenders, and veggie stir-fry. Also, went down for donut day and this afternoon we have Bible Study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do you ever feel like you are being pulled in two directions? Maybe all of us have those times and wonder which way to go when we feel opposite pulls on us. We often waver and sometimes we go the way God is directing but there are other times we feel the pull of the world and end up going the opposite way.
Michael Casey in his book, Grace on the Journey to God, says our life often feels divided and we are easily distracted. We feel pulled two ways and it is the default condition of all of mankind. The apostle Paul knew that there is a constant battle going on inside us and he says in Romans 7:19 (ESV), “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” Like Paul, we have the same struggle between going God’s way or the enemy’s way. Yet in our hearts we desire to be strong and to resist the pull of the enemy. We may make progress for a time and then suddenly fail; and we end up realizing we are both are saint and sinner. In our hearts, we want to stand when the trials and storms of life hit us. Casey said it is much like being on a surf board and trying to stand while we let it take us forward. We have to deal with the wind and waves and constantly adjust as the center of gravity changes. It takes a lot of energy but even if we do fall and get swept under, we can be resilient and quickly get up again and stand.
Yes, life is full of good times of love and happiness but it also has hard times of loneliness and grief. Of course, it is easier to handle the good times but the hard windy times are unavoidable and have to be endured. We experience both and each has a purpose. Even the bad times force us out of our comfort zones and help us to grow and build character. Saint Bernard said that the changing times between good and bad things are necessary for then “we will neither be crushed by adversity nor lose discipline through too much joy. Also, it is by this means that joys are more appreciated and difficulties more readily endured. Blessed be God forever!”
Challenge for today: Thank God for what He is teaching you in both the good and bad times and ask for help in resisting the pull of the enemy.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
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