Tag: sovereignty

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HOW TO DEAL WITH LIFE’S DISRUPTIONS

In one of our staff meetings at Victory Fort, Pastor Patrick shared a very helpful message during our devotions.

He talked about “how to deal with disruptions.”

A disruption is when a routine or a way of life gets halted for some particular reason. Disruptions are a way of life. Somehow God takes us out of our comfort zones so we can continue trust Him for the next steps.

So what do you do when you’re faced with disruptions?

1. Always be reminded that God is sovereign.

Psalm 135:6 says, “Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.”

And Isaiah 46:10 declares, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.”

In the midst of disruptions, God is in control. Moreover, His purpose will prevail, even in the midst of the most disconcerting disruptions.

2. Find your stability in God.

We desire for things to go back to its normal routine.

However, the myth is that when routines come back, we will finally have peace and comfort. While routines can give some level of peace, there are many things in life we are not in full control of. Only God can bring stability in the midst of disruptions.

Phil 4:6-7 says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Only Christ can give peace that is far beyond human knowledge.

3. Disruptions allow us to check what’s important to us.

Ask this question, “if my house is on fire, what are the 3 things I will bring with me?” For sure, the answer will only reflect the most important items to us.

When we are pulled out of our comfort zones, our priority lists is reduced to the things that are most important to us.

Heavenly Father, if I can be honest, disruptions are not something I am excited about. I don’t welcome it neither do I appreciate it. But for some divine reason, you allow it because you have the ability to cause all things to work together for my good and ultimately for your glory. Help me to respond in a way that would be honoring to you and encouraging to the people around me. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

 

 

Photo credit: Dante Pamintuan @coffee_dante

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“GOD FAILED ME.”

Blog Banners.001I spoke to a young man one time and told me that he was upset with God. He prayed and God did not answer. He went to church and did all he can to serve the ministry and yet the one thing he asked God for, God didn’t give.

“God failed me.”

It’s not uncommon that people would feel this. They may not articulate it but it can definitely cross their mind.

I remember Paul the apostle praying for the church in Ephesus:

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Everything that God does flows from who He is. His nature dictates His ways. Because He is love, His ways are always loving. Because He is gracious, His ways are always gracious. Because He is merciful, His ways are always merciful. And because He is holy, His ways are always guided by His holiness.

Isaiah 45:9 declares this truth:

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’

God is the Shaper, not just of our lives but of every life in the planet. He sees the end from the beginning thus giving Him a perspective that we don’t.

I will trust the perspective of a person looking from a watch tower than of one right in the thick of a battle. But even that, his perspective is still limited though he is coming from a way better vantage point.

God declares:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

As we start this week, it may seem that God has failed you because what you asked for, you didn’t get. But know this, His thoughts for you cannot be outnumbered. They cannot even be counted for they outnumber the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18)

Lord, I thank you for who You are – Loving, Almighty, Alpha and Omega, Heavenly Father, Lifter of my head. There are lots of things I can’t seem to compute in my mind as far as the events that come my way. But I make a decision to trust you this week because I know that you are more than able to cause all things to work together for those who love You and are called to Your purposes. Not my will but Yours be done. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

 

 

 

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PHOTO CREDIT: https://www.flickr.com/photos/11581147@N06/
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“LATER, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND”

There are a lot of things I didn’t understand before yet I finally did some time after.

When my mom used to say, “I’m disciplining you now because you’ll appreciate it later.”
When my basketball coach said, “Practice these drills daily and you’ll get better.”
When my small group leader said, “Honor your dad… period.”

Aside from this, there are many things that happen in my life that I didn’t see God’s hand at work but had me astonished in the end because I didn’t see it coming.

… when my parents broke up before my first birthday.
… when my mom lost the battle to cancer when I was 19 and left me practically “orphaned”.
… when I lost money on a wrong investment.
… when my youngest son had 2 cysts in his brain.

But behind the scenes I didn’t realize God was working something out. God is a turn around specialist who is able to cause all things to work for my good and ultimately for His glory. ALL THINGS. Not just some or a few but all. And this includes the good and the bad.

Because I grew up in a single parent home, God gave me a greater compassion to minister to the next generation when I became a children’s ministry pastor.
Because I was practically orphaned at 19, I had to grow up really quick to take care of my younger brother which stretched my faith to believe God for greater things now that I am married.
Because I lost money on a wrong investment, I know better what Proverbs 13:11 means. (“Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.”)
Because my son went through what he went through, we saw the hand of God work out a miracle in his life and in ours.

Jesus said, “You do not realize now what I am doing,
but later you will understand.” (John 13:7)

This is a truth packed verse.

There are a lot of things in life we don’t see for we only get the benefit of the now. But God who is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last sees the end from the beginning.

By this truth, I am assured, comforted and confident.

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PHOTO CREDIT: https://www.flickr.com/photos/linderrox/