As I sit here thinking about the past few days, I ask myself, “Judy, are you really ready?” There are days so stressful when we are brought right up to the end of our string and we lose it. Have you ever felt like that or has that happened to you? I suppose it is only human, but we are told we must get past “losing it” or else we will never make it past the gates to the City of God. God says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) but I am sure many of you know how hard it is to “be still” at times under frustration.
All these things that happen in life happen for good to them that love the Lord. He is preparing us for the future conflict that will be so much more severe than we can ever imagine. Are you ready? Can you handle, in a Christ-like manner today, the battles you are facing?
“God calls upon His people to prepare themselves for scenes of severe conflict.
Take up your duties in a meek and lowly spirit.
Ever face your enemies in the strength of Jesus.
Discharge with faithfulness every duty.
“Realize that you must now obtain by daily conversion and humility an unquestioning trust in the One who has all power and who will not leave you to be destroyed. You may know Christ by personal experience. … In the trials of these last days Christ will be made unto His people wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. … They are to develop an experience that will be a convincing power in the world.” In Heavenly Places, 297.
I ask myself, Am I ready? Am I ready to let go of self that likes to bite back and rebel when things do not go the way I think they should? Oh, how hard it is to die to self! And Jesus tells us that the future conflict will be so much more severe than we can ever imagine. Are you ready?
I must learn right now to depend totally on the sufficiency of Jesus and so must you. Are you ready to give up self to Jesus? We must really believe that Christ is all-sufficient, faithful, and powerful.
“What wonderful lessons we shall learn as the result of depending constantly on the sufficiency of Christ. He who is learning these lessons need not depend on another’s experience. He has the witness in himself, and his experience is the actual knowledge that Christ is all-sufficient, faithful, and powerful. He has the realization of the promise, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee’ (2 Corinthians 12:9). ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able’ (1 Corinthians 10:13).” Ibid., 297.
Are you ready to give up self and let Jesus? Are you really ready?
Heavenly Father: I am so sorry I have taken the reigns of self and plowed right into the devil’s territory and left Jesus out. Please Lord, I submit my life to You. Give me strength to be still and know that Thou art my God and that You will take care of each situation. Help me to hide in Thee more and more, for self is so ugly when joined with rebellion and the devil. Am I ready? Only Thou knowest! Help, Lord! Amen.