True Peace and Tranquility -Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 (NIV)
And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 (MSG)
Then I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. What a waste! Smoke. And spitting into the wind. The fool sits back and takes it easy, His sloth is slow suicide. One handful of peaceful repose is better than two fistfuls of worried work—More spitting into the wind.
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“I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind. The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy]. One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.” -AMPLIFIED

“Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world.” ~Paul Chappell

Tranquility; a word that is not used very often anymore. It means to be in a state of calmness, peacefulness, quietness, restfulness and/or serenity. You may have heard the word tranquility mentioned when someone was talking about Zen; which has its roots in Buddhism. We ARE NOT talking about that kind of tranquility. True tranquility has its roots firmly planted in Scripture and we will find that it is only found in God.

“Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.” ~Warren Wiersbe

“Then I saw yet another thing: envy fuels achievement. All the work and skills people develop come from their desire to be better than their neighbors. Even this is fleeting, like trying to embrace the wind. As the saying goes: The fool folds his hands to rest and lets his flesh waste away. And it is better to have one handful of peace than to have two hands full of hard work and a desire to catch the wind.” -(VOICE)

The Teacher continues to tell us about what he THOUGHT was truth before he began his research. This is what his initial observation was:
1.) Hard work is a by-product of envy or rivalry.
2.) Finding tranquility or peace is like chasing after the wind.
3.) It is better to have a little peace than to be constantly busy.

“Then I observed that the basic motive for success is the driving force of envy and jealousy! But this, too, is foolishness, chasing the wind. The fool won’t work and almost starves but feels that it is better to be lazy and barely get by, than to work hard, when in the long run it is all so futile.” -(TLB)

At this point it seems that the Teacher was trying to find tranquility, satisfaction and happiness in his work, but he will soon understand that he was trying to find these in the wrong places. Tranquility, satisfaction and happiness, real peace, can only be found in God. Trying to find them elsewhere is truly like chasing after the wind.

Jesus, while having a conversation with His inner circle of followers before His betrayal and death, told them this:

“Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him. The one who does not love Me ignores My message, which is not from Me, but from the Father who sent Me. I have spoken these words while I am here with you. The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you. My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. You were listening when I said, “I will go away, but I will also return to be with you.” If you love Me, celebrate the fact that I am going to be with the Father because He is far greater than I am. I have told you all these things in advance so that your faith will grow as these things come to pass.  I am almost finished speaking to you. The one who rules the world is stepping forward, and he has no part in Me; but to demonstrate to the cosmos My love for the Father, I will do just as He commands. Stand up. It is time for us to leave this place.” -John 14:23-31 (VOICE)

The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Philippi, shared these thoughts on how to achieve true peace and joy:

“Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice! Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:4-7 (TLB)

He goes on later in the chapter to tell the Philippians the secret that he has learned on how to be content and find tranquility in any and every situation. He writes:

“I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need. I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” -Philippians 4:12-13 (AMP)

“If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.” ~Thomas Watson

My friend, if you are seeking tranquility and peace, real and lasting tranquility and peace, you must look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He alone will give you true and lasting tranquility and peace. They cannot be found in hard work, other people or things, only in Jesus. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and look fully into His glorious face; there you will find the peace and tranquility that you have been so desperately looking for.

“Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” ~Peter (2 Peter 1:2 AMP)

My Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I need your peace and tranquility. I ask you that you forgive me for looking for them in other places. I understand that only you can give me what I need, what I have been looking for. Help me to find the peace, joy, and contentment that can only be found in you. May your peace fill me to overflowing. I am trusting that you, Lord, will be my All-IN-All. Thank you.

Timing is Everything – Ecclesiastes 3:5

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Ecclesiastes 3:5 (NIV)
…a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

Ecclesiastes 3:5 (MSG)
A right time to make love and another to abstain, right time to embrace and another to part,
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“A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.” -AMPLIFIED

“With God, there’s always an appointed time for things, and when you put Him first, trust in His timing, and keep the faith, miracles happen!” ~Germany Kent

Timing: the ability to select the precise or proper moment to do something.

“A time to scatter stones, a time to pile them up; a time for a warm embrace, a time for keeping your distance;” -(VOICE)

The Teacher talks about scattering stones and piling them up today. This may seem a bit odd until we think back to a later time when farmers would plow their fields and pile the stones up on the edge of the property. By moving the stones, so they could plow and plant, they were also building a wall boundary.

The scattering came into play when an enemy wished to destroy and confuse. When this happened, all buildings and boundaries would be broken down; leaving chaos and confusion instead.

The Teacher also tells us that there is a time to embrace or hug and a time to refrain from doing so. This hugging would not just apply to spouses, but to children, family, and friends. The point is that there is a time and a place; and one need to learn where and when that would be.

“A time for scattering stones; a time for gathering stones; a time to hug; a time not to hug;” -(TLB)

Moses understood the need of using time wisely. It was he who prayed:

“Teach us to number our days so that we may truly live and achieve wisdom.” -Psalm 90:12 (VOICE)

Most people are so focused on what they want that they rarely stop, think and consider what God desires for them at any particular point in time. The Sons of Korah remind us of the need to often “Be still and know…”

“Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God. I am honored among all the nations. I am honored over all the earth.” -Psalm 46:10 (VOICE)

God reminds us through His prophet Isaiah, that His timing is so much better than our timing. God said:

“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, so will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.” -Isaiah 55:8-11 (MSG)

“God is never late and rarely early. He is always exactly right on time–His time.” ~Dillon Burroughs

James, the bother of Jesus, also warned the church about rushing into situations and not waiting on God’s direction in situations. James wrote to the church at large:

“And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” -James 4:13-15 (MSG)

We all need to have a heart like David’s; who when faced with a drastic situation, understood the need to wait on the Lord. David prayed:

“Tell me what to do, O Lord, and make it plain because I am surrounded by waiting enemies. Don’t let them get me, Lord! Don’t let me fall into their hands! For they accuse me of things I never did, and all the while are plotting cruelty. I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living. Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.” -Psalm 27:11-14 (TLB)

“Sometimes arriving too quickly is detrimental. It is dangerous to arrive without our character mature or intact.” ~Lisa Bevere

The writer of Lamentations tells us this:

“God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young
to stick it out through the hard times.” -Lamentations 3:25-27 (MSG)

“Everything is subject to God’s timing and everything depends on it” ~Sunday Adelaja

My friend, slow down. Our journey through life is not necessarily a sprint, but more like a stroll. We are not to be rushing through life as quickly as we can, we are supposed to be enjoying it, as well as learning life’s lessons and growing into godly people. Learn to be still and to wait upon the Lord.

“They say God’s time is the best, But you have to believe that God’s plan is the best also. Never Early, Never Late, Always on Time.” ~Goals Rider

My Prayer:
Heavenly Father, teach me to patiently wait on your timing in my life. I am so sorry for those times that I dragged my feet; and also for those times that I rushed ahead of you. Both were equally wrong of me to do. Lord, teach me to be still and to patiently wait on your timing. In the waiting help me to learn the lessons that you are trying to teach me. May I also use those times to draw closer to you and to gain a deeper understanding ow who you are. Lord, I am so grateful that you are in my life. Thank you.

The Sovereignty of God – Ecclesiastes 3:2

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Ecclesiastes 3:2 (NIV)
…a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

Ecclesiastes 3:2 (MSG)
A right time for birth and another for death, a right time to plant and another to reap,
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“A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.” -AMPLIFIED

“God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.” ~Jerry Bridges

Back in the late 1950’s Paul Seeger turned to the Bible, the book of Ecclesiastes, for inspiration. By using the words from Ecclesiastes 3:2-8, Seeger wrote the acclaimed song entitled “To Everything There Is a Season”. This song eventually was sung by the Byrds and became an international hit in 1965, taking the world by storm.

What was the message in the song that drew so many people to it? Why does it, even today, strike a chord with people? Maybe it is the plea for peace and tolerance among people. Maybe it is the reminder that there is a season for all things and the implication that the difficult times one is experiencing will in time pass. People have little control over time and changes in their lives. This song may be a reminder to us all of our need for a Sovereign Almighty God; a reminder that He alone determines our time and place in life.

“The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no accident: they may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God.” ~Margaret Clarkson

“A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, a time to collect the harvest;” -(VOICE)

The Teacher will commence with giving us fourteen opposites in the coming days. We will consider two sets each over the next 7 days.

Today we find him reminding us that there is a time to be born and a time to die. Something that we all realize we have absolutely no control over. God alone appoints the day of our birth and the day of our death. We have no say so in the matter. In this He is sovereign.

The second comparison that the Teacher gives us is the fact that there is a time to plant and a time to harvest. This too man has no control over. We put the seeds into the soil, water them and make sure that they have sunlight, but only God can cause them to grow. It is He who allows them to mature to the point that they are ready for harvesting. We help in the process, but only God allows the “fruit” to be produced. In this God once again is sovereign.

“A time to be born; a time to die; a time to plant; a time to harvest;” -(TLB)

What does it mean when we say that God is sovereign? In the vernacular it means that He has complete control and power over all things. There is nothing outside of His scope of authority; nothing. He controls it all. The Almighty’s sovereignty is the natural outcome of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence; the epitome of who He is.

“Absolute sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God. God’s sovereignty has ever appeared to me, a part of his glory. It has often been my delight to approach God, and adore him as a sovereign God.” ~Jonathan Edwards

When life appears to be totally out of our control, it comforts our hearts to know that God knows what is happening and He has authority over all things. Nothing happens unless He allows it to happen. Let us look at what Scripture has to say about God’s sovereignty.

1.) “And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I will give [water] from the fountain of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes [the world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” -Revelation 21:6-7 (AMP)

2.) “It was by Him that everything was created: the heavens, the earth, all things within and upon them, all things seen and unseen, thrones and dominions, spiritual powers and authorities. Every detail was crafted through His design, by His own hands, and for His purposes.” -Colossians 1:16 (VOICE)

3.) “Moreover, because of what Christ has done, we have become gifts to God that he delights in, for as part of God’s sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be his, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. God’s purpose in this was that we should praise God and give glory to him for doing these mighty things for us, who were the first to trust in Christ.” -Ephesians 1:11-12 (TLB)

4.) “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” -Romans 11:33 (NIV)

5.) “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” -Romans 8:26-28 (MSG)

“The presence of hope in the invincible sovereignty of God drives out fear.”
~John Piper

My friend, will you trust the sovereignty of God? The omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God is in complete authority over all things. Nothing can touch you unless He allows it to do so. And if it does He promises to be with you each step of the way. He will never leave you or forsake you. Will you trust Him?

“It is a most blessed thing to be subject to the sovereignty of God.” ~John Calvin

My Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you alone are sovereign. You know every detail of my life; not just when I was born, or when I will die, but every detail. Even when my life appears to be in a state of chaos, you are still in control and always will be. Lord, help me to trust you always and forever; even when I do not understand why things are happening. Still my heart and fill it with your peace, I pray. Thank you, Lord.

What Is My Purpose? – Ecclesiastes 2:17-19

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-19 (NIV)
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-19 (MSG)
I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It’s smoke—and spitting into the wind. And I hated everything I’d accomplished and accumulated on this earth. I can’t take it with me—no, I have to leave it to whoever comes after me. Whether they’re worthy or worthless—and who’s to tell?—they’ll take over the earthly results of my intense thinking and hard work. Smoke.
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“So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind. So I hated all the fruit (gain) of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will succeed me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity (futility, self-conceit).” -AMPLIFIED

“If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.” ~Timothy Keller

Work, for some people, is the be all and the end all. It is who they are and it gives meaning to their life. In today’s lesson we find the Teacher actually telling us that our jobs do not define who we are, nor do they give our lives meaning.

“So I began to hate life itself because all that is done under the sun is so harsh and difficult. Life—everything about it—is fleeting; it’s like trying to pursue the wind. So I began to hate all the hard work I had done under the sun because I would eventually have to leave it all to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether my heir will be wise or foolish? Still he will inherit all the things for which I worked so hard here under the sun, the things for which I became wise. This, too, is fleeting like trying to catch hold of a breath.” -(VOICE)

Once again we find the Teacher sharing with us his struggle over the meaning of life. In his journey towards enlightenment and the meaning of life he began to have a very pessimistic attitude toward life in general and toward the work he had to accomplish. He tells us that he basically hated life. Life, seemed meaningless; and everything that he was working toward, or for, appeared to be pointless. His reasoning behind this conclusion was because all of his hard work would not benefit him, but the person/persons who would take over after he had died. Who knew what type of person THEY would be, wise man or fool. It could very well be that all the Teacher’s hard work, in the end, would be for naught. This thought made the Teacher very discouraged and upset.

“So now I hate life because it is all so irrational; all is foolishness, chasing the wind. And I am disgusted about this—that I must leave the fruits of all my hard work to others. And who can tell whether my son will be a wise man or a fool? And yet all I have will be given to him—how discouraging!” -(TLB)

What is the point of life anyhow? Is there a reason and purpose for why we are here? Or is this life meaningless, as the Teacher had originally thought? Actually Scripture has much to say about our purpose and our reason for being. Let’s take a look.

1.) The main reason that God created us was to bring Him glory, honor and praise.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.” -Revelation 4:11 (AMP)

2.) We were also created in order to have fellowship with God. Take notice, this fellowship should bring us joy.

“What we saw and heard we pass on to you so that you, too, will be connected with us intimately and become family. Our family is united by our connection with the Father and His Son Jesus, the Anointed One; and we write all this because retelling this story fulfills our joy.” -1 John 1:3-4 (VOICE)

3.) We need to remember that God had a purpose and plan for each of our lives.

“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)

4.) Remember that God works through every life and every situation to fulfill His purposes; which may not necessarily be our own.

“We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.” -Romans 8:28 (VOICE)

5.) Finally, trust God; no matter what happens. He has your best interest at heart.

“If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” -Proverbs 3:4-6 (TLB)

“The Bible says that our real problem is that every one of us is building our identity on something besides Jesus.” ~Timothy Keller

My friend, your identity and purpose cannot be found in your work, but only in God. Stop looking to your job for meaning and start digging into the Word to find out who you are in the scheme of things.

“You cannot live your life other than walking in the truth. Your means are as important as your ends.” ~Chuck Coleson

My Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am understanding more every day that my whole purpose and identity is found only in you. Help me to remember this truth and not go searching for identity in my job, things or others. Lord, I know that you have a plan for my life, and I pray that I will be obedient to that plan. Help me to bring glory and honor and praise to you in the way I live. Help me always to keep the lines of fellowship open between us. I need you, Lord and I know I need to trust that you will work all things out for my good and your glory.

Our God is Large and in Charge

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Ezra 6:12 (NIV)
May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

Ezra 6:12 (MSG)
And may the God who put his Name on that place wipe out any king or people who dares to defy this decree and destroy The Temple of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued an official decree. Carry it out precisely and promptly.
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“May the God who has caused His Name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempts to alter this command, so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree; let it be carried out quickly and with due diligence.” -AMPLIFIED

Yesterday we concluded with Tattenai, the governor of the Persian province west of the Euphrates, sending off a letter to Darius the king. In essence Tattenai was tattling on the returned Jews. Thankfully, he did not try to stop the work, but allowed them to continue on while waiting for a response from King Darius. This may have been because he hoped that they would progress so far that Darius would become very angry and destroy all of their hard work.

Things did not go quite as Tattenai had hoped though. Darius chose to search the kingdom’s archives and treasuries in order to validate the Jews story. What ended up happening was that he discovered a mandate written by King Cyrus in the fortress at Ecbatana, in the province of Media. The mandate was written in Cyrus’ first year of reign and it read as follows:
“The temple of the True God at Jerusalem, where sacrifices are offered, is to be rebuilt on its original foundations. It shall be 90 feet tall and 90 feet wide 4 with walls made from three layers of large stones and one layer of timbers. The royal treasury will finance this project, 5 and the gold and silver vessels, which Nebuchadnezzar had plundered from the True God’s temple in Jerusalem and displayed in Babylon, will be returned to their rightful places in the Jerusalem temple. You will place them in the True God’s temple.” -Ezra 6:3-5 (VOICE)

Darius then makes a very telling directive; telling because it reveals where his support lay, with the Jews. Darius sends back these instructions to Tattenai and his fellow officials:
“Now, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their fellow officials in the province west of the Euphrates should not interfere with the Jews’ work on the True God’s temple. Let the Jews’ governor and elders rebuild His temple on the site of the first temple. Furthermore, the Persian royal treasury will immediately finance the rebuilding of the True God’s temple with the taxes from all the provinces west of the Euphrates. You will see that all the Judahite elders’ needs for daily sacrifices are met: give them young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings to the True God of heaven; give them wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil for the Jerusalem priests to use without fail. With these provisions, they will be able to offer proper sacrifices to the True God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the empire: the king and his children.” -Ezra 6:6-10 (VOICE)

These guys, who had been trying to intimidate and disrupt the work that the Jews were trying to accomplish on the Temple, were now put into their place by the King. No longer were they allowed to interfere with the work in progress, but, in fact, they were to help, by providing for the very cause that they had set themselves against. (How great is our God!)

At the end of his directive Darius tacked on a warning.
“If anyone violates any part of my command, then you will remove a beam from that person’s house and impale him on it. The house will become a pile of rubble. If anyone attempts to change my command or destroy the True God’s temple in Jerusalem, may the God whose reputation lives there destroy that king or nation. I, Darius, command this. May it be done with diligence.” -Ezra 6:11-12 (VOICE)

God had established Jerusalem as His swelling place, the place where His people came to worship Him. He was not going to allow anyone or anything to disrupt His eternal plan. Take note of God’s promise to His people:
“But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to establish His Name there for His dwelling [place], and there you shall come [to worship Him].” -Deuteronomy 12:5 (AMP)

“God is using your present circumstances to make you more useful for later roles in His unfolding story.” ~Louie Giglio

Nothing happens in our lives by accident. God allows certain things and circumstances to happen to mold us, grow us, and sometimes discipline us, but there are no accidents. Our God is large and in charge. Nothing is out of His control. What is happening in your own personal life is happening because He allowed it to come to pass. There are no surprises for Him. He sees things differently than we do and at times He uses people who are not devoted to Him to work out His good and perfect purposes in our lives. (Just like Darius.) Scripture tells us:

* “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” -Psalm 115:3 (NIV)

* “‘I am about to shake up everything, to turn everything upside down and start over from top to bottom—overthrow governments, destroy foreign powers, dismantle the world of weapons and armaments, throw armies into confusion, so that they end up killing one another. And on that day’”—this is God’s Message—“‘I will take you, O Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, as my personal servant and I will set you as a signet ring, the sign of my sovereign presence and authority. I’ve looked over the field and chosen you for this work.’” The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.” -Haggai 2:21-23 The Message (MSG)

* “So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.” -Isaiah 41:10 (VOICE)

* “What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?” -Romans 8:31 (AMP)

* “In the same way, when God wanted to confirm His promise as true and unchangeable, He swore an oath to the heirs of that promise. So God has given us two unchanging things: His promise and His oath. These prove that it is impossible for God to lie. As a result, we who come to God for refuge might be encouraged to seize that hope that is set before us.” -Hebrews 6:17-18 (VOICE)

* “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” -Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)

“Our leisure, even our play, is a matter of serious concern. There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God…” ~C.S. Lewis, Christian Reflections

God has everything in control. Once we understand that fact, that there are no accidents with God, that He allows things in our lives to mold us and make us, then we can rest in completely in Him. Allow God to be large and in charge of your own life.

My Prayer:
Lord, help me to trust you in every area of my life. I know there are no accidents or coincidences with you. Every detail of my life is know by you. In fact, you even known how many hairs are on my head. If you are so concerned with that detail, why do I struggle in trusting you with every part of my life? Lord, I chose to let go of all those worries, anxieties, and concerns that I have held so tightly to. Please, Lord, help me to remember that you are always in control.

 

Overcoming Discouragement

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

2 Chronicles 4:19a New International Version (NIV)
Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God’s temple:

2 Chronicles 4:19a (MSG)
Solomon was also responsible for the furniture and accessories in The Temple of God:
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“Solomon also made all the articles that were in the house of God:” -AMPLIFIED

All of 2 Chronicles 4 is dedicated to the Chronicler reviewing exactly what Solomon had made for the Temple of the Lord and the list is quite extensive. There was:
1.) A Bronze Altar
2.) A large basin, called “The Sea”.
3.) Ten washbasins
4.) Ten golden lampstands
5.) Ten tables
6.) Doors covered with bronze
7.) Ash buckets, shovels, and bowls
All these items were covered with bronze. No one had any idea how much bronze was used; for there were so many items.

We are then told that Solomon was also responsible for other furniture and accessories. These items were all covered with gold. The items that fell into this list were:
1.) The gold Altar
2.) The tables that held the Bread of the Presence
3.) The Lampstands of pure gold; along with their lamps
4.) The gold flowers, lamps, and tongs
5.) The gold wick trimmers, bowls, ladles, and censers
6.) The gold doors of The Temple, doors to the Holy of Holies, and the doors to the main sanctuary.
The splendor and greatness of the Temple is reflected in how much gold was used in building it. Solomon understood that God deserved the best of all he had.

We may wonder why the Chronicler took so much time to list all these items and what they were made of. The people would have been familiar with stories of the original Temple. They would have heard tales of the magnificence of the first Temple; even if they had not been privy to seeing it. Many believe that his purpose was to encourage a discouraged people to not give up on completing what they needed to accomplish; that would be rebuilding the Lord’s House.

These returned exiles were feeling quite overwhelmed and devastated by the massive project that stood before them. They had just returned to their “Promised Land” after seventy years of captivity. To walk into their “home” and see the ruin and chaos had dimmed their joy of returning home. There was so much to do and it appeared to be an impossible situation.

Sadly, they had their eyes focused on their situation instead of on their God. They had forgotten God’s promises.
* “This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am your God, the Eternal One, and I will remain with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9 (VOICE)

* “Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 (VOICE)

* “This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” -Jeremiah 29:10-11 (MSG)

We all become discouraged at points in our lives. If we were honest with ourselves and reviewed those moments we would realize that at the times of our deepest discouragement it was because we too had taken our eyes off of the Lord and placed them on our circumstances.

“The disappointment has come – not because God desires to hurt you or make you miserable or to demoralize you or ruin your life or keep you from ever knowing happiness. He wants you to be perfect and complete in every aspect, lacking nothing. It’s not the easy times that make you more like Jesus, but the hard times.” ~Kay Arthur

Scripture reminds us that we can seek help in those times of discouragement:
* “Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” -Hebrews 4:14-16 (MSG)

* “We are cracked and chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but we are not crushed by them. We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair. We are persecuted, but we have not been abandoned. We have been knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” -2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (VOICE)

* “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” -Romans 12:1-2 (AMP)

* “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (MSG)

“Yes, give thanks for “all things” for, as it has been well said “Our disappointments are but His appointments.” ~ A.W. Pink

In those times of discouragement and overwhelming life we must press closer into God and keep our focus firmly fixed on Him. We also need to remember that in those times we must lift up our voices and praise the Lord. God is with us in the midst of our disappointments. He still loves us and cares. He will also carry us through those dark times of disappointment. Trust Him!

My Prayer:
Lord, I thank you that you are always with me; especially in those dark times in my life. Help me to trust you completely and not rely on my feelings. Forgive me for those times that I have taken my eyes off of you and put them on the circumstances. I know that in those times I have become overwhelmed, because I was looking to myself to solve the problem. I cannot, but you can, Lord. You are able! I thank you for You and your ability to work all things out for my good. Thank you for being a good, good Father.