Times Like These...

     Life for me lately is full of trials; at least, I'm more aware of the trials in my life.  I am not complaining about them, for I know that God uses trials to refine.  I am thankful that He is refining me, for I surely need it.
     Of late I have noticed that He is purging from within me some deep-rooted sins.  I see Him purging bitterness, anger, discontentment, selfishness, and much more.  Those are just a few of which I can think off the top of my head.
     Thankfully, He is providing me with the grace I need to purge gracefully.  I have seen others, and done so myself, be purged not-so-gracefully; it can be similar to the child you see in a grocery store that is whining or throwing a tantrum while being corrected by the parent(s).  I am so glad that God is enabling me to not be that kind of child to Him!
     I know that once I am through these trials, I will better see some of His reasons for doing so.  Obviously, some of the reasons are to remove sin from my life.  Other things He is doing in my life are yet to be understood.  Yet, He is faithful and I can trust Him to be good to me.  :)
     I have noticed that I am not the only one going through some intense trials.  I know many of mine are inward, though they do affect the outward.  I know many folks are enduring trials of persecution, like the pastor in Iran.  However, I have noticed many are enduring trials of an inward nature.  I am comforted knowing I am not alone in these times of refinement.
     Some Scripture that keeps coming to mind are these:

Psalm 51:1-17


1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
   2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
   3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
   4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
   5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
   6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
   7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
   8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
   9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
   10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
   11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
   12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
   13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
   14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
   15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
   16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

   17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 

1 Peter 1

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
   2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
   3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
   4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
   5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
   6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
   7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
   8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
   9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
   10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
   11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
   12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
   13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
   14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
   15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
   16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
   17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
   18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
   19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
   20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
   21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
   22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
   23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
   24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
   25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

     I am thankful that I can always go to the Word of my Heavenly Father and Saviour and find such great comfort such as these words are!  I pray that they are a comfort to you as well, dear sisters in Christ, who are struggling as well as I.  Know that I think of you and pray for you!

Comments

  1. No, you are not alone in regards to being punned due to intense inner struggles . . . thank you for sharing your heart. Now I can truly know that I am not alone.

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"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6

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