Jesus Calling: June 4

Welcome challenging times as opportunities to Trust Me. You have Me beside you and My Spirit within you, so no set of circumstances is too much for you to handle. When the path before you is dotted with difficulties, beware of measuring your strength against those challenges. That calculation is certain to riddle you with anxiety. Without Me, you wouldn't make it past the first hurdle! The way to walk through demanding days is to grip My hand tightly and stay in close communication with Me. Let your thoughts and spoken words be richly flavored with trust and thankfulness. Regardless of the day's problems, I can keep you in perfect Peace as you stay close to Me. James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. I read a book a couple of years ago called The Most Misused verses in the Bible. This was one of the verses mentioned in that book. The author's focus was defining what is meant by the phrase "all things." Paul wrote this letter in prison so I'm guessing doing all things doesn't necessarily negate prison time. In just the previous verse (v. 12) it says - I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Thus, in all things seems to be contentment that only comes about by Him giving me strength. That in all things or all of life's situations, I can be content. The author of that book writes, "So Philippians 4:13 is not so much about having the strength to stand up and sing a solo in church OR play the best of one's ability in a sporting contest OR having the strength to lift a bag of salt. Rather, this verse is about having the strength to be content when we are facing those moments in life when physical resources are minimal. This is about having faith in the God who provides. You can be content and find the physical strength to endure all things, because it is Christ who strengthens you." Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. My Prayer
Lord, it is true that when I encounter various circumstances, what I am often focused on is getting through that circumstance and achieving the outcome I want and desire. Lord, I admit I sometimes use your Words in the Bible to get what I want. But, I miss the point. This is about You, not me. It is about You getting the glory, not me. And yet you also want me to have peace. But I must let you define peace. You are the Lord of peace. So retrain me Lord to welcome challenging time as opportunities to Trust You. You are near. You are close to me and therefore, I can handle it. Lord, once again, get my eyes off of my circumstances and instead focused on You.