by Grethe Stanley | Aug 24, 2021 | encouragement
It has been a while since I have done a blog, but I received a devotion via email and it really resonated with me and gave me a different perspective of the meaning of Romans 8:28.I cannot take the credit for it, but I hope it encourages you also.
Romans 8:28 says, ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In other words, when you are in the purpose, or will, of God, everything that comes into your life can work for your good. You may immediately question how the pregnancy of your unmarried daughter can work fo your good, or how God can work even a divorce for your good, or how the loss of your job can be for your good, or how your terminal illness can be for your good.
If, by “good,” Romans 8:28 meant your comfort, convenience, health, wealth, prosperity, pleasure, or happiness we would all question it!. But your ultimate good is conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. And when you are in God’s will – “called according to His purpose” – everything God allows into your life is used by Him to make you like Christ. Everything!
Blessings,
Anne Graham
There is a lot to think about in that short devotion. I think a lot of the times we expect God to bring something good our of bad choices, which have brought about circumstances that we may not like and then when nothing good comes out of it we can tend to blame God.
Bottom line, God is more interested in our character than our circumstances. The question we need to ask ourselves is “am I in the will of God” and if the answer is yes, then He will work all your circumstances for good.
by Grethe Stanley | Jul 3, 2021 | encouragement
Psalm 22:21 (TPT) Save me from all the power of the enemy, from this roaring lion raging against me and the power of his dark horde.
Do you ever feel like the enemy is coming at you from every direction. Maybe the above verse describes your life in this season. If that is you, then I have good news for you! the answer is in the next few verses of the same Psalm v22 I will declare Your name before all my brothers and praise you in the midst of the congregation. v23 Those who fear Yahweh, praise Him! Let all the seed of Jacob glorify Him with your praises. Stand in awe of Him, all you offspring of Israel!
If you want to get the enemy off your back and drive him to distraction, you can do it with one simple step; Start to worship, sing praises to your Abba, declare His Sovereignty over difficulties you are facing in this season.
In some supernatural way, worship and praise ushers the authority of God into any given situation. A good habit to develop is to always begin your prayers and your times with the Lord by Praising Him and thanking Him. Praise Him for who He is and for what He has done for you.
The whole of Psalm 22 is about the Cross and the resurrection. But it can also describe what we go through at times and what is going on in our circumstances, however, I love the way the Psalmist always ends with the positive and the truth of the resurrection.
Jesus didn’t die for us so we could continue to be tormented by the devil, He died for us so we could have life and have it more abundantly. That is reason enough to worship Him and praise Him. Don’t delay, start NOW.
by Grethe Stanley | Jun 6, 2021 | encouragement
Psalm 61: 1-2 says From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
The other day I woke up with these words “Lead me to the Rock”. I then went for my early morning walk and meditated on those words. When I got back from my walk I googled those words and the above scripture came up and I also thought it was a song and low and behold it is.
Over the last few years there have been many times I have felt overwhelmed. And I also know that there are many of my friends worldwide who have been and still are going through countless overwhelming trials. In times of trial we have the choice – will we choose to fix our eyes on Jesus or on the trial.
Though we may not always understand, we can confidently assert what 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 says.We will not rely on ourselves but on Christ who raised the dead. For He has, He will and He will continue to deliver us.” Friends, If you are in the middle of feeling overwhelmed, there is hope for you today – your deliverance is coming – and it comes when you anchor your feet on the rock that is higher than your circumstance and higher than your earthly perspective.
Here are the words to the song, let those words wash over you. you can also listen to it on YouTube.
VERSE 1 Let me not be overwhelmed by the sorrow When uncertainty is knocking on my door I will fix my eyes on Jesus this life’s author Whose faithfulness has followed all the way
VERSE 2Teach my heart to trust the heart of heaven With the things that my mind can’t understand I will remember that my God always delivers I will rest in the safety of His hand
CHORUSLead me to a rock higher than I An anchor for my soul in every trial The presence that surrounds me The love that never fades Jesus be my rock, my source of strength
VERSE 3Jesus lead me towards the promise of tomorrow May your spirit lead and guide me day by day May I know, within the trial, you are still sovereign I will choose to follow you all of the way.
by Grethe Stanley | May 29, 2021 | encouragement
Ephesians 5: 1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offereing and sacrifice to God.
It is natural for children to imitate their parents. Children often have their parents nature, their behaviour, and their actions. You can be around a child and you can see their parents in the way they walk, the way they talk and in the things they do.
As we see in the above scripture we are to be imitators of Christ. You cant imitate a person if you do not know anything about them. A child learns to imitate a parents because they spend a lot of time in each others presence. It is the same for us, if we are to imitate Christ we need to know Him, we need to study His Word, we need to be in His presence. We must put into practice everything we know about Him. We are to do the things we see Him doing, and we are to avoid the things He avoids. We are to be like God in every respect.
The reality of the above is impossible for us to do within ourselves. Left up to us, we could never be imitators of God. We simply cannot imitate God through our own power. (phew I am glad aren’t you?). But as redeemed children of God, we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to live like Him, act like Him, walk like Him and talk like Him. God has empowered us and enabled us to live Holy lives for His Glory.
Remember we are not mere slaves following in the footsteps of a demanding master. We are the sons and daughters of God. We have been redeemed by His Grace, adopted into His family and are partakers of His very nature. (let that sink into. your spirit)
Being an imitator of God means we must imitate His love. God is love, His very nature is love. Everything He does, He does it out of love. As children of God we are to imitate and walk in that love. The good news is, we do it, not in our own strength but through the Power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.
Gossip is not imitating ChristJudging is not imitating ChristNagging is not imitating ChristUn-forgiveness is not imitating ChristBeing offended is not imitating ChristLying is not imitating Christ etc. etc.
Imitators of Christ can turn the world upside down for His Glory
by Grethe Stanley | May 7, 2021 | encouragement
What do you practice? because what you practice you become good at.
Do you practice joy in your life, do you practice peace in your life, do you practice happiness in your life? Or do you practice a lot of complaining? Because if you complain, you will get very good at it. And you will get so good at it that you will find fault with everything, even when there is no fault that a layman cannot see, you, being an expert will see it!!!!!
What do you practice? Do you practice anger? Because if you practice anger, you will get very good at it. And you will get so good at it, that the most trivial thing will make you angry, like sitting in an airplane, seeing the seat across from you somehow looks better than the one you have been given, and that is so unfair of the airlines.
What do you practice? Do you practice being worried, because if you practice being worried, you will Gert very good at it. And you will get so good at it that everything will worry you, even the buffalo you don’t have, so I propose that if it is true that it is a matter of practice, then I propose you practice Joy!!!!
The above is not mine, it was something I heard a young boy of about 6 say on a video clip, I thought it was really good so I typed it out. It is simple but has a good message for us all, it is like a check list of what we occupy our minds and time with.
I would like to back it up with scripture. Philippians 4: 4-9 (ESV) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
If you practice Philippians 4:4-9 you will become very good at it!!!
