Today’s Scripture: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV)
This verse gives us a hope not only in our tough times but in all things. Can you see today’s affirmation buried in this verse?
“but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may”
He will, the God we serve is the same God who led His people by cloud and opened wide the Red Sea for them in verse one. He will make a way for us that we can’t imagine. Do you think the Israelites planned to cross the sea on dry land? Verse 11 says His way was all written down for our instruction. He will guide us in His Word by these examples.
Are we running towards God or away from something? Verse 14 instructs us “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.(ESV) Today may we run to Him and away from anything we have allowed to become our idol. He will provide a way so He receives glory.
Today’s Prayer: God of Moses, thank You for guiding me. Whether it is by cloud or by Your Holy Spirit, guide me Father to Your glory. I believe Father God that you will provide the way. I will be nourished by Your spiritual food and You will give me Your desires. Shine Your light Lord on anything I may hold as an idol. Thank you for allowing me to participate in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ and I will only drink of Your cup. Use me today Lord to show Your glory in all that I do. I love you. Amen
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
Yes! This was something that I needed to read about today. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for checking in!
Tom,
You said:
“I will be nourished by Your spiritual food and You will give me Your desires.”
In this one sentence, you have spoken and asked for more maturity than volumes of prayers I have heard and read.
Thanks Donald, God provides!
I have found that big, obvious things are much easier to let go of than small, subtle things.
Small, subtle things such as pride, self-pity, anxiety (which really boils down to a distrust of God). We often we profess to turn things over; we even believe that we have done so. Yet we will often quietly and unknowingly take back what we just turned over and try to do it ourselves.
I know it was this way with me with active alcoholism. It was also this way with me when my marriage was falling apart. I would turn it over then jump right back in and try to control it myself. This is not God providing a way; this is me acting in my own strengths. Well actually me acting in my own desperate weaknesses.
If I am not practiced and skilled at hearing God’s voice, which I will be the first to admit is something that has to be learned, I will end up listening to my what had become my most trusted advisor and confidant, my head. Yes, my sick, biased, habitual internal dialogue with all of its flaws and fears.
‘God, help me hear you. Help me know your voice. Let me use what you have given me in service to you rather than to compete with you. I am weak and flawed. Help me today. Help me grow daily. Thank you.’
Chaz
Chaz, what a profound and Spirit filled prayer!! Most of us battle with the mind and spirit battle at least I know I do and always know that is why I have to sacrifice myself moment by moment and trust in His grace when I mess up again. I love your statement “my own desperate weaknesses” and I also think these weaknesses are exactly where we find God. Awareness of this desparate weakness took a while but now as the Holy Spirit works in us I think the amount of time and recognition of this process is shortened. We are made of flesh and these thorns in the flesh are where we find Him and learn from Him. Keep doing what you are doing as a couple of years ago I was so frustrated that I didn’t “hear” God and in short order He began speaking into my spirit to where I now have no doubt. If you are like me you will, in a flash, one day know with no doubt that you have found where the Spirit resides and find total joy and comfort in spending time there. He is helping you and me through His daily bread and it is an awesome place to where we can praise Him for our desperate weaknesses!
Thanks Tom… Gladly, God can still make something out of the mis-steps we take when our desperate weaknesses override God’s voice. We, in confusion and fear, listen to them. But this does not mean God does not speak or that he can’t in some manner redeem the wrong direction we take.
There have been times when I heard his voice so clearly and blessings seemed to flow. Then I think I got proud considering myself as one of his “chosen”. In small subtle ways. Then I mistakenly took the inner voice of pride for God’s voice. After all, the evidence showed I was in his will and being blessed.
This I have come to refer to as the “Thanks God, I’ll take it from here”, dynamic. We are all in danger of it. Even David, one of the most blessed men in all of the Bible and beloved by Christians and Jews alike, essentially said, ‘Thanks God, I’ll take it from here’, when he persued Bathsheba and essentially had her husband killed.
Can you imagine being so close to God, then wavering like that in such a heinous way? There by by the grace! If this can happen to David, can it not happen to any of us who lose sight of where we are at. We must remain humble, teachable, and attentive.
I have waivered in and out of this. My current state leaves me with lots of noise in my head by way of a distaste for the church culture I was a part of for so many years. I just don’t feel a connection and some subtle resentments remain.
I am going on Holiday next week for 10 days where I plan to re-read the New Testament. I am also connecting with a strong believing brother in AA. I am also going to the place where I once holidayed before and made time to spend with God one on one.
So I am very much looking forward to it as a time to reconnect.
Enjoying your blog and this dialogue.
Will stay in touch.
Ciao.,
Chaz
Thanks, Chaz, I just came off of 6 days of holiday to an extent. Disconnected from my “work”. You asked “can you imagine being so close to God, then wavering…” Yes I can only because I am amazed and friightened how quickly I can go from communing with God to doing or thinking something straight from the pits of hell. I know this grieves God’s heart and I must get to where I hate my sin as much as He. I just wrote in my planner to pray for you during your holiday that you will be refreshed in Him beyond your imagination. You and I both have experienced through our alchoholism that if we seek Him we will find Him. He is so faithful!
Will keep you posted Tom. Do you know of Dick B, the AA Historian? He and I are connecting in Maui.
Thanks for the prayer.
Ciao.
Chaz
Wow, have a great time! I do not know Dick B.
Try doing a web search on “AA Historian Dick B” or something like that. Fascinating guy.
Talk again soon.