Whether we praise in prayer, or pray with praise, we are reminded of who God really is. Praise is a form of prayer. He is our rock, our strength, and our God of all grace.
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Pet. 5:10 NKJV
When we go through trials, we often become discouraged. Meditate on our God of all grace. Grace to save and grace to deliver.
Let’s unpack this verse. God called us. You are His adopted child and heir. That makes you special. You are in the family of God because He wants you there. Never feel like you are an intruder. None are worthy, but He loves us anyway.
Next, we are called to His eternal glory. Unlike our time on earth, our time in heaven will be forever and ever. God will be glorified, but so will we. We will receive our glorified bodies to replace these bodies that age and become sick and corrupt. We will no longer sin. We will give all, and we will possess all.
But first, on earth, we must suffer a while. Just a while, not for eternity. Our clocks and calendars are earthly. God has His own concept of time. We desire the agonizing trial to be over, but it drags on. In God’s eyes, it spans only a minimal part of our lives.
There are reasons for our sufferings. Comprehending the results of trials may help us endure them, so let’s look closely at the four things God accomplishes through us in stormy times.
First, God perfects us, not that we will reach perfection on earth. As we mature and struggle, we grow more Christ-like. Reflect on years gone by. Do you see how you have changed?
Next, He establishes us. Look carefully at this word, and you will see two words within it: stable and able. As we journey through tribulations, we have more stability. We are no longer floundering around, slipping and sliding our way through trials. We must stand firm to resist the devil. As we pray through rough times, God grants us the ability to persevere.
Third, God strengthens us. We must first see our own weakness before we admit we need His strength. We know His strength is reliable when the next test occurs.
Finally, we are settled by our suffering. It develops a firm foundation.
These are the reasons testing is necessary. Understanding their purpose will enable us to pray with a better realization of what is taking place.
Tests are inevitable. Do you remember taking tests in school? Every class had them, and each semester, we had exams, the big tests. The Christian life is no different.
Will we like the suffering? Never, but perhaps a knowledge of the purpose will enable us to pass through them swiftly.
Heavenly Father, we realize Your purpose. We ask that it be accomplished through our tests. Shower us with gracious mercy as we persevere. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Whether we praise in prayer, or pray with praise, we are reminded of who God really is. Praise is a form of prayer. He is our rock, our strength, and our God of all grace.
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Pet. 5:10 NKJV
When we go through trials, we often become discouraged. Meditate on our God of all grace. Grace to save and grace to deliver.
Let’s unpack this verse. God called us. You are His adopted child and heir. That makes you special. You are in the family of God because He wants you there. Never feel like you are an intruder. None are worthy, but He loves us anyway.
Next, we are called to His eternal glory. Unlike our time on earth, our time in heaven will be forever and ever. God will be glorified, but so will we. We will receive our glorified bodies to replace these bodies that age and become sick and corrupt. We will no longer sin. We will give all, and we will possess all.
But first, on earth, we must suffer a while. Just a while, not for eternity. Our clocks and calendars are earthly. God has His own concept of time. We desire the agonizing trial to be over, but it drags on. In God’s eyes, it spans only a minimal part of our lives.
There are reasons for our sufferings. Comprehending the results of trials may help us endure them, so let’s look closely at the four things God accomplishes through us in stormy times.
First, God perfects us, not that we will reach perfection on earth. As we mature and struggle, we grow more Christ-like. Reflect on years gone by. Do you see how you have changed?
Next, He establishes us. Look carefully at this word, and you will see two words within it: stable and able. As we journey through tribulations, we have more stability. We are no longer floundering around, slipping and sliding our way through trials. We must stand firm to resist the devil. As we pray through rough times, God grants us the ability to persevere.
Third, God strengthens us. We must first see our own weakness before we admit we need His strength. We know His strength is reliable when the next test occurs.
Finally, we are settled by our suffering. It develops a firm foundation.
These are the reasons testing is necessary. Understanding their purpose will enable us to pray with a better realization of what is taking place.
Tests are inevitable. Do you remember taking tests in school? Every class had them, and each semester, we had exams, the big tests. The Christian life is no different.
Will we like the suffering? Never, but perhaps a knowledge of the purpose will enable us to pass through them swiftly.
Heavenly Father, we realize Your purpose. We ask that it be accomplished through our tests. Shower us with gracious mercy as we persevere. In Jesus’ name, amen.
A Mountain of Faith 