The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Friday
September 12, 2008
Then the Lord asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest
man in all the earth – a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have
nothing to do with evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you
persuaded me to harm him without cause."
Satan replied to the Lord, "Skin for
skin – he blesses you only because you bless him. A man will give up everything
he has to save his life. But take away his health, and he will surely curse you
to your face!"
Job 2:3-5
Can you believe we listen to Satan's lies? In my Southern Country Accent I declare – "He ain't too smart!" He is ridiculous and has convinced Christians for too long that he can harm us. He has convinced us that we can sell our souls. My Bible says he is under my feet! "You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet." 2 Samuel 22:40 & Psalm 18:39
Sixteen years ago my best friend lost her son in a car accident. After that she discovered she had a debilitating illness and I am here to tell you that she never turned her back on God. She may have stayed away from church, but if anything she is closer to God now than ever before! See, Satan is stupid. He thinks that if he takes our home, our "things," our children, or our health that he will turn us against God. All I can say is that if any of those things makes a person turn against God they were more than likely not looking at Him in the first place.
Don't get me wrong. I have gotten pretty upset with God myself. I've even
shaken my fist a time or two, but it was like He placed His love around me,
allowed me to release my confusion and then embraced me with His love. Maybe
that is why I like the Gaither's old song, "Something Beautiful." The
words are:
"If there ever were dreams that were lofty and noble,
they
were my dreams at the start.
And the hopes for life's best were the dreams
that I harbored –
down deep in my heart.
But my dreams turned to ashes,
my castles all crumbled, and my fortune turned to loss.
But I wrapped
them all
in the rags of my life and laid them at the cross.
And I became
–
Something Beautiful, Something Good,
all of my confusion He
understood.
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife,
but He
made something beautiful of my life."
Does that tell your story? God wants to do that in all of His children's lives. All He wants is for us to lay our filthy rags at the foot of the cross and let Him redress us and remake us. Now, don't get me wrong, I ain't a physical beauty, but He has made something beautiful of my life. He is doing the same with yours too, I'm sure.
Father, I am humbled. Thank You for teaching us that Satan has no power over us unless we give it to him. Thank You for giving us the strength to stand firm with You. Carry on!
