Consider Him!!!

Today's word of encouragement is found in a simple command: Consider Him! I can't even begin to describe the fiery trials we've endured as of late. They have grieved my soul. I feel tired, weary, and overwhelmed!

BUT...God encouraged me with words found in Hebrew 12:1-3: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NIV)


Friend, faith is not faith if it costs us nothing.
Faith is not faith if it seems easy.
Faith is not required when everything makes sense and all our dreams are evident.

Faith is trusting God to supply when the storehouse is empty.
Faith is believing in God's goodness when He seems to have disappeared and forsaken us.
Faith is resting in GOD's love when we feel overwhelmed and abandoned.
Faith is entrusting our loved ones to God, believing for their redemption, even when they retaliate.
Faith is standing firm, when we want to retreat.
Faith is held firm by our relationship and trust in God's character.

Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." NIV

What are you searching for today? What are you hoping for? What are you trying to stand firm and believe GOD for? Do you feel abandoned? Do you feel as if God is mad? Do you wonder if He hears your prayers or cares at all?

Hebrews twelve encourages to "FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS! CONSIDER HIM so that we will not grow weary and lose heart."

Lately, we have faced head on attacks. My heart is broken. I want to make a lot of irrational and emotional decisions; the onslaught of attacks seem endless. I have felt weak, abandoned, and honestly have questioned every thing. I don't know about you, but in moments like these...I don't need anyone to tell offer trite answers. I KNOW I need to stand firm. I don't need anyone to tell me this all has a reason...what I need to be reminded of is that GOD has NOT rejected me. He isn't mad at me. He doesn't hate me. AND HE WILL HELP ME THROUGH ALL OF THIS! I need to know He cares. He sees me. He is near.

As I read Hebrews 12:3...and the words... "Consider him." I read it in a way I never had before. You see, I felt like I had messed up or not been good enough and that's why all these trials were happening. I thought if only I had prayed more, or fasted more, or .... more...then I wouldn't have been attacked this way. If only I had BELIEVED MORE or ... well you get the picture... but GOD said. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Consider Him.

And so, I did. I considered Jesus. I thought of His suffering. I thought of God's favor on Him. Jesus was loved not rejected...yet He endured the cross. Jesus was called of God...yet He was rejected, spit on, and crucified. Jesus could have given up...but HE pressed on and loved and endured the cross...not because it was easy...not because it was pain free...but because HE LOVED GOD and HE LOVED US. I considered that Jesus was perfect in every way but was betrayed by Judas, left alone, all of His disciples abandoned Him...NOT BECAUSE OF HIM...NOT BECAUSE GOD DIDN'T LOVE HIM...NOT BECAUSE HE WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH...

Friend, people will let us down. The check doesn't always show up in the mail. The ministries we thought would accomplish the miraculous don't always turn out the way we think. Sometimes our spouse is unfaithful. Sometimes, the promotion doesn't happen. sometimes, our kids don't respond and follow God's path, despite our teaching, instructing, and loving. Sometimes, the wicked advance and the righteous suffer at their hand. sometimes, our prayers don't move the mountain and the sick receive their healing on the other side of eternity...

BUT...we are not rejected.
We are NOT abandoned.
We will NOT SHRINK back.
WE CAN NOT GIVE UP!!!

Consider Hebrews 11:33-40:
"I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." NIV


Friend, CONSIDER HIM, JESUS! And as you share in His sufferings KNOW that GOD has NOT abandoned YOU! As you humble yourself and follow after Him, HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOU! HIS LOVE FOR YOU IS NEVER-ENDING!