WATCHWORD:
20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. John 16:20-22
31b “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:31b-33
Meditation:
I Declare a War
Does it sometimes feel like you go from one struggle to another just to get through the day? Sometimes the struggle is health related, sometimes the struggle is relationships, or issues related to finances. Does it ever occur to you that that’s the nature of being a human being; that there is a continuing struggle in the mental, moral, physical, or in the spiritual areas of life.
You have heard it said that anything that does not strengthen you, weakens you. That bit of truth is reflected in every aspect of our lives. Jesus’ ministry started in the wilderness where he struggled with Satan and temptations. Shortly after that experience he found himself in Cana where his mother encouraged him to use his power, or, could say his mother tempted him to use his power? Satan in the form of his mother, oh, heaven forbid!
How’s your war going? Have there been moments in your life when you have compromised by doing something that was expedient, when, in your heart, you knew it was not right. Jesus cautioned us that “in this world you would have tribulation.” I think most tribulation is self-caused.
I don’t know how you read Jesus words, but I think the struggles that we have, moral and physical and mental issues, always come back to spiritual. Think about that, anything which is not spiritual, leads to a struggle, leads to a war with yourself. When you have a war with yourself you’re going to lose. That’s a no- win situation.
We must learn to partner with Jesus, whether it is a war in the moral sphere, or with the physical sphere or in my relationships with others. Jesus made it very clear when he told us to be of good cheer I have overcome the world. What a partner He is if we but acknowledge that!
We must reassure ourselves that holiness is the balance between my nature and my inclinations and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ. Do You agree with that? I thought so. Amen.
Love Quote of the Day:
No one has ever loved anyone the way everyone wants to be loved. — Mignon McLaughlin
Closing Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, how we love you; how you love us. A new day unfolds, and we desire that it is infused with our worship of you. As we turn our eyes on the beauty of you, so our spirits lift and find peace. Please pour out your spirit upon us today, so we can worship in fresh ways. We humbly ask for a deeper relationship with you, so we can have a heightened awareness of God’s presence in us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
