Verse
of the Day:
Psalm 119:71(KJV)
“It is good for me that I have been
afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
Today I suffer through some minor heel pain in
my foot. I woke up yesterday morning
with this sudden pain, out of the blue, and nothing to trigger it that I know
of. Though minor, the pain has commanded me to rest and stay off of my feet.
The pain was slight at first, so I continued doing my normal routine through
the slight pain, dance rehearsal, church, etc. At the end of the day I had to
hop to get from one place to another because my foot could not bear the weight.
Today, my husband has taken off to pick up some duties to help me rest my foot
and help care for me and our 4 young children. But there is a purpose in affliction.
2
Corinthians 12:10 (KJV)
“Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
The affliction could be worse, but this
affliction leads me to a humbling state of reflection. The feet are very
important for everyday life. Thank God for feet! But why is God allowing this
affliction?
I have been on a steady “Go” mode, so it is very
possible God has allowed it to give me rest and slow me down and I believe that
is a big part of it. Without the pain, I would still be moving full speed
ahead, but I am stuck right now and confined to sitting and resting or hopping
around. But there is a purpose in
affliction.
Hebrews
5:8 (KJV)
“Though he were a Son, yet
learned he obedience by the things which he suffered”
See at church last night there was a message
about how we are handling the ones in our care. The message focused on teaching
our children and not losing them to other influences due to neglect and not
losing our spouses by pushing them aside and handling them carelessly. As a
wife, Titus 2 spoke to me about being a good mother and wife, chaste, discreet,
and a keeper at home. But there is a
purpose in affliction.
When I got home and began to reflect on the
message and how it related to my home, I began to relate the pain in my foot to
my negligence of keeping my home. It is through the affliction in my foot that
has caused me to be more thankful for the little things like feet to walk, my
husband, children, and pain. During the last 12 hours I have thought about what
needs to change in my life to relieve me from what this pain signifies. But there is a purpose in affliction.
Hebrews
12:10 (NIV)
“…but God
disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.”
First, I need to take more time in putting my
husband first instead of making my schedule for him around everything else.
Even though we have a lot of unevenness in our relationship, there are ways I
can even things out a bit by doing the little things that show he is important,
loved, and a high priority in my life.
Second, I have to continue and excel in teaching
my children because the days are evil and the influence of negativity are running
wild in our society. I also have to take more time in loving on them and giving
them the attention they need, so they do not seek love and affirmations
elsewhere and in the wrong places.
Lastly, this pain has caused me to reflect on my
time management. I have been running with homeschool and preschool activities, spiritual
and church activities, extra- curricular activities, and personal activities
and putting aside the keeping of the home. Some things need to change. But there is a purpose in affliction.
Hebrews
12:11(NIV)
“No discipline
seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Like the woman who lost the coin in her home, I
need to light a candle and have the light of Christ shining in me at all times
and keep my broom moving out the dirt in the house. My husband and children are
gifts from God that are valuable, and I need to show them they are treasured. His
light should shine in me to my husband, to my children, and in the works that I
do first in my home and then elsewhere. If the home is out of order, how can I
set in order things in other places? But
there is a purpose in affliction.
Bottom line is, sometimes we go through things
to bring us through things. We have to reflect on the positive side of our
afflictions to see the light in it. Sometimes it takes a little pain to make us
sit down, be still, and listen to God. Amen! Are we listening? Let our ears and our lives be sensitive to
His chastening and great calll of higher orderly love. Never neglect your first
ministry no matter what that ministry looks like. Don’t grow weary in well
doing for you WILL reap a harvest if you faint not. There is a ram in the bush
and God desires to use you as a light to others. Amen! Be a
light in your afflictions!
Hebrews
12:5-7 (NIV)
“And have you completely
forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses
his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not
lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines
the one he loves, and he
chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’ Endure hardship as
discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not
disciplined by their father?”
God wants His works
to be manifested in us and through affliction God is loving on us as His
children.
James
1:2-4 (NIV)
Trials and Temptations
“Consider it
pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. Let perseverance
finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
So no matter what your affliction may be, (and
you may have more than one…I sure do), you can look to God in your affliction,
shine your light, and allow God to use you in the midst of your affliction
because He is making you better for His glory! Amen!
Walk in the Spririt,
Prophetess Deanna Mack
1
Peter 2:21-24 (KJV)
“For even hereunto were ye
called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye
should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was
guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself
to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare
our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live
unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
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