Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

In times of difficulty, what holds your hope in place?  What Anchors your Hope? 

Charles Swindoll says for the Christian to display “the anchor of hope” in their life it is important while you wait, you give God glory, and while you trust Him, give Him glory.  While you accept the fact that He has you in a holding pattern, you give Him glory. (Swindoll, 1990)

Dr. J. William Worden is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and holds academic appointments at Harvard Medical School and at Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology at Biola University, La Mirada, CA., when asked about bereavement says:  Coming to an acceptance of the reality of the loss takes time since it involves not only an intellectual acceptance but also an emotional one.  …The bereaved person may be intellectually aware of the finality of the loss long before the emotions allow full acceptance of the information as true.  (2009)

I must ask God, in faith, for the wisdom for living, because faith endures trials.  Trials come and go, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance.  Faith understands temptations.  It will not allow us to consent to our lust and slide into sin.  Faith obeys the Word.  It will not merely hear and not do. Faith produces doers.  Faith displays itself in works.   Faith acts wisely.  

True spiritual growth happens only when we have a personal relationship with God.  Because we as Christians are no longer at enmity with God and are free from the fear of His condemning judgment, we can enjoy a relationship in which we conformed more and more into His likeness.  (Neil T. Anderson & Robert L. Saucy; 1997)  

You may be hurting right now but God’s favor is for life.  You may experience sleepless nights accompanied by tears of fear and un-certainty but I came by to tell you that:  Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” 

If you have trouble in your life let me explain what King David said we should do for peace.

(Psalm 30:7-8) “Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;

You hid Your face, and I was troubled.  I cried out to You, O Lord; and to the Lord I

made supplication.” 

If you are in trouble start praying and when you get up off your knees start praising… 

Just as God was in Paul’s letter to his friends in Corinth, He must have been in their response.  The letter created not only a godly sorrow in them but also a change of mind and attitude that led to the restoration of their relationship with Paul as their spiritual leader.  And as Paul reflects on their response, he draws the distinction between godly sorrow that leads to repentance and worldly grief that leads to death.  (Ogilvie, 1985)

You are the one God has chosen to make a difference.  It is your season for success.  God’s reality is that He wants to bless you.   God wants His people to connect with the world through the display of character.  If you are going to change the frequency of life you must answer the question:  Do You Have The Courage To Meet The Demands Of Reality?   

All true Christians are a chosen generation; they all make one family, a sort and species of people distinct from the common world, of another spirit, principle, and practice, which they could never be if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit.[1]  That’s why we are different, that’s why we are as peculiar as can be!”

[1] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2426). Peabody: Hendrickson.

Text:  Matthew 5:38-48

We must not be revengeful (v. 39) and yet this does not repeal the law of self-preservation, and the care we are to take of our families; we may avoid evil, and may resist it, so far as is necessary to our own security; but we must not render evil for evil, must not bear a grudge, nor avenge ourselves, nor study to be even with those that have treated us unkindly, but we must go beyond them by forgiving them, [1]

(Proverbs 20:22) “Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.”

[1] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1634). Peabody: Hendrickson.