In The Valley

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

When we walk in the valley it will do us well to remember a few truths that are easily forgotten.

God's ways are not our ways, so we will never figure Him out. On our own we can produce nothing, so we must trust Him for everything. This doesn't mean we’re to sit down and do nothing. We are to seek the Lord's will, then actively pursue it until God gives us something else to do.

We can accomplish nothing through worry. Too often we  worry about things we can’t change. What we worry about seldom happens. Trust is the only option we have that will carry us out of the valley.

Trust and obey.

God Is Faithful

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Whatever happens to you, the Lord can be trusted to stand by this and all of His promises.

• He will save you if you come to Jesus.  
• He will keep you and take you to Heaven when this life is over.
• He will hear you when you call on Him.
• He will meet your needs.
• He will give you grace sufficient for every trial.
• He will give you peace in every circumstance.
• He will walk with you every step of the way to glory. 

Let us rejoice in His faithfulness so that He is glorified in our praise of Him! Let us rest in His faithfulness so that we are delivered from the cares of this life! Let us report His faithfulness so that others may come to know Him too!

I Can Through Christ

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The Apostle Paul is quick to let his friends know that he isn’t complaining. His happiness doesn’t depend on circumstances or things.

Most of us have learned how to “be abased” because when difficulties come we run to the Lord. But few have learned how “to abound”. Prosperity has done more damage to believers than has adversity.

Through trial and testing, Paul found the wonderful secret of contentment. It was the power of Christ within him.  Unless we draw on the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life.

"I can through Christ” was Paul’s motto, and it can be our motto. We have adequate power within that’s needed for the demands of life. We only need to release it by faith.

Loving Like Jesus

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

If you want to see what love will do, look no farther than Calvary. Christian love involves sacrifice and service. Christ didn’t simply talk about His love. He died to prove it.  Jesus wasn’t killed as a martyr, He willingly laid down His life.

God doesn't ask us to lay down our lives, He simply asks us to help a brother in need.

Genuine love knows no boundaries and no conditions. It’s freely given and asks nothing in return. We show our love for Jesus when we show our love for others. If we want to be all that He has saved us to be, we must learn to love like Jesus.