Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. - Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
I recently came across and interesting analogy in my daily devotional. It compared the tough times in life to bridges we have to cross. It told the true life story of two firefighters that were driving through a wild fire in order to save friends and family. They were driving in such heavy smoke that as they crossed the bridge, they could not see it was on fire. Ultimately, the bridge collapsed and they lost their lives. If we compare the rough or "smoky" times of life to crossing a bridge my question to you is this: What is your bridge made of? Can it handle the fire coming against you?
Have you built your life and bridges on the backs of friends and family, or have you given everything to Christ and built it on him? Now, this question is not just for those who don't believe in Jesus. This is also needs to be personally asked by every Christian alive today. As we go through rough times like financial trouble, marital problems, accusations, career issues, etc., do we just give it all to God and drive over the bridge? Do we try to carry the problems by ourselves and hope the bridge doesn't collapse? Do we hope that our friends are strong and loyal enough to help us through our issues without giving up or turning their backs on us? How do you handle the rough times?
I will be completely honest. Too many times I have tried to either take it all on myself or put it on the backs of my friends and hoped for the best. Each time has ended in some type of disaster. I may not have lost my life, but I have fallen into pits of depression and lost friends by doing this. Until recently I did not realize how important it was to give everything to Christ, and I mean EVERYTHING. From the smallest to the largest. It doesn't matter how big or small it is, if you put God in a box don't expect anything outside YOUR box to happen. Step into God's box and let him show you how big he really is. Give it all to God and let him carry you through.
See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” - Isaiah 12:2 (NLT)
What is something that has recently happened in your life that if you had only given that issue to God would have turned out different? Again, it doesn't matter how big or small. Did you recently loose your job to downsizing? Did you recently go through a divorce? Did you go to buy a new car and didn't quite get the deal you were wanting? Did you forget to do something for your spouse for the umpteenth time? It may sound silly, but (I'm gonna beat a dead horse here) no matter how big or small, if you give it ALL to God things will be different. Let me follow that up by saying this. The outcome may be the same, but building your "bridge" on Christ will allow you to be different in the end. You will be able to walk off the other side with honesty and integrity, a different person, ready to move forward and continue on.
So, what have you kept for yourself? What do you rely on your friends for? What do you need to let go of and give to God? This may sound silly, but try it for three weeks. Give everything to God, and I mean EVERYTHING. Be honest and when you come out on the other side of the three weeks, you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Build stronger bridges and make it through the "smoky" times. Change the world for the better. Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...
I recently came across and interesting analogy in my daily devotional. It compared the tough times in life to bridges we have to cross. It told the true life story of two firefighters that were driving through a wild fire in order to save friends and family. They were driving in such heavy smoke that as they crossed the bridge, they could not see it was on fire. Ultimately, the bridge collapsed and they lost their lives. If we compare the rough or "smoky" times of life to crossing a bridge my question to you is this: What is your bridge made of? Can it handle the fire coming against you?
Have you built your life and bridges on the backs of friends and family, or have you given everything to Christ and built it on him? Now, this question is not just for those who don't believe in Jesus. This is also needs to be personally asked by every Christian alive today. As we go through rough times like financial trouble, marital problems, accusations, career issues, etc., do we just give it all to God and drive over the bridge? Do we try to carry the problems by ourselves and hope the bridge doesn't collapse? Do we hope that our friends are strong and loyal enough to help us through our issues without giving up or turning their backs on us? How do you handle the rough times?
I will be completely honest. Too many times I have tried to either take it all on myself or put it on the backs of my friends and hoped for the best. Each time has ended in some type of disaster. I may not have lost my life, but I have fallen into pits of depression and lost friends by doing this. Until recently I did not realize how important it was to give everything to Christ, and I mean EVERYTHING. From the smallest to the largest. It doesn't matter how big or small it is, if you put God in a box don't expect anything outside YOUR box to happen. Step into God's box and let him show you how big he really is. Give it all to God and let him carry you through.
See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” - Isaiah 12:2 (NLT)
What is something that has recently happened in your life that if you had only given that issue to God would have turned out different? Again, it doesn't matter how big or small. Did you recently loose your job to downsizing? Did you recently go through a divorce? Did you go to buy a new car and didn't quite get the deal you were wanting? Did you forget to do something for your spouse for the umpteenth time? It may sound silly, but (I'm gonna beat a dead horse here) no matter how big or small, if you give it ALL to God things will be different. Let me follow that up by saying this. The outcome may be the same, but building your "bridge" on Christ will allow you to be different in the end. You will be able to walk off the other side with honesty and integrity, a different person, ready to move forward and continue on.
So, what have you kept for yourself? What do you rely on your friends for? What do you need to let go of and give to God? This may sound silly, but try it for three weeks. Give everything to God, and I mean EVERYTHING. Be honest and when you come out on the other side of the three weeks, you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Build stronger bridges and make it through the "smoky" times. Change the world for the better. Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...
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