ARE YOU BEING CONSIDERED?
He sets a "behold" before it, a special note of exclamation, inviting and arresting attention. "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair" (Song of Sol. 4:1). His opinion He publishes abroad even now, and one day from the throne of His glory He will avow the truth of it before the assembled universe. —Morning and Evening
Do you remember the story of Job? The Bible tells us, that one day in the midst of Job's peaceful existence, God asked satan a question. God asked, "Hast thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil." (Job 1:8 [ASV]) Count on this, if you are a child of God, serving Him and living for Him, you too, will be "considered". When God shows us off, satan is going to attack. he looks for those things that are most precious to us--the things we treasure, and he will use those things to cause us to lose focus. he wants us to curse God, and die--eternally. That's why he, even sometimes has those we love, (often in innocent concern for us) to encourage us to give up, back down, etc. (just as Job's wife, out of love for him, encouraged him).
It happened to Job. He was a "perfect" (mature) man, who served God. Job had a family, that he loved so much that while they were going about their lives, Job was rising early, praying for them, and for their spiritual well-being. He wanted them to be right with God--not just himself, but his family. When we are doing what God wants us to do--He wants all of Heaven and earth to see us, clothed in His righteousness. He loves to see His reflection in us--and when He does, He makes His pleasure (in us) known! That also causes the uninvited attention of the adversary. That's when he most wants to attack us--when God is being glorified, in us. He wants the light of God in us, to be extinguished. The more of God that satan sees (in us), the more he wants to destroy us. Of course, if we belong to God, he cannot destroy us, but he will do whatever he can to get us off-track.
What will you do, when satan comes to "consider" you? When life is suddenly turned upside down, and what was just moments ago, a peaceful, calm--and joyful existence, becomes anything but--how will you respond? Will you curse God? Will you blame God? Will you give up? Or, will you recognize that this is all apart of living in a sinful world--and continue to trust Him? I am reminded of Habakkuk, the prophet as he writes: "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest Thou on them that deal treacherously, and holdest Thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?" (Habakkuk 1:13 , KJV) Habakkuk, wondered the same things we often wonder--where is God when I am under attack? Where is God when my body is wracked with pain? Where is God when I lose my loved ones? Why do the people of God, who serve Him, suffer so much? Habakkuk's name means "embracer". I wonder if it is because he was to embrace a most important message--and prophesy (that message) to the people of God, who centuries later, would wonder the same things. Later, Habakkuk, has his question answered and shares the message: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet, will I rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places." (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
There will be high places, BUT God will make me walk upon them. They will not consume me--even if it appears to be all-consuming. I might be "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed"! Why? How? Is it possible to have so many things coming against us--and yet, not be overtaken by them? Yes, because "though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day (this is how we keep going). For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"! So, "...look not at the things which are seen (with the natural eye), but at the things which are not seen (the spiritual): for the things which are seen (the struggles, trials, heartaches) are temporal (they cannot last!); but the things which are not seen are eternal".
The way to survive and thrive "being considered" is to stay focused, on Jesus and on Him alone! Don't lose focus. No matter how things appear, the truth of the matter--is spiritual; in the spiritual realm, your deliverance IS, already. "See" it and live! This is not denial, but recognition that I am a spiritual being, living in a carnal world. In the flesh, I am subject to the sin nature and its impact on this world, and those in it; BUT in the Spirit, I am a conqueror.
Walk upon your "high places" not under them. Don't be fooled into thinking that the adversary has more power than he does--"Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world"! Use the power that God has placed in you, to live abundantly ("high places" and all)!
Be encouraged!
Love & Abundant Blessings,
Lisa
Do you remember the story of Job? The Bible tells us, that one day in the midst of Job's peaceful existence, God asked satan a question. God asked, "Hast thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil." (Job 1:8 [ASV]) Count on this, if you are a child of God, serving Him and living for Him, you too, will be "considered". When God shows us off, satan is going to attack. he looks for those things that are most precious to us--the things we treasure, and he will use those things to cause us to lose focus. he wants us to curse God, and die--eternally. That's why he, even sometimes has those we love, (often in innocent concern for us) to encourage us to give up, back down, etc. (just as Job's wife, out of love for him, encouraged him).
It happened to Job. He was a "perfect" (mature) man, who served God. Job had a family, that he loved so much that while they were going about their lives, Job was rising early, praying for them, and for their spiritual well-being. He wanted them to be right with God--not just himself, but his family. When we are doing what God wants us to do--He wants all of Heaven and earth to see us, clothed in His righteousness. He loves to see His reflection in us--and when He does, He makes His pleasure (in us) known! That also causes the uninvited attention of the adversary. That's when he most wants to attack us--when God is being glorified, in us. He wants the light of God in us, to be extinguished. The more of God that satan sees (in us), the more he wants to destroy us. Of course, if we belong to God, he cannot destroy us, but he will do whatever he can to get us off-track.
What will you do, when satan comes to "consider" you? When life is suddenly turned upside down, and what was just moments ago, a peaceful, calm--and joyful existence, becomes anything but--how will you respond? Will you curse God? Will you blame God? Will you give up? Or, will you recognize that this is all apart of living in a sinful world--and continue to trust Him? I am reminded of Habakkuk, the prophet as he writes: "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest Thou on them that deal treacherously, and holdest Thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?" (Habakkuk 1:13 , KJV) Habakkuk, wondered the same things we often wonder--where is God when I am under attack? Where is God when my body is wracked with pain? Where is God when I lose my loved ones? Why do the people of God, who serve Him, suffer so much? Habakkuk's name means "embracer". I wonder if it is because he was to embrace a most important message--and prophesy (that message) to the people of God, who centuries later, would wonder the same things. Later, Habakkuk, has his question answered and shares the message: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet, will I rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places." (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
There will be high places, BUT God will make me walk upon them. They will not consume me--even if it appears to be all-consuming. I might be "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed"! Why? How? Is it possible to have so many things coming against us--and yet, not be overtaken by them? Yes, because "though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day (this is how we keep going). For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"! So, "...look not at the things which are seen (with the natural eye), but at the things which are not seen (the spiritual): for the things which are seen (the struggles, trials, heartaches) are temporal (they cannot last!); but the things which are not seen are eternal".
The way to survive and thrive "being considered" is to stay focused, on Jesus and on Him alone! Don't lose focus. No matter how things appear, the truth of the matter--is spiritual; in the spiritual realm, your deliverance IS, already. "See" it and live! This is not denial, but recognition that I am a spiritual being, living in a carnal world. In the flesh, I am subject to the sin nature and its impact on this world, and those in it; BUT in the Spirit, I am a conqueror.
Walk upon your "high places" not under them. Don't be fooled into thinking that the adversary has more power than he does--"Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world"! Use the power that God has placed in you, to live abundantly ("high places" and all)!
Be encouraged!
Love & Abundant Blessings,
Lisa
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