Purpose For Our Difficulties

Purpose For Our Difficulties

. . . that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us . . . —John 17:21

*If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17 . It will explain exactly why you are where you are— because Jesus has prayed that you “may be one” with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be. God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22). Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?

God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these things for His own purpose. So the things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, nobler men and women or they are making us more critical and fault-finding and more insistent on our own way. So how can we understand God’s purpose for these adversities and trials? By knowing and believing that God uses everything in our lives to make us One with Christ as He is One with the Heavenly Father, just as Jesus prayed. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best, both for us and His Kingdom. Besides He will deliver us from our pain and anguish according to His Will and His Timing.

"He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. " Psalm 40:2

Exercise your faith by speaking the Word of God over your life. Speaking God’s Word is very powerful and if exercised in Faith will change our attitude and outlook toward our circumstances

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13

This passage is teaching us to incorporate power of confession in our prayer and exercising our Faith in God and His Word. Sometimes we think prayer is a long list of our needs, but mature praying is filled with God’s word speaking it to your situation. There is only one way to "return God’s Word unto Him" and that is by CONFESSING IT AS BEING PRESENT TENSE TRUTH IN YOUR LIFE!

Remember:
• God’s Word is full of power; it will not return to Him empty.
• God’s Word will accomplish His desires and purposes.
• God’s Word has irresistible power!

The things that happen to us either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on the level of intimacy of our relationship with God and our obedience to His Word. God’s desire is that His Words will accomplish something in your life and He will never stop ‘till you experience the miraculous power of His Holy Word! When we understand God’s purpose, we will not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He is one with the Father. Some of us are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him— because Jesus prayed, “. . . that they all may be one . . . .” May we pray as He did, “Father, Your will be done” Matthew 26:42

* Excerpts from “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers