August 18, 2012
More than Getting By
“The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it”
- Epicurus
What Epicurus is implying is that overcoming difficulties should somehow bring us great satisfaction, pleasure and even possibly reward: and while on many levels; especially from a human perspective this can be true: as Christians we need to realize that the greatest glory we can attain to in overcoming difficulties, challenges and trials in life are those that cause us to give and bring glory to God and not ourselves.
We realize from a spiritual perspective that it is often not by our power nor for our glory that we are able to overcome those things in our lives that serve as obstacles: but rather it is by God’s power in us, for His greater glory and for our spiritual growth and we enjoy and experience His overcoming power evidenced and realized in us.
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles he has overcome trying to succeed.”
- Booker T. Washington
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39
Scriptures teaches us that our faith grows by the trails we go through and the tests we endure. Patience is much the same.
The more we endure and overcome by God’s grace, mercy, power and Spirit: enables us to be bolder, stronger and better servants for His kingdom.
So as Christians we need to stop whining and complaining about the obstacles in our lives and we need to look at them as opportunities to grow in Him and to do more than just get by, but to actually overcome and be greater, better and more for His glory.
Today’s Prayer
Father, greater are you who lives within me: than the powers and forces that are at work here in this world. So keep me mindful that as I face the challenges of this world it is your power for your glory that I can do more than get by: I can overcome and live victoriously.
“Give me your eyes
For just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I’ve been missing
Give me your love for humanity.
Give me your arms for the brokenhearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see“
- Lyrics from ‘Give Me Your Eyes’ by Brandon Heath and Jason Ingram
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