Spiritual Challenges

"Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow." --Theodore Epp

If we knew with certainty that Christ was returning tomorrow, imagine the spiritual preparedness we would do today. Unconfessed sin would be confessed. Unforgiveness of others would take priority over everything on our calendars. A major house cleaning of hearts would occur. Every petty grievance and problem of today would be forgotten as we prepared for the Heavenly Rapture of tomorrow. And although Scripture teaches us that "no one will know the day or hour" of Christ's return, this is exactly how we should be living everyday because tomorrow could be the day of His Return. Are we willing to risk sin flooded hearts and unforgiveness in our lives if Christ could return tomorrow? All of the trappings, temptations, and trials of this world need to be secondary to the spiritual preparation of our lives as we await that glorious day when Christ returns for His children.

"Christians ought not be smothered in fear. There is a spiritual readiness, where we return to having the peace of God stand guard over our hearts and minds. What an incredible witness it is to a lost and fearful society when the Christian acts like a child of God, living under the sovereignty of the Heavenly Father. The Christian needs to walk in peace, so no matter what happens they will be able to bear witness to a watching world." --Henry Blackaby

Fear can be a paralyzing sin in our lives. I tell you this because living as I have lived, under the umbrella of disease and death threats for over a decade, I would have been paralyzed long ago had the Lord not delivered me from the fear and threat that death tries to impose even on Christians. The more I studied His Word and about the glorious promise of life eternal in Heaven, death began to "lose its sting". Some may just call me ignorant and in denial, living everyday as though I am a healed and whole person despite death declarations made over me by some of the most brilliant scientific minds in this world. However, I can tell you firsthand that walking in this kind of peace is a precious gift from the Lord. I am grateful when others notice the peace and power that I walk in because I know it has nothing to do about me but has everything to do about a life lived consecrated to God. Often times my prayer is for my faith and peace not to falter as the days become more and more challenging. Nothing pleases me more than for my life wrought with disease and suffering to be a testament to the world around me of God's faithfulness.

"The trouble with nearly everybody who prays is that he says, "Amen" and runs away before God has a chance to reply. Listening to God is far more important than giving Him your ideas." --Frank Laubach

When I read this quote, it really struck home. Sometimes we are true blabber mouths when praying. Acting as if our mortal words could even compare to knowing what we truly need when compared to the all knowing God of the Universe. And listening does not mean sitting and waiting for God to give a shout from the Heavenlies with the answer to our prayer request. Listening is being still before God. Listening is praying and reading God's Word - have you ever noticed that when we read His Word, many of our deepest concerns and questions are answered on the pages of His Holy Word? Studying God's Will for our lives also reveals answers to us. God's Word reveals His Will for His children. If believer or unbeliever never opens the pages of the Bible, how can he or she ever learn the life traits, paths and directions for our lives?

May each of us be challenged by these quotes today.