Continue Your Witness, Even When You Feel Surrounded by Enemies
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When it gets hard, we run to our Refuge. When our enemies literally surround us, we are protected by the Rock. When it seems like there is no safe place, His arms are open to receive us. We are all called to bear witness. Our lives are our testimony. Life is hard, but life is good. It’s both. Often, at the same time.
Running to God means realizing it’s through Him we are able to see and realize anything good in this life. He is good. His plans for us are good. In the hard moments, we need Him to remind us we are safe in His arms, provided and cared for, and understood. He loves us for who we are, right where we are at.
Our lives are our testimony. The power of God is active in every believer. When we are obedient to surrender to God’s will for our lives, the perspective with which we see and act shifts dramatically. Jabez is mentioned in once verse of the Bible, yet his desire to be used by God is still being prayed:
Being a witness for Christ isn’t about accolades or achievements. Even good accolades and achievements which do really great work to reach people with the Gospel aren’t as important as the attitude of our hearts when we set out to live our everyday lives. Daily surrender to His agenda is the most important ingredient in a powerful witness, followed by hard work. Working at whatever He has given us to do, with all of our might, as if working directly for Him. Because we are. Our lives are our witness.
Even if it’s sitting in the bleachers of a high school gymnasium, surrounded by enemies. Laughing with friends, rather than shutting down. What I saw as a failure to stay for three games that day, the Lord showed me, was a victory in the one at which I remained. Remaining through discomfort takes more reliance on the Lord than sitting through easy situations. And that’s what God wants, for us to lean on Him. He wants us to lean on Him with all of our strength, in all of our weakness, so He can activate His strength and power through our witness. All glory goes to Him, and He alone.
Humanity exists to bring glory to God. Today, I’m not any more thankful for those enemies, nor comfortable around them. The trauma from what happened still causes fear in my stomach when I see them. The hurt was real to me, even if it wasn’t to them. God sees it all. He sees me. He waits for me, in those moments, to wait on Him, patiently, knowing He’s already shown up. Bravery and courage which come from the Holy Spirit living in me through Christ, allow me to wait on Him, evident or not, knowing He’s there.
Keep witnessing in power, but not ours. Take a backseat and let the power of the Almighty God flex in our everyday lives. He is always with us. We are never alone, even when we’re surrounded by enemies.
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Love Differently – Even When It’s Difficult
Trust in the Unchanging Power of God
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