Isaiah 42:3

a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. (ESV)

What Did I Do To Deserve...?

What did I do to deserve this awful condition I'm in?

How come I explain myself over and over and nobody understands?

What happened to me that my dreams torment me every night?

What did I do to receive God's mercy?

What did I do so that He chose me?

What did I do so that my spiritual zeal increases as my condition worsens?

The answer is nothing.

Which would I rather have--normal mental and physical health with much less spiritual growth or the spiritual growth I've been experiencing without the chronic suffering? I can't answer that yet but as time goes on I'm more and more thankful for the spiritual growth and the opportunity to know Him so much better because of what He's doing.

I hate my life. I love God. He will be glorified. Someday, sometime it will have been worth it.

Am I Praying In God's Will -- Or Against It?

When to Be Bold and Persistent with Requests
http://nehemiah.gospelcom.net/praywill4.htm

Psalm 55:22

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken. (TNIV)

Secrets of Contentment

Secrets of Contentment By John MacArthur

This is a continuing series.

John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Blog Labels

I have simplified the labels of the blog. In the right hand column under LABELS you can click on each label to see all the posts under that category.

• Article - articles written by other people


• Personal - personal writings of my own
  


• Prayer - prayers mostly by others


• Quote - quotes from books, devotionals and found on the Web


• Scripture - Bible verses/passages

Praying the Psalms

There are seemingly happy people all around us. Many aren't letting on what's going on inside. We can feel like most of the people around us are living charmed lives, especially in the church. The praise choruses sung at many churches and gatherings are always upbeat in tone and almost never express doubt, pain or suffering.

Starting next month, I'm going to read one Psalm a day as a prayer. There is a much better balance of life and expression in these poems/songs. I'll try to report back.

Psalm 119:28

My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.

Psalm 147:11

the Lord delights in those
who fear him,
who put their hope
in his unfailing love. (NIV)

Trials and God's Discipline

Hebrews 12:7-10
Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?
8 If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.
9 Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.

We know that God uses all thing for good (Romans 8:28) but are all of our trials God's direct discipline?