Our initial response to bad news or trials is fear.  That is natural in our human state; because, fear awakens our senses so we can respond.  Fear is an internal alarm that forces our senses to respond by either seeking shelter or preparing to defend ourselves.  That is exactly what happened to King Jehoshaphat when the armies of multiple nations came against he and the children of Judah.  Because of fear, King Jehoshaphat began to pray and called the people to pray.  He knew that the only hope to be victorious in battle began in fervent prayer and a song of praise.

2 CHRONICLES 20:3-9

 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, And said,

O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?  Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

4 KEYS TO VICTORIOUS PRAYER

Continue reading How to Be Victorious with Prayer and a Song →

Whenever the world looks dark and gloomy, we, who trust in God; have nothing to fear.  The news blares about corruption, distress, and divisions.  We cannot ignore, that yes; Christians also suffer in this world. Yet, we must remember the truth of the gospel story.  Our own life on this earth is but a blink of the eye compared to eternity.  Furthermore, we know God is everything that we seek-love, hope, joy, and peace. God fulfills all our needs.  He is our refuge and our strength.  Whatever trouble that we face, God is our protector.  Therefore, I have no fear in life: because high above all the noise surrounding us on earth, God is on His Throne.

Because God is Sovereign, He holds me firmly in His arms of love.   Every sorrow, pain or trial I face; God ordained.  Certainly, God is not the author of evil; but, He steadies His hand of judgement at times; in order that His Ultimate Plan of Glory will be fulfilled.  Whatever we face in this journey, we must remember: this is not my final home!  Knowing that truth, changes how I see the trials that I face.  Furthermore, I find joy, hope, and comfort here on this earth; even when surrounded by trials; because, I find solace in my time alone with God. Continue reading One Reason I Have No Fear in Life →

Life on this earth is hard at times.  We, as Christians, cling tight to the promises of God; sometimes, in the center of trials.  Singing out praises for a prayer that is answered; only to then watch the world around us crash again.  A small ray of hope draws us up to believe again; then, our hope dashes when things don’t work out the way we thought.  That has been true throughout my life as I am certain it has been yours.  When the days of darkness overshadow the moments of light, how do I still stand firm with faith, heart overflowing with love, and joy? I learned through many trials that God’s Promises are Always True; because, He never let go of me.

Furthermore, during a life filled with heartbreak and trials; God always drew me closer to Him.  I do not have to understand how God is going to work things out; I just must remember, He is Yahweh, the Great I AM.  Because I know God, I also know I am safe, Beloved, protected, and secured in His Love.  He provided me a means of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ; therefore, I do not have to ever worry about the journey.

 

YOUR PROMISES ARE ALWAYS TRUE

by Effie Darlene Barba

This journey filled with sometimes pain

The storms, with dark incessant rain

A fleeting moment of sunshine

Reminds me of Your Truth Divine

That You, dear Lord, are by my side

And that in You, I can abide

So, oft; dear Lord I cannot see

The truth of how Your guiding me

When evil lurks, to bring me down

Attempting in its darkness drown

The fact that You have won this war

That Safely I will reach the shore

My safety is not based on me

My life was bought on Calvary

It was there you reached your hand of Grace

And there my sins You did erase

The truth of You, who drew me near

Is why this life I do not fear

Your promises are always true

That every path you lead me through

Will bring me joy, a hope above

That draws me closer to your love

So, when I do not understand

I’ll trust Your word that guides Your hand

 

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus Christ) are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

I must confess that it has grown easy for me to go through the trials of my own life; but, my heart bleeds when I see one of my children facing trials.  Oh, yes; I know that God’s plan is best for them, as it has always been for me; because He loves them more than I can.  Although, that is hard to believe, that anyone can love them more than I.  Still, because I know who God is; I cannot fear! God has their life in the palm of His hand.  What is the best I can do for them?  It is to pray, unceasingly for them.

It has been through a lifetime of great trials, that I have learned to trust God and to know beyond a doubt that His promises are true to me.  In Him, I have joy, hope, peace and love.  He never leaves me. He is my greatest treasure.

CONCLUDING TWEETS:

[tweetthis]Because God’s Promises are Always True, I have nothing to fear[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”God is my Greatest Treasure! If I lose all else, I still am Blessed because I Know Him” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”Because I have seen Jesus Calm the storms in my life, I can trust Him with Every Storm.” username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis]God is in Control; therefore, I have nothing to fear ever[/tweetthis]

 

 

This  picture “The Sinner’s Cry” is a sample of the creative artistry of Roninron.com  It is used here  by permission and is subject to copyright protection.  Please consider going to his website and reviewing his art work or you may email him at Contact@RoninRon.com

 

 

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017

The photo used within the featured picture at the beginning of the post was by courtesy of https://unsplash.com/@paradox_zer0  I added the poetry verse.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Where ever we may journey in life, those who follow God’s plan will most assuredly face attack at times.  Although founded on Religious Freedom, even here in the United States; we seem to be under constant attack by those voices which wish to silence us.  We should not be surprised.  The same has been true since sin first entered the world.  Those who sought God and loved His commandments were attacked.  After all, Cain killed his brother Abel.  The Jewish nation faced many enemies throughout their long history.  Whenever they followed God; they won the battles.  However, when they turned their backs on God or worshiped other idols, they would fall into the hands of their enemies.  So, given our human nature to wander away from God’s side; how do we learn to stand in faith when being attacked?

ATTACKED FROM THE ENEMIES WITHIN

Sometimes the most difficult attacks come from within our own nation.  They are subtle at first.  We allow the change in ideology to infiltrate our own thoughts and minds until we wavered as to what we even believed.  Then, we awoke from our lulled sleep last November to stand for a change by electing Donald Trump to be our next President; because, we understood that God chose Him to be our leader.  Many of us wondered at first; but, over time we came to see that God chooses sometimes those whom we would have thought unlikely.  From the time, President Trump started this journey until now; God has been working to transform him into the truest of leaders.

Continue reading How to Stand in Faith When Being Attacked →

How we see God changes how we see everything else in our lives!  Because I have learned that God is truly the great I AM, Lord over all; I can realize that even the trials that come into my life are good.  Those trials drive me to my knees where I learn of God.  The more I learn of God, the greater I realize His Grace, His Love, His Majesty and His Faithfulness to keep His promises.  Most miraculous of all, I find that over the years; He has through the deep valleys, taught my heart to rest secure in His peace and His joy.  Therefore, my suffering really leads to joy; because, I find my joy in God.  His presence is my hope and joy of life; overriding the pain of suffering.

Joy from trials, you might ask?  Yes, great abounding joy that allows me to face a complex world with a heart overflowing with hope for each day.  God allows the pains, sorrows, and even suffering in my life at times; not as punishment: but, rather as a catalyst that forces me to take my eyes off me and to place them on Him. So, how does that work?

PAIN THAT AWAKENS OUR SOUL

Continue reading How Can Suffering Really Lead to Joy? →