Maker or Breaker of My Life

[S] 2 Chronicles 16:8-9 --
8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.9 For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."

[O] God strongly support those whose heart is completely sold out to Him.  In fact, His search party is looking for these people throughout the earth.  With God's strong support, there is nothing that can get in the way and this is the message especially for those up against insurmountably huge obstacles in life (the immense army) when it is so easy to search for my own way out using my own plans.

[A] In many ways our family is facing an immense army right now and passages like these bring tremendous strength as they remind us how BIG our God is and how He is the maker or breaker of what happens in our lives.  I want to be found by His search party looking for those whose heart is completely His.

[P] Dear Father, I realize that I must go upstream against the currents of this world in order to be spotted by Your search party to be on Your team.  It is then and only then that You will deliver me from the obstacles I face not because of my skills or efforts but because I have been found by You to be on Your team.  May Your peace and strength continue to sustain our family as we go through this challenging period.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Bad Things Happeninig Lately?

[S] Psalm 144:1-2 --
  ¹Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
         Who trains my hands for war,
         And my fingers for battle;
  ²My lovingkindness and my fortress,
         My stronghold and my deliverer,
         My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
         Who subdues my people under me.

[O] Recently I've heard from a few people of God who's been hit with what appears an un-ending distractions in their lives (both personally and family) which drains their energy and in some cases discouraging them to lose sight of living out Christ-centered lives.  Why do these happen to those who are really committed to following God's pathways?  First, my own answer is that because they must really be doing just that effectively despite what they may be feeling at the moment because God's enemy will not leave alone those who are effectively influencing our world the way God intended.  Flipping that around, the enemy will leave alone those who are not of a great threat to his agenda.  I also found God's answer to this question from this passage:  There is no way for me to comprehend the depth of His reasons/purposes of why these things happen, but He promises to those who trust in Him to be their trainer, fortress, deliverer, shield, and subduer of enemies.  So, the half-time score may not look good but the game score is already decided to be God 1: Enemy 0.

[A] Trust in Him even though I cannot see the reasons for troubles happening around me.

[P] Dear God, You are awesome indeed.  This passage just pumps up the new blood in me to take steps further in the direction You convicted me to go.  You are my fortress, deliverer, shield, and You will win over the enemies altogether!  I trust in You to be just that type of a God in my life.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.