Reading from the New International Version of the Bible, 2 Corinthians 1:20 reads as follows”: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” And all I'm going to say is “YES, GOD”!
When we say “YES, GOD”, what are we really saying? I'm willing to YIELD. I'm willing to say Y=Yes, I=In, E=Every, L=Little, D=Detail. When you yield to something, you give up, surrender or submit. God, I'm allowing or granting you “RIGHT OF WAY”! You see, some of us want God's will for our lives, but we're unwilling to yield everything over to him.
When we whisper within ourselves, “Yes, God, except in this one thing”, we can be assured that this one thing will work spiritual disaster in our lives.
There must be no reservation when it comes to surrendering our will to God's will. Our part is to die to the flesh and self, dedicate our life to God, and daily yield to his leading. It's not an easy road. When the way seems hard, it can be made easier. Jesus said...”For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. Matthew 11:30
God wants all His sons and daughters to live with a “Yes, Lord” at all times. When you try to cultivate your spiritual life around an unsurrendered self, it is like trying to keep healthy around a malignant cancer. Only when the self is surrendered, can you cultivate your spiritual life around the new Center – Christ and Christ in control. Then everything else falls into its place.
So as we say ”YES, GOD” and yield to his lead, we then must ENDURE for God.
2 Timothy 2:3 states “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus”.
There may be those who have yielded themselves to God, but they lack the stamina to endure when the storm rages and the battle comes full blast. It is for your training that you undergo these things. God is acting to you as a father does to his child. For what child does not have punishment from his father?
I've always heard “spare the rod; spoil that child”....but Proverbs 13:24 states “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” God's way of discipline is putting us through trials, testing and tribulation. That's because he has a purpose and a plan for us so some things he must allow to happen to us in order for us to be made strong and able to stand. When the devil throws his fiery arrows at us, they are to kill, steal and destroy. Then maybe God is allowing him to do just that so it can propel us into the place that he not only wants us to be but needs us to be. The fact that Christians suffer too means that suffering “separates the men from the boys” and the “women from the girls” – it shows who is willing to remain faithful even when it is hard to do so. 1 Peter 4:12 states “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”
God never promised that he would remove all our problems, but he did promise that he will provide you the faith and strength to endure despite the problem. So when we face trials and tribulations, count it all joy because it's working for your good. Even in the physical realm, the question is which bones and muscles are the strongest. The answer is the ones that face the most hardship. There are trials that defeat some people, but for others, it strengthens them. It all depends on how you handle them.
There may be those who have yielded themselves to God, but they lack the stamina to endure when the storm rages and the battle comes full blast. It is for your training that you undergo these things. God is acting to you as a father does to his child. For what child does not have punishment from his father?
I've always heard “spare the rod; spoil that child”....but Proverbs 13:24 states “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” God's way of discipline is putting us through trials, testing and tribulation. That's because he has a purpose and a plan for us so some things he must allow to happen to us in order for us to be made strong and able to stand. When the devil throws his fiery arrows at us, they are to kill, steal and destroy. Then maybe God is allowing him to do just that so it can propel us into the place that he not only wants us to be but needs us to be. The fact that Christians suffer too means that suffering “separates the men from the boys” and the “women from the girls” – it shows who is willing to remain faithful even when it is hard to do so. 1 Peter 4:12 states “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”
God never promised that he would remove all our problems, but he did promise that he will provide you the faith and strength to endure despite the problem. So when we face trials and tribulations, count it all joy because it's working for your good. Even in the physical realm, the question is which bones and muscles are the strongest. The answer is the ones that face the most hardship. There are trials that defeat some people, but for others, it strengthens them. It all depends on how you handle them.
- Shawnda Townsend
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