This has been a week of many opportunities to be pressed into the Lord, to wholly lean on and trust in Him.  I am certain that some of you can say the same, for God is working mightily in His people.  To the One who knows the beginning from the end, let us yield so that we may become all that He has planned and purposed for each of us.

Are you in a hard place?  Let me share some wonderful Scripture verses that will help us place our focus rightly; in the Lord our God!

James 1:2-4 (we all know this one) in the Living Bible goes right to the matter:
“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations?  Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems.  For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.”

The New King James Version says,
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials..”
Notice it says when not ‘if’!  God works mightily through these trials to make us “…perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Only in Christ can we say,
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13   

How?
“For we are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13

Why?
“that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”  Colossians 1;10-12

Hebrews 4:13 tells us,
“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.”

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

“So we boldly say;
‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER;
 I WILL NOT FEAR.
 WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?’  Hebrews 13:6  (My emphasis)

Our God is in charge so with grateful hearts we look to Him!  To Him be all praise and glory now and always!   Amen