Living Forward, Understanding Backward

and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God. 

He was with God in the beginning.  

Through him all things were made; 

without him nothing was made 

that has been made.

In him was life, 

and that life was the light of all mankind.  

The light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness has not overcome it. 

The Word became flesh 

and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, 

the glory of the one and only Son, 

who came from the Father, 

full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-5,14 

Living Forward, Understanding Backward

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman

12-01-2012

"The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

When I was in my 20's, I participated in a wilderness-training course in a desert and mountain area. For our "final exam," we were blindfolded, placed in the back of a pickup truck, and taken to a remote area. We were dropped off and told to meet back at the camp in three days. We did not know where we were. We had to determine our location with our compasses. It was a frightening experience for four young people who had learned to navigate through the use of a compass only a few days earlier. With our food and water on our backs, we began our trek. It had just snowed that morning, so the way was difficult. We walked through valleys, canyons, snow-covered hills, and forests. In all, we walked more than 60 miles in three days. There were times when we did not think we could go another foot. Exhaustion and frostbitten feet were taking their toll. However, we finally made it to our base camp successfully, and to our surprise, we were the first ones among the other patrols to make it back.

At the conclusion of our journey, we were able to stand on top of a ridge, look behind us and see the beautiful terrain that we had just scaled. The pain of what we had just endured seemed to subside. We could not believe we had actually walked through those valleys and snowcapped hills. There was a sense of accomplishment.

Life is very much like this. It is often lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road a bit that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life as a result. When you begin to realize some of this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time, but He was.

Are you in the midst of a difficult journey that seems almost impossible to continue? Be assured that God is providing grace even now to equip you for that journey. There will be a time when you can say, "Wow, look at what God has done because of what I gained through that valley." Trust Him with the outcome of where you find yourself today.


Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace

FIRE BY NIGHT NEWSLETTER

GLENN H. JACKSON

IN TIMES OF DURESS AND REPROACH IT IS ALWAYS BEST 

FOR ONE TO "RUN" TO THE FATHER TRUSTING HIM COMPLETELY

 WITH THEIR HEART

"duress"- compulsion by use of force 
[in this case: fear, darkness, oppression etc.]; constraint; coercion;

"reproach"- to unrighteously impute blame for an action; 
to bring disgrace or shame upon one through lies and slander;

Words of Prophecy

*       When one of My children allows themselves to be used as a vessel of reproach towards My faithful and obedient ones it is because they have first been a vessel of reproach towards Me, and towards My highest purpose for them - through the "maintaining" of an element of self-desire.

*       In the "face" of intense persecution and reproach you may separate yourself [from the vessels being used] in accordance with the unction of My Spirit. In other words when the time is right you will separate yourself unto Me, from those circumstances and those people involved, and minister unto Me. For it is in this time spent with Me that I shall further explain the purpose of what has just been accomplished, as well as restore you and fill you, and cleanse you with My presence and the precious Blood of the Lamb.

*       My children must not base their walk of obedience upon "past experience" of any sort, but rather on a moment to moment abiding in My Word, and an "open ear" to hear the voice of My Spirit [the Spirit of wisdom and revelation]. For I shall indeed do a different thing in this last hour. No, not a different thing  apart from My Word, but a deeper and fuller manifestation of My love and of My Word [Will], that I might both expose and make foolish the wisdom of the world [1 Corinthians 1:18-29]. As I send each of My bondservants and handmaidens forth in this last hour, their every word and action shall be calculated by Me to "confound" the darkened wisdom of the "wise" - and only those who truly love Me [and who thus are abiding in Me and I in them] shall know that these words and actions are of Me. It is for this reason that each of My bondservants and handmaidens must have a steadfast and established heart - in order that they might be found "rising above" the pressures [reproach] that shall SURELY come from those of My children who are living outside the "revealed" knowledge of My Word [Will], and apart from the voice of My Spirit. But overcome they shall, for I have prepared them well, and they shall live for Me - and for Me alone - in all that they do and say, and greatly shall I be glorified by their love for Me [and for each other]in this final hour.

"established" - to make secure, stable or permanent;
 to initiate and cause to last; to clear from doubt;

          ...."The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, 

a stronghold in times of trouble; 

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,

 for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You".... 

Psalms 9:9-10 NASB

        ...."Trust in Him at all times, O people; 

Pour out your heart before Him; 

God is a refuge for us".... 

Psalms 62:8 NASB 

        ...."Establish Your word to Your servant,

 as that which produces reverence for You. 

Turn away my reproach which I dread, 

for Your ordinances [that which You have ordered] are good".... 

Psalms 119:38-39 NASB

 In times of duress and reproach it is ALWAYS best for one to "run" to the Father - trusting Him completely with their heart. For, even though one may feel very "vulnerable"[as far as outward circumstances go], in the place of refuge and communion with the Father [and Jesus][John 14:21,23] they will come to the deep realization that He would NEVER allow their precious heart to come to any further harm. 

Many, in a time of reproach and rejection, turn to their "own" means [strength] and understanding in an effort to deal with what was clearly an "unpleasant" experience. But this only leads to a "certain" hardening of their heart towards God [particularly in the "area" of their life that is being affected to the greatest degree {ministry, relationship etc.}] and causes them to "spin their wheels" concerning any spiritual growth or progress - until such a time as they enter back into a place of absolute trust in Him. For it is certain that seeking after "outer consolation" [soulish gratification - through whatever means] cannot provide either healing or restoration [on any level] BUT as one "immerses" [saturates] themselves in the Word of God  [and, in the process, continually partakes of the "comfort" ministry of the Holy Spirit Spirit] they will be both healed and restored supernaturally - coming out stronger [in Christ] EVERY time [Isaiah 54:17]. Bearing truth to the portion of God's Word which states, "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed [empowered, healed restored], because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you"[1 Peter 4:12-14].

        ...."Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday".... Psalms 37:3-6 NASB