“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 New King James Version (NKJV)
Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus say that God brings tribulation or hardships. And since Jesus is the perfect representation of Father God (Hebrews 1:3) we can be assured that if we look at Jesus we can see the heart and will of God. God is not the author of difficult times. If you believe that He is, it will cause you to be passive because you will just accept every negative thing as God’s will for you. You will not reign in life. There are things that we should embrace and other things we need to resist. James 4:7 says that we should submit to God but resist the devil. If we do not resist the devil, he will not flee. If you believe that everything that happens in your life is of God or from God, then you should never resist it. When challenging situations (even sickness) come your way, you should embrace them and allow them to run their full course. But there are things to resist. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Not everything that happens in this life is God’s will.
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Acts 10:38 New King James Version (NKJV)
Jesus “went about doing good… healing all who were oppressed by the devil” – it doesn’t say “oppressed by God”! God is never the one oppressing anyone. To reign in life you need to know that God is good and the giver of good gifts (James 1:17). Oppression (sickness, bondage, poverty) is not God’s will and is not from God. It’s a work of the devil which Jesus came to destroy. You need to resist the devil and his works if you want to reign in life. If you are not resisting your problems, you are not operating in the same calling as Jesus did (Acts 10:38; 1 John 3:8).
If God sent Jesus to the cross to redeem us from the curse and to deal with our sin, sickness, bondages and lack, then why would He use things that He HATES to perfect us? It doesn’t make sense.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good…”
Psalm 34:8 New King James Version (NKJV)
If you want to reign in life you have to be assured that God is a good God and that He is not the author of your trouble. He is not your problem – but He is the answer to your problem!
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11Living Bible (TLB)
Thought to focus on for the day:
God is my Father. He is a good father and the giver of good gifts. He is not the author of any problems in my life, but He is the solution for all problems in my life. Through Jesus I can reign in Life, because He loves me, He is good and has good plans for me.
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