#266 Free to Experience the Intentions of God!
Romans 8.28
I was feeling negative about some of my experiences. I am so grateful for a shift in thinking which makes it possible to enjoy the gift that is hidden in the experience.
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 I came across a thought on “let him deny himself.” We need to be willing to give up our right to ourselves.
I thought about how strongly I exercise the ‘right’ to make up my negative assumptions about life and circumstance. I experience a scenario, I make up that it can’t possibly be a good thing, (or whatever assumption or label I use), and then I live as if that thought is true. And when I live like the experience I am having is a negative thing, I experience it as negative, even when God’s intentions are the opposite.
"Finally, brethren, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE…let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8 NASB
This is the first question to be asked respecting any matter: Is it true or is it false? If it is false the Lord's people are to have nothing whatever to do with it,--no matter how beautiful. Love for the truth lies at the very foundation of saint-ship… R2890
No matter how ‘beautiful’, how convinced or attached I am to my negative prognosis, there is a powerful Truth that completely transforms the negative frame of mind. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
We know: We can stand confidently on this truth.
That God causes: This is not an arbitrary truth, it is the work of God.
All things: There are no exceptions.
To work together for good: I get stuck in the challenge of one experience and sometimes that is all I see. But His ability to create outcomes of blessing and highest good applies to the whole package of experience. He uses our life-long process to create blessing. Being somewhere in the middle of the experience, we often don’t see or understand how one challenge builds upon another.
To those who are called according to His purpose: God has covenanted and obligated Himself to the consecrated who are committed to Christ. And yet He will also use the highest blessing He has worked out in our lives to bless all those who don’t have a clue about His purpose in our future work in glory as Kings and Priests. Revelation 1:6, Romans 8:18-21
“…you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 Joseph went through years of challenge including being sold into slavery, being falsely accused and being imprisoned. Each challenge was part of creating the end result.
God is teaching me to assume the Truth, instead of my negative spin. What a peace this brings in the midst of difficulty!
“Somehow this is meant for good.”
“I trust that in His time and way, this will work out for good.”
The Creative process continues. “And it was good.” Genesis 1
“And it is good.”
Romans 8.28
I was feeling negative about some of my experiences. I am so grateful for a shift in thinking which makes it possible to enjoy the gift that is hidden in the experience.
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 I came across a thought on “let him deny himself.” We need to be willing to give up our right to ourselves.
I thought about how strongly I exercise the ‘right’ to make up my negative assumptions about life and circumstance. I experience a scenario, I make up that it can’t possibly be a good thing, (or whatever assumption or label I use), and then I live as if that thought is true. And when I live like the experience I am having is a negative thing, I experience it as negative, even when God’s intentions are the opposite.
"Finally, brethren, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE…let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8 NASB
This is the first question to be asked respecting any matter: Is it true or is it false? If it is false the Lord's people are to have nothing whatever to do with it,--no matter how beautiful. Love for the truth lies at the very foundation of saint-ship… R2890
No matter how ‘beautiful’, how convinced or attached I am to my negative prognosis, there is a powerful Truth that completely transforms the negative frame of mind. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
We know: We can stand confidently on this truth.
That God causes: This is not an arbitrary truth, it is the work of God.
All things: There are no exceptions.
To work together for good: I get stuck in the challenge of one experience and sometimes that is all I see. But His ability to create outcomes of blessing and highest good applies to the whole package of experience. He uses our life-long process to create blessing. Being somewhere in the middle of the experience, we often don’t see or understand how one challenge builds upon another.
To those who are called according to His purpose: God has covenanted and obligated Himself to the consecrated who are committed to Christ. And yet He will also use the highest blessing He has worked out in our lives to bless all those who don’t have a clue about His purpose in our future work in glory as Kings and Priests. Revelation 1:6, Romans 8:18-21
“…you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 Joseph went through years of challenge including being sold into slavery, being falsely accused and being imprisoned. Each challenge was part of creating the end result.
God is teaching me to assume the Truth, instead of my negative spin. What a peace this brings in the midst of difficulty!
“Somehow this is meant for good.”
“I trust that in His time and way, this will work out for good.”
The Creative process continues. “And it was good.” Genesis 1
“And it is good.”
