Whom the Lord loves He chastens . . .” (Hebrews 12:6). How petty our complaining is! Our Lord begins to bring us to the point where we can have fellowship with Him, only to hear us moan and groan, saying, “Oh Lord, just let me be like other people!” Jesus is asking us to get beside Him and take one end of the yoke, so that we can pull together. That’s why Jesus says to us, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Are you closely identified with the Lord Jesus like that? If so, you will thank God when you feel the pressure of His hand upon you.“. . . to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29). God comes and takes us out of our emotionalism, and then our complaining turns into a hymn of praise. The only way to know the strength of God is to take the yoke of Jesus upon us and to learn from Him.“. . . the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Where do the saints get their joy? If we did not know some Christians well, we might think from just observing them that they have no burdens at all to bear. But we must lift the veil from our eyes. The fact that the peace, light, and joy of God is in them is proof that a burden is there as well. The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces the wine, but most of us see only the wine and not the burden. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates an inner invincibility.If your life is producing only a whine, instead of the wine, then ruthlessly kick it out. It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God’s strength.________________________________________________________

 

April 14, 2014-JDV

 

Lord thank You again for reminding me (again and again) that Your love and Spirit is all I need.  I can be impoverished, or living in abundance, I can be footloose and fancy free, or there can be loads of responsibilities hanging all over me, as long as I am connected and live in Your love; it is all I will ever need.

And God says…”Yes that is the lesson; over and over and over again. Your circumstances may not change; your prayers may be answered with “later”.  It may seem as if have abandoned you to your circumstances or that I have given you more trials. Your life may seem to others to be “falling apart”. However, when we are connected, and you feel my Spirit and love living inside of you, you are transformed and transported. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you need, including peace inside very difficult circumstances, will be provided.”

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