July 29, 2011
Behold, He is coming with clouds . . . —Revelation 1:7
In the Bible clouds are always associated with God. Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without our personal lives, which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God. Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith. “The clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3). They are a sign that God is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near us without clouds— He does not come in clear-shining brightness.
It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us tounlearn something. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify our beliefs until our relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child— a relationship simply between God and our own souls, and where other people are but shadows. Until other people become shadows to us, clouds and darkness will be ours every once in a while. Is our relationship with God becoming more simple than it has ever been?
There is a connection between the strange providential circumstances allowed by God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Until we can come face to face with the deepest, darkest fact of life without damaging our view of God’s character, we do not yet know Him.
“. . . they were fearful as they entered the cloud” (Luke 9:34). Is there anyone except Jesus in your cloud? If so, it will only get darker until you get to the place where there is “no one anymore, but only Jesus . . .” (Mark 9:8 ; also see Mark 2-7).
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July 29, 2011
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
I can recall what C. S. Lewis said regarding our pain… “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” It has certainly been the case in my life Lord. And I know the scripture in Hebrews about correcting and directing those that You love. (Although my natural man sometimes wishes you would go love someone else for a while though). But I know I must (or rather get to) praise you in the storms, valleys and difficult circumstances if I am to act on the knowledge and faith that you are making all things work for my good.
And God says…”I want you to be pain free and successful; however, success in large doses (early and often) is not healthy for most, if not all, humans. And as you noted in your journal, man seems to hear Me more clearly in painful circumstances. However, as the scripture says, there is a time for all things. Trust in Me with all your heart and seek first the Kingdom of God. As you are waiting for Me to respond to your pain and prayers, (and I I will answer in the very best timetable for your good), build your faith and patience. Reach out and share the Gospel…………… using words only when necessary.”
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