Lessons Learned

The other day I saw a Facebook post that was putting down Christians who share their faith. While it was not personal I have to say Satan was able to use it against me. Immediately, I was telling myself my blog is dumb and who reads them anyway. Within a minute I stopped and reminded myself that these were NOT thoughts of God! I began to pray about my feelings and for God to be with the person that posted the message. Within two minutes I happened to notice I had an email which I normally do not check but a couple of times a day. It was from a man who reads my blogs every day. He had written to tell me what the day's blog meant to him. He told me to always trust God's process not my own. The tears came and I began to thank God. He also put another sentence that was in line with something God shared with me about 35 years ago. It meant so much that I have not discussed it with him but I guess we will after he reads this blog! I learned several lessons that day!

The first lesson was that God always gives us just what we need, when we need it! I have learned this lesson so many times! Immediately upon reading that post I let Satan use it to make me doubt myself. I have about 300 email subscribers who sometimes email me with positive words but I let this one post - not even to me - make me feel unworthy. Had I not gone to Him in prayer my negative thoughts would have snowballed - I know how I work.

Of course I am unworthy. Jesus is the only perfect one. I may be unworthy but I am not worthless. God can use me. When I first started my blog I called the company to have the "like button" removed. I decided that I think that is dangerous. It can be dangerous because you think you are too good and it can be dangerous because you can think you are not good enough. Bottom line is this is what God has me doing - it is not about me. When I needed a "like" God sent it! 1 Peter 4: 10, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

I thanked God for my friend listening to the nudge from God to email me that day. Of all the days - down to the minute - he found the time to send me an email. I believe God worked in his heart that day for that blog to touch him enough for him to email me. God used him to encourage another. How often do we listen to God about encouraging others? It does not count when we just think about it. We have to take action when God nudges us. James 2: 26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Life is hard enough without outside negativity. I hit the button that says, stay friends but do not see posts. I do not need that. We cannot control a lot of things but we should control what we choose to read, watch, be around, etc. Galatians 6: 7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."

God is always there. He is always waiting for us to tell Him what we need. Next time you have negative thoughts remember they are not of God. God does not send you negative thoughts. 1 Peter 5: 8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." When things are negative He is telling you that He will take care of you. Isaiah 46: 4, "Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! ..." He is telling you that He will never leave you. Hebrews 13: 5, "For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He is telling you that you are His!

Psalm 100: 3, "We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." God always wants what is best for us. Jeremiah 29: 11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

So even though that was a negative message God used it for His good. Look at all of the lessons that He showed me from it. And a blog! Romans 8: 28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Thank you, God, for showing me where You want me to go! Psalm 16: 11, "You will show me the path of life;..."