Hosanna Restoration Church

From the time, or actually before the time we come to know Jesus, the enemy of our souls is busy trying to destroy our confidence. If he cannot convince us that it just won’t work, he does his best to convince us that it just cannot last. Life in Christ Jesus simply cannot be that simple or that good. Any time a trial arises the temptation to throw in the towel rises with it. Let’s face it, every Christian has had the opportunity to let their confidence blow away with the wind, and far too many have done just that. Consequently there are lots of folks hanging on by a thread with little or no confidence that it is really doing them any good and experiencing few if any of the rewards of the life that Jesus promised.

My own experience began with some folks encouraging me that it would not always be as wonderful as it was at the beginning. Yes, they sincerely felt that it was somehow an encouragement to tell me that the joy I was experiencing would settle down. They meant well, but they were wrong. At least it was not how the Lord intended things to be. Consequently I found it more to my taste to listen those who said God keeps getting better.

I admit that there have been lots of opportunities to get discouraged, but I have done my best not to take them. We can either trust God and be encouraged, or we can let go of our confidence in Him and pick up the gloom and doom of discouragement.

As I see it, we have a choice as to what list we give the most attention to. We can go over our problems time and time again, or we can meditate on the promises of God and our victories. I find it much more productive to allow the problems to drift out of sight while I turn my eyes upon Jesus. I assure you I have not yet perfected this, but I keep practicing.

It is hard for me to understand why there are people who have such an aversion to the rewards of the Lord. It is the goodness of God that draws people, and yet there are many Christians who become angry and down right hostile if we hold on with confidence in His rewards. In this scripture the Holy Spirit encourages people who had been through some hard things to hang on to their confidence for there is a reward in keeping confidence in Christ. There is also no doubt that some endurance is required in order to receive the promises of God. So what! We put effort into lots of things in life. Why not put effort into the surest thing of all.

So, will we focus on the woes or on the goes? Will we stand confidently, or spend our time in and out of spiritual intensive care, never really recovering and always a little discouraged, wondering why nothing seems to work out for us. Choose life!