You Test My Character

If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you will notice a bit of a change for the next 8 weeks. I am serving as a table leader for an 8 week Freedom Workshop. If you'd like to follow along, you can find the resources at the link directly above. Also, I will post here, the daily Bible reading assignment (heartwork) so you can read along. This workshop has been a life changer for me so I'm eager to share it with others. May you be blessed!

BIBLE READING HEARTWORK
Week 1 - Day 6
Romans 12; Psalm 105

Psalm 105:19

Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,

the LORD tested Joseph's character.

Lord, just like you tested Joseph's character, you also test mine. You allow me to go through trials, not so that you can know my character, but so that I can see what you see.

Lord, the other day someone called me a godly woman. My response was that I try to be. I do hope that others see you in me, but I still see so much that needs to be conformed to your image.

As I strive to not copy the behavior and customs of this world, please transform me into a new person by changing the way I think. Then I will know what you want me to do, and I will know how good and pleasing and perfect your will really is. Romans 12:2

In Jesus' name, amen.

FREEDOM WORKSHOP VERSES

Psalm 77:1

I cry out to God without holding back.

Psalm 77:1

Psalm 27:8

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me," and my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

Psalm 27:8

MEMORY VERSES

Must Receive Christ

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Must Receive Christ

Must Receive Christ

1 Timothy 2:5

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

1 Timothy 2:5

Must Receive Christ

He Loves Me

Romans 5:3-5

We can rejoice, too, when we into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Lord, I gotta be honest here. My first response to problems and trials is usually not rejoicing. In fact, I'm not sure that has ever been my first response. I think I'm slowly getting there.

Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with your love. He assures me that you allow these trials because you love me and everything you allow is always for my good, not my harm.

MEMORY VERSES

2 Chronicles 16:9a

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2 Chronicles 16:9a

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

God's Power is Absolute!

Romans 4:17b

This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

Wow, Lord, you are the God who brings the dead back to life and creates new things out of nothing. We can trust you completely because of that. NOTHING is impossible for you! You created the entire universe out of nothing! You breathed the stars into existence - and then named each one! 

Psalm 147:4-5

He counts the stars 

and calls them all by name. 

How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! 

His understanding is beyond comprehension!

You can move mountains because you are the one who placed them there!

Lord, I confess that sometimes I lose sight of who I am talking to and trusting in. Please give me a new, fresh awareness of who you are and of your power which is ABSOLUTE. You are in the business of bringing the dead back to life and creating new things out of nothing. That's not something you did just once or twice; you do this every day. So I can trust any problem I have to you. Even if it's a couple thousand dollars that I just don't have but need right away.

You know our needs. Lamentations 3:37 tells me that nothing happens without your permission. So it follows that you allow me to have these trials to teach me to trust you. Matthew 6:25-34 tells me not to worry. That's a command, not a suggestion.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

MEMORY VERSES

2 Chronicles 16:9a

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2 Chronicles 16:9a

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Teach Me Through My Trials

Romans 2:29

No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Lord, I want to be this kind of person. I think I'm becoming this kind of person. You certainly are changing my heart and I like it! It's not always a fun process, but you are always here to help me through all of it.

In your perfect love, you see the big picture while I can only see a tiny part of it. 

You know that I need to go through specific trials to get to the end result which you can already see.

I'm so glad that yours is not a weak, oh-poor-baby, let-me-comfort-you-and-take-away-the-pain kind of love. No, yours is a this-is-for-your-best-good and you-need-to-experience-this-pain-to-learn-from-it kind of love. Please help my heart to always be soft so I can learn what you are teaching me. I love you, Daddy! In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSE

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

Isaiah 26:3-4

You Test My Faith

Romans 12:1

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Exodus 17:7

Moses named the place Massah (which means "test") and Meribah (which means "arguing") because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD here with us or not?"

Lord, in extremely difficult times it's easy to wonder if you are still with us or not. But you are always there, you never leave us. You allow us to go through these times to test us. You want to show us what's in our hearts. You already know what's there but you want us to know too.

James 1:2-4

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

1 Peter 1:6-7

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Deuteronomy 8:2

Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.

I'm in Training

Romans 12:1

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Exodus 16:27-28

Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. The LORD asked Moses, "How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?"

Lord, you probably ask the same thing about me at times. My spirit is willing but my body is weak!

Matthew 26:14

"Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

It seems to me that the Israelites were in training, learning how to follow you. They started out simple learning to collect the manna on six days and then rest on the seventh day. Then you gave them the law and they needed priests to help them understand how to follow it. But we can never keep the law, that's why you sent Jesus.

I'm in the same sort of training. You use my daily trials and temptations to train me to continually turn to you. You are training me to put my trust in you and nothing else. You are training me to watch and pray, so that I will not give in to temptation.

John 14:26

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative - that is, the Holy Spirit - he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Lord, it's only through your Spirit that I can resist temptation. Please continue to guide and train me! In Jesus Name, amen.

Why the Trials?

Genesis 4:17

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

Genesis 4:17

Psalm 51:6 (NASB)

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 

Psalm 51:6 (NASB)

Micah 6:8

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

Back in February I was wondering what the point of all these trials here on earth is since I can never be perfect this side of heaven.

Romans 5:3-4

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

These trials help me to be fruitful for God. They give me the boldness to speak up and share with others. They give me depth of character. They give me the desire to invest in kingdom work which builds interest in my heavenly bank account. Matt. 6:19-21

We have trials because we live in a fallen world. In God's economy nothing is ever wasted. For the Christian, He uses these trials in mighty ways for our best good. "This thing is from Me" He tells us. And we rejoice! Amen