Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- DAILY READING – Galatians 3:1-18; Jeremiah 51-52; Psalm 144
As a teenager, Joni Eareckson loved life. She enjoyed riding horses and loved to swim. However, one summer in 1967, when she was 17 years old, all that changed. While swimming with some friends, Joni dove into a lake not knowing how shallow it really was. She broke her neck, paralyzing her body from the neck down. During her two years of rehabilitation, according to her autobiography she struggled with a lot of negative feelings, even considering suicide. But eventually she decided to let God be glorified in her situation. During occupational therapy, she learned to paint with a brush between her teeth, and began selling her artwork. Her artworks blossomed and she soon became an internationally known artist. She also began to write books and eventually wrote over forty books. As a conference speaker, her articles began to be published around the world. She became a well known television personality, recorded several musical albums, starred in an autobiographical movie of her life and preached the Gospel all over the world with her husband, Ken Tada. Indeed beyond her greatest expectations, God turned around her story, and she became an international icon of hope and an inspiration to many people around the world.
It doesn’t matter what may have happened to you in life or what situation you may face, as long as you can focus on God there is always a way out. Even if it seems you are shut in, as long as you can keep your focus on God, He will always create a way of escape for you. There is no problem, trouble, situation or circumstance facing you today that God cannot handle.. He is the God of miracles and with Him nothing shall be impossible. Therefore learn to focus on God’s promises, rather than the problem.
Hebrews 12: 2 says ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
We must keep looking unto Jesus, in every situation. When we focus on Jesus in the face of any challenge, our victory is sure. He is able to turn around any negative situation for our good. But if we focus on the problems, it only leads to sinking and defeat. The moment Peter shifted his gaze from Jesus to look at the storm, he began to sink.
Therefore to see God’s promises fulfilled in your life, look away from the negative circumstances and focus on God’s Word. Look away from the negative medical report, the red bank account, that discouraging family situation, and declare God’s promises instead. In the face of problems declare to yourself ‘I’m blessed, so I can’t be stressed; I live in grace, so I can’t be disgraced!’
God has you in the palm of His hand. Don’t limit what He can still do in your life. God is bigger than anything you’re facing. No matter how tough things may sometimes seem, God knows exactly how to tip things in your favor. One explosive blessing from Him can put you into overflow. Truly there is nothing impossible with God. All you really need to change is your perception. Instead of focusing on the problem, focus on God’s promises. Instead of complaining learn to praise God. Instead of wearing a spirit of heaviness, try on a garment of praise. Let the very thing the enemy meant for your sorrow be the very reason for your praise. And when you learn to praise God in the midst of troubles He will turn your sorrow into joy and your mourning into dancing.
PRAYER: Lord, I know with you nothing shall be impossible. Please help me to always praise you in every situation, because I know that even right now, You are turning around everything for my good in Jesus Name.
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It is only when you can see God in the light of who He truly is that you can begin to walk in the overflow of His blessings. – WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK ESTABLISHED IN THE WORD OF GOD]