launching pads?

I came across a phrase recently in a book i'm reading now:

"Your lowest points are launching pads to God's greatest promotions."

This is certainly very encouraging, teaching us to view difficulties and trials as opportunities for growth and maturity, even increase in various areas in our lives or ministry or family.

When we go through challenges, we really need to see them in perspective:
through eyes of eternity (which means whatever we encounter is but temporal),
and through the blood of Jesus, shed to give us victory in our lives, to make us overcomers (which means we prevail over our circumstances.

Of course it is hard to keep things in perspective when you've just been dealt a great blow or a series of punches with no holds barred, and while most of the time, if one is walking close to God, one is prepared. There's still the unexpected that bowls you over, dropping you in a deep swirling pit. But it is still only temporary, and victory WILL come.

So we 'lean' on the Everlasting Arms.
We can be bewildered and puzzled, but those Arms are strong.
We may not understand all because indeed His thoughts and plans are higher, loftier than our own, but His character is steadfast.
Yes, He does tell us things ahead of time. That's what the Holy Spirit is supposed to do.
Yet, the secret things belong to the Lord.
Yet again, the bible tells us that He reveals great and unsearchable things to those who seek Him.

I realise that i'm not here to figure things out on my own.
Instead i rest in Him, in His relationship with me (not so much my relationship with Him, the difference is the focus on His initiative first, then my response), and trust that He will continue to open the eyes of my understanding, continue to reveal His plans and purposes to me, and the secrets that i want to understand.

In my heart of heart, i'm not looking for any promotions.
In my heart of hearts, i just want to glorify Him with my life, including how i respond to Him and to my circumstances in my lowest points.

Let my life be a song of praise to my Lord.

breakthrough

We often think of breakthrough as ascending to a higher level, breaking free from bondages, enjoying a greater outpouring of his blessings.

I've had a breakthrough in my life recently where God broke through my defence of vulnerabilities and sensitivities, pain and confusion, to reach within. An deep assurance that He is. An intense awareness of who i am. A sharp focus of His purpose in me.

A quick pull and i was hurled out of the pit.

It was precious.

CALL to intimacy (from Morris Cerullo)

The call of the Spirit today is, first of all, a call to the Church of Jesus Christ to return to a personal, intimate relationship with Christ through prayer.

We will be barren, cut off from the divine life flow of God, without a renewed dedication through prayer.

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death (Phil. 3:10, AMP.).

When you wait for the Lord in prayer, it is not a passive action. The word "wait" in the Scripture means to remain in readiness or expectation. After we pour our hearts out to the Lord, we are to wait, to act in faith, and remain in a state of expectancy, knowing He will make us victorious.

When you truly learn how to wait for the Lord in prayer, you will be immovable! Instead of expecting your help to come from natural sources, your spiritual vision will be focused! Your hope, your expectation and your confidence will be fixed on Him and His promises, and you will not be fearful regardless of what you face.

As you wait for the Lord in prayer, you come into an intimacy with Him where you are able to hear His voice. He opens His heart to you and reveals His will and plan for your life. He gives you discernment to know what actions to take to be victorious in every circumstance and battle you face. When you wait before Him, He reveals His timing, and positions you for victory. Then as you pray according to what He has shown you and whispered to you during your time of intimacy with Him, you are able to take the victory you need in your life— in your physical body, in your finances, in your family and in your ministry.