God is our Comforter

    God healing your hurts is one of the key components to experiencing His love, "I would comfort myself in sorrow; my heart is faint in me" (Jeremiah 8:18).
    Have you ever lost a loved one?  Where did you look for comfort?  I hope you did not rely on human remedies, you know how their effectiveness diminishes over time.  Some try food, alcohol, drugs, or escape into fantasy-anything to attempt to outrun the pain.  After the glow wears off and the dream ends, the ache remains.  I remember the week my mother passed, she told me herself, "Krissy I love but I can't take this pain anymore."  I did not know what she was saying. I simply stated, “the doctors will give you some medicine and then we are going to go home.” Three days later it hit me; my mother is ready to be with the Lord. There is nothing I can do, but say thank you Lord. The trial was hard for my brother and me.  All the things my mother instilled in me were not about to become trash.  The very next day after my mother's funeral I went to church, everyone thought I was crazy. I could feel the eyes and whispers. The first place Satan will tell you not go is to church, especially after a circumstance has taken place.  Please go, there is always a word. 
    There is no such thing as life without pain and trial, and therefore no such thing as a person without need of comfort.  Don't let anyone deceive you into thinking that the key to leading a joy filled Christian life is avoiding pain; that simply is not possible in this sinful world, and neither is it profitable for us.  God could choose to insulate us from hurt, but instead He allows us to experience the tough times that draw us closer to Him.
    Out of pain comes a need for God.  As he ministers to me and you accept it with thanksgiving and a desire to learn, then you can become equipped to minster to those He places within your reach, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).  Hurting individuals know there is no substitute for experience.  However, you can reach for God's comfort right NOW!  I asked Him to give me solace- and find myself wrapped in the love that will not let me go.

Relying on God’s strength

    Have you ever faced spiritual warfare?  It can really take a toll on a person physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I too, have faced it, and I don’t think I am finished.  People can be so cruel, but it’s all a learning process.  I would wake up thinking about the situation and go to bed thinking about the situation.  One day I said to myself, “Lord I want the victory, and the only way I will have it, is if I humble myself just as You did.”  Once I did that, not only did I walk away from the situation(s) with the victory, but it was as if I had lifted a heavy weight off of my shoulder.  Your “enemies” know you have weaknesses, so they’re looking for the first little sign of fear.  Once you doubt the Lord’s strength in your life, then the pressure is really on. (Like Donkey Kong)…LOL.  The enemy will start harassing you by saying, “He’s not going to protect you. You’re on your own!”  Abstaining from that kind of mindset and leaning on God’s strength is the way too go.  

    At this point in my life, I felt alone as if I didn’t have anyone but the Lord.  I didn’t know who my friends were because they seem to change every week.  God has shown me that I absolutely, helplessly need to be dependant upon Him, and there wasn’t anything I could do but rely on His strength.  David said in Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.”  The important thing in spiritual warfare is recognizing the battle.  A question to ask yourself is, “Am I going to be glorified in this-or will all glory go to God?  “Winning” doesn’t necessarily mean running someone away.  Rather, it’s enduring and continuing on without defending yourself, blasting someone else, or seeking vengeance. I know it's hard!  Our Father is so sovereign, not because of our strength, our wisdom or our experience(s).  But He has everything in perfect control. 

Speaking for God Job 32:6-22

    A lot of people say they speak for God.  But are they really speaking for God, or are they speaking for themselves? 
    Sometimes listening to the wrong people can lead to trouble, even death.  In the 1970s Jim Jones led people to believe the voice of God told them to commit suicide.  And many people died believing him. In the 1990's David Koresh became the voice of God to a select group of people in Waco, Texas.  And bodies of his followers went up in flame, tragically displaying the potential danger of listening to someone who says he or she speaks for God.
    Others really do speak God's truth.  The late Billy Graham had led thousands of people to Christ by preaching God's word.  His voice had been a voice we can trust.  Mother Teresa has also spoke for God.  By helping starving people and showing them the love of Christ, she demonstrates how a person can speak for God with his or her life.
   How can we tell when a person truly speaks for God?  Most of us can tell the difference between a David Koresh and a Billy Graham.  But sometimes it's not so obvious.  When I began reading Elihu's speech in Job 32, he sounded like he really could have been a voice from God.  But as the chapters go on and his speech continues, I realized he sounds a lot like Job's others friends.  All of them were convinced that Job's calamity happened because of his sin.  But Job knew the problems weren't his fault.
    Hearing God's true voice can be tricky at times, I had even mistaken God's voice from people that I love.  But with the help of the Bible and prayer, we can usually tell whether or not someone speaks for God.  And when they do, we'd better listen.