GOSPEL CORNER: SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES WE COMPLAIN ABOUT, THE CHALLENGES WE DON’T LIKE, ARE MEANT TO PREPARE US FOR GREATER FAVOR, GREATER INFLUENCE, GREATER OPPORTUNITIES.

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES

13/09/23

Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
Fight the good fight of the faith.
1 Timothy 6:12, NIV

THE GOOD FIGHT
Some of the difficulties we complain about, the challenges we don’t like, are meant to prepare us for greater favor, greater influence, greater opportunities. Quit telling yourself, “It’s too hard. They did me wrong. I can’t put up with this.” Instead of trying to pray away all the things that make you uncomfortable, pray away the people who get on your nerves, pray away the delays, try a different approach and say, “God, help me to keep a good attitude in the midst of these challenges. Help me to stay in faith when people aren’t treating me right. Help me to fight the good fight of faith and resist the temptation to compromise, to take the easy way out, so my character can develop and I can handle what You have in store.”

You can handle every difficulty through Christ. You have been armed with strength for every battle. Dig your heels in and stand strong in your faith. Keep a song of praise, keep being your best. You have the grace you need for every situation.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the abundance of grace You give me to go through every difficulty and challenge I face. Help me to fight the good fight through Christ Jesus and to overcome what has overcome me. I will stay in faith and be my best. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SECTION TWO

I remember reading about an art competition where the theme given was “peace.” The artist who most effectively depicted peace in his artwork would win the competition. The artists gathered their paints, canvases, and brushes and started creating their masterpieces.

When the time came to judge the artworks, the judges were impressed by the various scenes of tranquility illustrated by the artists. There was a majestic piece capturing the brilliance of the sun setting over lush greenery, one that depicted a serene landscape of moonlit hills, and another evocative piece that showed a lone man walking leisurely through a rustic paddy field.

Then, the judges came upon a peculiar piece that looked almost horrifying and perhaps even ugly to some. It was the very antithesis of every other piece that the judges had seen. It was a wild cacophony of violent colors and the aggression with which the artist had lashed his brush against the canvas was obvious.

It depicted a raging storm where the ocean waves were swollen to menacing heights and slamming against the craggy edges of a cliff with thunderous force. Lightning zigzagged across the blackened sky and the branches of the single tree that was perched atop the cliff were all swept to the side by the force of the gale. Now, how could this picture be the epitome of peace?

Yet, the judges unanimously awarded the first prize to the artist who painted the turbulent storm. While the results initially appeared to be appalling, the judges’ decision immediately became clear once you give the winning canvas a closer look. Hidden in a crevice in the cliff is a family of eagles snug in their nest. The mother eagle faces the blustering winds, but her young chicks are oblivious to the storm and have dozed off under the shelter of her wings.

Now, that’s the kind of peace that Jesus gives to you and me! He gives us peace, security, covering, and protection even in the midst of a storm. The psalmist describes this beautifully: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. . . . He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.”

There is no safer place than under the protective shelter of your Savior’s wings. It does not matter what circumstances may be raging around you. You can cry to the Lord for His unmerited favor, as David did in Psalm 57:1—”Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.”

The New American Standard Bible says, “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by.” What blessed assurance we can have today, knowing that even if destruction rages around us, we can take refuge in the Lord.