Trial by fire? Maybe faith by forced situation? Have you ever been tested? Wondered why God was pulling us out onto the water to walk but we feel like we are likely to sink – and may we realize that and feel that God wasn’t testing us but supporting us by the SAVE. And even if the trial was by “bad luck” or by people or persons who either had good intentions but couldn’t follow through – or had bad intentions or even someone (often) that is not focused on your needs but you just happen to be in the way while they served their own needs?  Well, that is the quagmire of a broken world…  And sometimes we get quicksand sinking into being bothered by the brokenness or we get broken when we look and rely on worldly wants. God reminds us to put on that armor of God and keep marching through life. This includes us getting stuck in the devil’s doubt about simple things too. Reject the devil’s doubt with GOD’S GOOD CLOUT. Remember God is ALWAYS with us – and God is not being silent but is ever present. Reach to Him.

Don’t be stuck – “Be Holy – because God is Holy“…  “The Word of the Lord endures forever” !!!!

Under God’s Training and Tutelage – imagine being NOT STUCK. Imagine best in living life in the TRUTH regardless of circumstances. Know that we can TRUST in GOD – rely on God – KNOW God – and KNOW He intends ultimate good for us – even if our faith is being tested by fire. Often we say “it’s life” for life strife – and we learn (sometimes the hard way) that GOD and GOD alone is Whom we can depend upon.

We can depend upon God’s Ways. God endures when life strife fires up and then fades. It will all be OK we often say – even if we are in the middle of the fire…  We have to wait upon God to get us back to good.

God’s Ways does bring us true friends too – they are such God-given gifts – those who you really appreciate and know have your backs and also give from their hearts – those folks…  The smiles – the spirit-led encouragement – the hands and feet and hugs of God. These are gifts of community. Absorb appreciating angels on earth – and be one if you can… Even a trial in one part of your life does not have to corrupt the knowledge that “all in all”, God has you covered. Shake off the dust of disturbing debris.

We are reminded in trials to trust God – Whom will never fade – never go away. So sometimes we realize our trials are not with the people but the evil that put them into their tough positions – and the world and all its silver and gold $$$dollar signs of wealth corrupts – or at least distracts folks for a time…  That wealth [or beauty or worldly] pursuit will disappear just as the world [or wealth or beauty] does when we are left only with us and God at the end of our time on earth. Always we should choose God Who is incorruptible and ever existing versus anything earthly that we put our trust in. TRUST in GOD. God IS – because God LIVES and GOD doesn’t GO away – does not remove His new covenant of love by Jesus’s life from us. TRUST IN GOD, ONLY AND REALLY…

Peter wrote about finding and praising Jesus even if we have not seen Him in person, we have experienced Him in Faith. Peter wrote (after having been thru the faith fire multiple times): “you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”

One of the toughest positions we are put in while living on this earth is distractedly looking away from God and instead looking to others for our justification and worth – God says stop doing that – STOP – because HE LOVES US – God IS LOVE – and when we look elsewhere before looking to Him, we become slaves to the earthly worldliness of others and of the expectations of ourselves… Peter reminds: rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ – as obedient children, not conforming… Not conforming to life in ignorance because we DO KNOW that God loves us. And any of our folly, former life and present life trappings, we are to know that Jesus has suffered and died just to bring us back to the fold – and our NEW LIFE in Jesus is what brings us to Heaven unblemished, saved, and forever His. No one can snatch us out of His Hand – so we are to live as the Saved people we are.

Peter reminds us to conduct ourselves in Godly fashion – not being aimless or worldly-focused. Peter reminds us to know we were redeemed by Jesus – precious blood of Jesus as the lamb without blemish. We were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold.

Why do we see ourselves in trials and then out of trials? “So that your faith and hope are in God.” – YES.

And why do we work FOR the Lord? Because by having souls that have been purified by Jesus, we are to be: “obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…“

YES LORD – may we take the time today to stop the stressings and remember the blessings – and praise YOU LORD – and TRUST IN YOU – ONLY AND REALLY.

Thank You Lord God, Praise You Jesus and Your Spirit IN us.

Amen

—-

1 Peter 1 New King James Version

Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

A Heavenly Inheritance

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Living Before God Our Father

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

---

Psalm 103 – New King James Version – Praise for the Lord’s Mercies – A Psalm of David.
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

---

Psalm 20 – New King James Version

The Assurance of God’s Saving Work
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.