Desiring to honor God

It's interesting to know where joy is found.

I know joy is found in my Savior. And yet my heart is entrenched in so many other lesser desires. If I didn't know that my heart was secure in Christ's blood, I would be tempted to think that my faith just wouldn't stay steadfast, amidst my sin.

It occurred to me today, as I was struggling to trust the Lord, that all He wants is our faces turned towards Him, ready to receive from Him. He wants us to stand, through our trials, not with a carefree happiness and delight, but with a steadfast hope that endures, hour after hour, day after day.

Also, the Lord reminded me in my Daily Light [devotional that is a part of my quiet time] that I am not my own. We have been bought with a price, and now we belong to Christ, forever.

This is a good thing, and a sobering thing.

It is a good thing, because we will never be plucked from Christ's hand. We are His forever, because He loves us. We will always be cared for, no matter the circumstances or the condition of our hearts. We have trusted in Christ for his salvation and will not be put to shame- we will stand before God on the last day and have Christ as our advocate, Christ as the reason we can enter in God's perfect love.

It is a sobering thing, because, the promise of God's care throughout our whole life does not mean the absence of trials.. My dad once said, which clarified my understanding greatly, that God promised protection and deliverance, physically, for the Israelites, if they would obey His commands. What He promises us, as Believers in Christ, is not that things will go well for us on this earth, but that we will be cared for. Everything we experience in this life, is from His loving hand- whether it's big or small. ALL are lovingly given, all are a part of God's care for us- our sanctification. The Lord disciplines those He loves. But as Elisabeth Eliot reminds me, [Katharina von Schlegel wrote it]

Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently, this cross of grief and pain
Leave to Thy God to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still my soul, Thy best, Thy Heavenly Friend,
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end.

We will see His glory. It is worth it all- this suffering is for a wonderful, amazing, beyond-comprehension purpose! We have a great, great, treasure in Christ, we are restored in Him, by His precious blood, to the God of the Universe, who is the source of ALL GOOD THINGS, and He does all things well. This world is passing away, but His love is from everlasting, to

-everlasting-

on those who fear Him.