More Than Conquerors

In the months to come, turmoil and confusion will increase. The media spins misinformation, adding to the problem. The corona virus pandemic will change the world in ways unknown to any people-to this point. Many will die, suffer, be stretched to the max, and those with no faith will sink into hopelessness. Hopelessness breeds increased mental illness, violence, and hatred. I firmly believe this was well thought out long ago, and the elites are well aware of what this is going to do to populations, they've made it known about their depopulation agenda on the Georgia Guidestones-time will tell, and play it out. They’ve been broadcasting it to everybody for generations, but most people have been drugged, addicted, entertained to sleep, and many simply don’t believe they meant what they’ve been telling us their going to do, through just about every form of media, for a long time. I do believe it- and I believe God has the answer well planned out too-Jesus Christ is going to come back to this earth, and clean house. I’m looking up, every day.

Perhaps your a weary caregiver, totally burned out; but love the one your caring for, and don't know where to turn. A veteran who's lost a limb, or multiple limbs, and suffering from PTSD, someone in chronic pain from sickness and disease that's plagued you for years. Perhaps your terminally ill; and don't have much longer on this earth. In the midst of these circumstances, you may feel paralyzed, and numb with pain; both physical, and emotional. Death may seem a good option. Death will come soon enough for all of us, but let's consider some things together. You may not have the corona virus, but are suffering just as much, Jesus heals today, as He did when He walked the earth, and he hears and answers prayer. If he does not, He will give the strength to endure, and go on, we can trust Him, He has numbered our days.

Here are some thoughts, challenges, and encouragement to those in ministry.

You may be a weary pastor who’s watching his church become empty from this virus crisis. There may be church leaders seeing everything they thought would always be there-vanishing. The money isn’t coming in now, but the bills are, and your facing foreclosure. Your ministry may have to be downsized, or to take to the streets, the highways and byways; right into the battle waging out there. Change is going to become the normal-and those who can’t cope with change, may have to spend extra time crying out to God, along with fasting. The soft pampered ministry leaders may have to find out what the old saints found out-nothing great comes, until your willing to surrender-and that may mean giving up everything. Not many are able to hear this. Many are going to quit, and there will be a separation of the wheat from the tares. Many will be tested, to see what the motives of your ministry really is.

God is still on His Throne- Nothing is out of His notice, and He knows how to care for His own. Below are some things to ponder, and hopefully give hope, encouragement, and strength to those feeling like throwing in the towel.

King David wrote most of the Psalms. He sang of his great love and devotion to God with beautiful words of praise and worship. When you read them, he takes your spirit right into the throne room of God, and if you close your eyes, you can share the joy and exaltation that David expressed in them. But, he also wrote many that were cries of heartbreak, sorrow, grief, and yes, even anger. Your rarely hear of these from preachers, because they are not popular. But they are in there for our benefit, and learning. When he was being chased by Saul who tried relentlessly to kill him, as well as his own son Absalom. During his lifetime, David did not win every battle, he lost some. But, what did he do? He got on his face and prayed. He asked God to show him why he lost, and what had to be done about it. We are far too quick to just throw up our hands and let the devil have everything. If I fail, I take it to God; and ask for understanding and guidance. We are down here on earth to learn and grow, and learn from our mistakes; even if we live to be 120. Everything we gain and learn here, we will use in heaven some day, I am convinced of this.

When he gave in to temptation, and sinned with Bathsheba, what that sin cost him. But, also realize how God forgave him and restored him. (Ps. 51) How his heart was broken when his people spoke against him, and those who slandered him. Some of his prayers against them were hair-raising. It gives me cause to evaluate many of the prayers I've heard today and come to the conclusion that we really need to spend more time in the word of God to know how to pray with power, authority, and confidence against those who oppose us.

Moses didn't want to obey what God called him to do. He tried everything he could to get out of it. When God countered every one of his objections; he finally gave in, but he was reluctant because he knew what he would be facing.

At one point he said "The people you've told me to lead want to kill me!" There was more than one time he wanted to quit, and leave them all. Put yourself in his shoes, would you have done any better?

God allowed Satan to take everything from Job, and kill his children. Satan wasn't through, he challenged God saying if he allowed Satan to bring sickness to his body, he would curse God to his face. God gave him permission, but said "save his life". So, Job sat in the midst of his suffering, scraping off the boils from his skin, while his three miserable comforters sat at a distance in silence for days. But, when they finally opened their mouth, their counsels were full of evidence of their ignorance and arrogance. His wife came to him and said; "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." Job 2:9

Perhaps you can relate to this in your circumstances. I hope you keep reading.
 
To any onlooker, it appeared that God himself had forsaken Job.
 
Job's conviction in the middle of this was; Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:15
 
These were ordinary people like you and I. They knew the heat of the battle, and the consequences of sin, and the rejection and misunderstanding of people, even their own family. They knew about traitors, the Judas' in their life, the fake friends, the tale-bearers, slanderers. They knew about getting attacked physically in their body; being wracked with pain.
 
What did they do?
 
They cried out to God. They were honest with him in their pain, in their frustration, in their discouragement, and suffering. They didn't cover it up, they didn't put on their best "happyface", and spew out phony rhetoric. They looked up and poured out their complaints, and told God what they needed, and what they were feeling; they let it all hang out. Pun intended.
 
If you are terminally ill, facing death, and don't have the assurance of eternal life. Just open your mouth, and talk to God. If you are unable to speak, pray in your thoughts; He hears you. Pray to him, and tell him you believe Jesus rose from the dead, that he is alive now, and coming again. Ask the Lord to come into your heart, and forgive your sins, and accept you into His Kingdom. if you do this, and believe it in your heart; you are now a child of God, and when you leave this world, you have a mansion in heaven waiting for you, and an embrace from Jesus; he loves you.
 
In 42 yrs. of walking with the Lord, I can tell you when you are this open and honest with Him; you get his attention. He has never failed me, has never told me I was asking too much, or that He was angry with me for being honest. No, just the opposite; at these times I've felt the warmth of His presence, and the solid assurance of His love for me. At times he has directed me to specific scriptures that spoke directly to my problem; giving me wisdom and guidance on what to do, this always increases my faith.
 
I've felt His embrace deep within, and watched circumstances around me come together for my good; no matter how bad they were. I've seen his hand move mountains in my way over the years, and if there is one thing I know; MY GOD LIVES, AND I BELONG TO HIM. Knowing this, I can endure anything. When you surrender to the Lord to this degree, nothing will move you either.
 
God wants to mold his people into overcomers. The battle's we face and the scars we acquire are part and parcel of getting there. I'm not giving up now, I've come too far to back out, or turn around now. With God's help, I'll make it to the finish line, and be in that number of overcomers. You will be too, if you just don't quit. Like a poem I read once; "rest if you must, but don't you quit."
 
No matter what your going through, even though it may seem God has forgotten you, that you are in a mess and your alone; No, No, my friend. On the contrary; He is the nearest to you now. All you have to do is whisper his name. He is right there as close as your breath. Open your mouth and give him all that's in your heart. He's waiting, and listening.
 
When we open our hearts, and let the Lord in; he makes us more than conqueror’s, and whatever may happen, we are safe in His care. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s, if we leave this world, we have eternity in heaven awaiting us- we have nothing to lose. You may find yourself losing friends and family, and walking alone, let Jesus walk with you. If we have God, we have all we need.
 
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Lorna Couillard