Truthworks

“Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” (Daniel 3:27, New Living Translation).

The story of the three Hebrew children — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — being thrown into the burning fiery furnace is legendary. They refused to bow down and worship the golden statue erected by King Nebuchadnezzar and as a result were bound in ropes and tossed into the fire.

But something happened that shocked the pagan world. The king jumped to his feet in astonishment and asked his soldiers — “Did we not throw three men bound into the fire?”

“Yes, O King,” they answered, in fear of their lives.

“Then how is it that I see FOUR men — free, and walking about in the flames; feeling no harm! And the fourth man looks like the Son of God!!”

When the world binds you up and throws you into the furnace for refusing to worship its image of gold, the only thing the fire will burn away are the stocks and bonds which the world has placed upon you. And Jesus Himself will walk through the fire with you!

Nebuchadnezzar ordered the men to be brought forth from the fire. Upon examination it was found that “not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!”

God will bring you through all kinds of fiery trials with no harm whatsoever done to you. You will come forth without even the smell of smoke!

God is able to deliver you….and deliver you, He will!

“Keep you guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith.” (1 Peter 5:9, The Message).

There are few things the devil likes more than to get you believing that you’re the only one going through a tough time. He wants you to feel alone, forsaken, and forgotten. If he can pull it off — you will drop your guard, lower your shied of faith and be wide open for his more assiduous assaults. Don’t let him win — keep a firm grip on your faith.

Peter goes on to say, “The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ — eternal and glorious plans they are! — will have you put together and on your feet for good.” (1 Peter 5:10).

So the next time you’re feeling all alone, and deep down inside you hear the rumblings of that old song — “O nobody knows the trouble I seen” — stop right there. EVERYBODY knows! In fact, we are all going through it with you. So stop your whining; it’s embarrassing.

Paul and Silas were in a dungeon chained to the wall and surrounded by rats. They started singing praise to God and the devil started shaking in his boots. He shook so hard that an earthquake happened, which broke the chains and opened up the prison doors — setting Paul and Silas free!

Here’s a happy thought — Instead of moaning about your troubles, start singing praise to God! Why, you never know, you just might be the one that causes a prison break for the rest of us!

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Mat 6:27)

Jesus shows in the simplest of terms the total waste of time and energy that occurs when we worry.

First He shows that worry is irreverent – for it fails to acknowledge God’s love for us and His faithfulness to His Word. When we worry, we dismiss God from the equation of our circumstances and elevate other things which have no power whatsoever to make any difference at all.

This brings us to the second thing Jesus shows us. Worry is irrelevant. It does not change a single thing, and it does not help us in any way.

And then Jesus shows us that worry is irresponsible. It consumes our energy, distracts our focus, marginalizes God, and accelerates our fears and frustrations. Talk about squandering one’s wealth!

When we follow His words we find a peace that prevails in the face of the storm that assails.

The birds of the air and the lilies of the field illustrate the freedom from anxiety that is ours in Christ.

Nothing good ever comes from an anxious mind or a hurried spirit. When we let fear, anxiety and worry crowd our thoughts, we diminish our capacity for recognizing and responding to the work that God is doing in us, to us, for us, and through us during trying times.

This one fact is uncontested – we always find our greatest treasures in life somewhere in the depths of our greatest trials. Diamonds, they say, are made as the direct result of the most intense of all pressures.

Rather than fret and flit about with a scrambled soul during times of personal challenge and difficulty, may we each find that place of unshakable confidence in the Lord. That place where we may rest secure and immovable, knowing that He is totally in charge – and is always thinking about us, and watching everything that concerns us!