Your Daily Devotional for October 10, 2007

 

October 10,  2007

 

 

The Path of Your Trial

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

 

James 1:3-4

 

 

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late. 

 

As we saw yesterday, God has a reason for the trials that come into our lives. Even when we cannot see God's purpose or understand His reason, He knows what is best for us and desires to draw us closer to Him.

 

Not only does God have a reason behind every trial but He also has a path He wants us to take during that trial. God desires that we would surrender to Him during times of trial and learn from Him. As we saw in our story earlier, sometimes human nature can get in the way and not want us to surrender or give in. But God can only work in our lives as we surrender our wills to Him.

 

We must first surrender our past. Philippians 3:13 says, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." Paul encourages the believers at Philippi to forget those things which were in their past.

 

Many times the devil uses past failures or sin to distract us from seeing God's purpose for our trials. He tries to convince us that God is punishing us or that He is upset with us and cannot use us. Friend, if you have asked God for forgiveness for those things in your past, then He doesn't remember them anymore! Don't let the devil distract you from seeing God's plan for you. Surrender your past and focus on God's purpose for your trial.

 

We must also surrender our present. Romans 6:11 says, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." We must surrender ourselves each day to Christ and consider ourselves dead to the devil's attacks. As we face each day we never know how the devil will attack us, but as we surrender ourselves to God, we can see God's purpose in our trials and draw closer to Him.

 

Last, we must surrender our future. God has a plan for us. He desires to work in our lives and use us. In order to use us, God brings trials into our lives to mold and shape us into the person He can use. We must surrender our future to Him and let Him mold us so He may use us.

 

Have you surrendered your past, present, and future to God? He desires to use the trial in your life to help you, but He cannot if you are not fully surrendered to Him. Take time now to seek Him. Surrender your past failures to Him. Don't let the devil use your past to discourage you from living for God today. Also surrender your present to Him. Die to self each day and let the Lord guide and direct you. And surrender your future to God. He has a plan for your life and He desires to use you. Ask God to help you be fully submitted to Him and to draw you closer to Him today.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 34-36 • Colossians 2

 

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