My heart has been stirring all day...I can't explain why, just a stirring. I've gone about my day as usual, running errands, cleaning house, working on my PT test, yet distracted at every turn. Finally, after I got home from my gym trip, I tried to just lay down and take a nap thinking this restless feeling would pass. Since it didn't I decided to pull the Word out and just surf! I ran across a scripture that JUMPED out to me!
Isaiah 48:10, " Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee IN the furnace of affliction."
I don't know if this is for anyone else but me, but I decided it was worth thinking on and pontificating. I have so many friends and family members that are going through so much right now. It feels as if it were happening to me all over again. I've been in the 'furnace of affliction', and although I may not be walking in it at present...when someone I love is, you should just as well include me! When my loved one's suffer...I suffer.
Let me encourage any who are there...think about how GREAT God is! I mean, to CHOOSE... YOU... IN...the furnace of affliction! Let's break this down...the word furnace means to be in an enclosed structure in which material can be heated to very high temperatures...affliction...something that causes pain or suffering. You may be feeling an overwhelming sense of 'NO WAY OUT' syndrome! Saying out loud...'God how will I ever get out of this hole (i.e. situation, financial devastation, sickness, sadness, divorce) whatever your hole is. You just feel that even God can't fix your situation. You can't breathe somedays and even experience panic attacks. Let me send a little positive praise your way...
The word CHOSE means... to pick out or select. It goes even further to say, 'as being the BEST or most appropriate of two or more alternatives. You might think you're 2nd choice or 2nd best at something but hold on....you have been picked or selected AFTER a course of REJECTING alternatives! WOW!!! This means even though you have not been first choice in someone else's life...YOU, my friend are FIRST Choice with GOD! Can you believe that?!!! YOU were HANDPICKED ...IN your Affliction! In your Rejection! In and despite your Pain! Basically, at your worst!
It doesn't matter what your circumstances...what you did or didn't do! God doesn't stipulate how HE chooses...HE just chooses YOU...IN YOUR AFFLICTION!!! You don't need to be someone else's First choice, just be God's choice and you are IN!!!
YOU ARE CHOSEN!!!
Get ready to be Chosen! You may feel like your the last to get picked to play on the team, but it doesn't matter WHEN your chosen, just be GOD's CHOICE and when GOD's team wins...YOU WIN!!! Sometimes you don't even have to play in the game...just be part of the team! Think about it. World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals...all of these teams have key players BUT even the lowest guy on the team gets a ring if the team wins!
YOU WIN...just because you're on the TEAM!!! You may not have the strength to play, you may be too injured to get in the game, but God has included you on the winning team and you get the prize in the end!
Hang in There! God's not finished with you yet!!!
YOU ARE CHOSEN!!!
Thank you for being obedient and sharing what God put in your heart!
ReplyDeleteI always love to read your post...so uplifting in the times I need it the most. You are chosen...to be an encourage people.
ReplyDeleteThanks and God Bless You!
SHIRLEY: Thanks Angela for this Word. My daughter just found out that her breast cancer is back and now must have a mastectomy. I know this will encourage her heart and give her strength to believe that God is still, "on her boat" and she will make it to the other side.
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