Skip to main content

Follow Me on Facebook

Gretchen Mure Rodriguez

Got Problems? (by Len Rodriguez)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” -John 14:27

When facing a situation that is getting ugly and big, we call it a problem. In the dictionary one meaning of the word problem is "a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome." The explanation is that a problem is something we create ourselves, by the way we view what is happening. It is a problem when we view it, or regard it as a problem. However, when we view these things as opportunities, instead of problems, trusting God to create a testimony, then we are completely resting in God's ability.

When we do not have peace and cannot rest in the midst of battle, it denotes that there is fear which forces us to use our own strength and skill to achieve a solution to the problem. Having fear is the opposite of faith.1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” If we struggle instead of abiding in peace, we are ready to be defeated quickly.

The point is HOW we view the problems, circumstances, trials, and afflictions. Even doing spiritual warfare, must be done from a platform of trust, peace, and love. The Lord said in John 16:33, "Take heart, I have overcome the world." Take heart also means “be a good cheer, be encouraged” and implies trust. Trust in the dictionary means "let a thing be settled by another, without intervening directly in it; or a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something." What God means is that we must live our lives from a place of love and peace because He has overcome the world. We should live from a place where we do not rely on our own strength, knowing that when we are weak, He shows Himself strong. Remember, Jesus has already won the victory for us! Do not be afraid, only believe! ~Len Rodriguez

Labels:

Comments

  1. Elsie Montgomery8/05/2012

    Interesting... we both wrote about the same truth today!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day #3 The Secret Power of.....

Fasting Yep, I said the "f" word, but don't stop reading! As I meditate on the various ways I encounter the Lord, the subject of fasting has been swirling around in my spirit. Let me first say that I'm writing on each subject as the Lord prompts, with no particular order of importance to me. There are so many different ways to fast and I was thinking about the fact that in different seasons of my life, I also fasted in different ways. It's not my intention to discuss a current trend in small groups that fasting isn't for today. The Bible is chock full of proof that we are to fast - period.  For many years I did full fasts with water and juicing only. Those were some of the most amazing fasts I have ever done in my life. There was something about the feeling of physical emptiness that enabled me to hear the Lord very clearly. It's something I don't fully understand, but the hunger and weakness quieted my mind. During those years of fasting I re...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Predicament of Desire

This has been such a beautiful season with the Lord for me personally. I've been so aware of the burning desire in my heart for Him, so grateful that He has fanned the flames of longing. There has been a fresh grace over me this year - a consistent desire to remain aware of the Lord's presence at all times.  Yet in my longing to hear more accurately, see more clearly, and encounter His Kingdom more profoundly, I was actually losing focus. It wasn't that I was getting distracted from this overwhelming desire to know Him more, but the desire itself was becoming larger than the Object of my desire. As I encountered Him more deeply, I also felt the frustration of wanting to be closer. The desire has been so deep, that the Lord finally revealed to me that the desire itself was distracting me. Focusing on what we aren't experiencing, causes us to come to Him with frustration instead of expectation. No matter how much we have experienced His love and have encountered His gl...
Post a Comment
Read more

When Love Sweeps In (Day 22)

Today we celebrate the day Love took on human form and was birthed into the earth; Christmas day! Love comes and sweeps me off of my feet at times when I least expect it! At times Love comes and overwhelms me and at other times it feels as though my senses have dulled. In fact lately, the times which are usually the most amazing, have felt the driest. Recently, the times I feel Him the most is when I'm just thinking about Him and not making any effort of my own. He comes and initiates conversations with me, or just surprises me with overwhelming love for me that hasn't been earned by anything I have done;  it is a gift.   I now long for Him to come and reveal Himself to me in ways I have nothing to do with.  Such beauty in the absence of striving! Though He is in me, I cannot force a manifestation of His glory. Though I am FILLED with Him, I find myself craving greater consciousness of my holy union with Christ. I realize that I am as close as any human can...
Post a Comment
Read more