When we hear Christians say stand do we really understand what that means?

Does the single mom understand?

Does the Father trying to be a good husband and dad understand?

Do the hurting people going through things understand?

How about just trust God? What does that mean?

Sometimes it seems like people just feel like God is going to just bless them somehow with great wisdom, money, or provisions for whatever is wrong.  Like it will just fall from the sky, but is that what the bible is talking about?  Miracles happen after all but that is not how God typically does things. God loves to use people to bless us or help us.  Sometimes it is those failed relationships, lost opportunities, jobs, children, family, and the list goes on that He uses to grow and teach us.

God uses these tough times in our lives to build the character of God in us.  We often here the word transformed used by Pastor’s or even read it in the bible.  Transformed means we are going through a process to change us.

 

Change is apart of our lives, so is pain and joy. God does not love us any less because of the season we are in life.  We sometimes question our seasons of life. God is glad to help us through each season even when it is the final season for us on earth.

What does it mean to stand?

Here are just a few keys I hope will help.

1. The Word of God is powerful that is why we are to be washed with the water of the Word. Meaning we actually need to read it, learn to understand what it is saying, then apply it to our lives and situations.

2. Prayer- this is our communication with the creator of us all. Prayer can be as simple as learning to talk to God.  We talk about our day, lives, problems, solutions, pain, joy, and others who need help.  I have meant to put this simply.  Prayer need not be hard it is simple. Then, when we thank God, tell God about our lives, tell him of others needing help stop, and listen with silence.

3. Learn the principles of daily living. Learning the daily principles of living are keys to living a life God can bless.  God has many promises in His word and He is faithful to carry them out.  We also have a part to play in those promises.  We must understand them and what is expected of us.

4. Learn what the fruit of the Spirit is. Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. These are things we are to grow in our lives.

5. Humble ourselves and surrender to our purpose God has created for us to fulfill. We must be able to enjoy the journey even when it is not what we expect. The purpose God has created us for will fulfill us.

6. Realize the Holy Spirit is there to teach us, help us grow, lead us. And empower us to live out our lives for Christ.

With God, the words stand and Trust are action words.

Miraculous things happen when faith and actions come together!

Understand these are just a few things but a great start.

 

Where are we really at with our lives.  There are times we are unhappy and it is easy to blame others for us not achieving the things in life we set out to do. Have we looked at the book inside our own lives we are writing?

Have we taken the time to stop and look at who we really are and what habits we really have.

We all have a way of looking at ourselves and it involves us seeing ourselves as the person wanting to do good things.  The person who is planing on accomplishing great things.  Have you ever hear someone say?  If I had a million dollars I would do so much for people who are less fortunate then me.  They go on to say the list of things they would do and in their minds they have accomplished something.  They feel justified that they want to do good.

We often justify things in our lives this way like purchases we made.  I cannot help them they are on the other side of the road someone will stop for them. The list goes on yet we actually never accomplish anything.

This is the challenge I have. Dare we be courageous and take on with action these things in our lives.  Instead of thinking about it and justifying it, will we put actions to work.  Look at what Joshua was told:

 

Courage Joshua 1:7-9

7“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

• One of the greatest keys we have is to continue the journey God has for our lives

• Too many times people will turn off the path when it is not happening fast enough.

• They decided it is not for them, they quit what they said was the purpose God had for them.

meditate on it day and night

• Gods word and plan for our lives we are to envision and plan everyday.

• We should meditate on what God has told us in His word and the purpose He has for us.

 In our dreams, our lives should be focused planning life around the purpose we are created for.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

• We need to have faith in God’s plan for our lives