….So do not hide the trash; discard or throw away the trash. It is a garbage, a nuisance to you. It will stinks eventually if you hide it.
Think of the trash as all the stuff in your life that makes you miserable, unhappy, unfulfilled, and anything that causes painful memories.
Let the Lord take control of the rest and pray for restoration in the name of Jesus.
“we see unanswered prayer, Jesus saw answered prayer. Where we see the absence of God, Jesus saw the plan of God.
Note especially Matthew 26:53: “Surely you know I could ask my Father, and he would give me more than twelve armies of angels” (NCV).
Of all the treasures Jesus saw in the trash, this is most significant. He saw his Father. He saw his Father’s presence in the problem. Twelve armies of angels were within his sight.
Sure, Max, but Jesus was God. He could see the unseen. He had eyes for heaven and a vision for the supernatural. I can’t see the way he saw.
Not yet maybe, but don’t underestimate God’s power. He can change the way you look at life.”
From Max Lucado, Bible gateway, October 12, 2024
I pray that your (God’s) will for my life be done, and that the enemy will not have power over me, amen!
Luke 22:42 NLT
[42] “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.22.42.NLT
God is still the best source of strength, succor and hope.
Isaiah 33:2 AMP
[2] O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] for You. Be the arm of Your servants every morning [that is, their strength and their defense], Our salvation also in the time of trouble.
God does not disappoint!
Humans only give up on Him when it matters most.
Isaiah 33:6 AMP
[6] And He will be the security and stability of your times, A treasure of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is your treasure.
When we trust God, hope and wait on Him, the results are always pleasant and lasting.
Psalm 139:1-3 NIV
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. [2] You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. [3] You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
What can we hide from the Lord?
Nothing!
Where can we hide from the Lord?
No place! He sees it all.
How can we hide from the Lord?
No way and no means! He understands every thought and process.
Isaiah 43:2,4 NLT
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. [4] Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
The Lord delights in His people. So, He would “trade” others for our place and for our good.
He does these things from His good heart to the people that He loved and to the people that follow Him.
A good example is found in Exodus 12:35-36. The Israelites enjoyed unparalleled favor before the Egyptians so much that they gave the Israelites anything and everything they asked for.
The antidote to selfishness is true and sincere love.
Philippians 2:1-4 NIV
[1] Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, [2] then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, [4] not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
https://bible.com/bible/111/php.2.1-4.NIV
A wicked nature is devoid of love.
John 1:12 NIV
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
All it takes to become God’s kingdom member is to believe in God’s saving grace through Jesus.
It is a simple act of believing in Jesus which guarantees our access to eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
As simple as it is, many are not willing to believe and take the step of faith.
A key point about faith is understanding that you cannot live successfully by your power but by the grace of God.
God, realizing that you trust Him for help, supplies you with all you need as long as you have faith (trust) in Him from start to finish.
Christian’s relationship with God is all about exercising faith in Him.
Romans 1:17 NIV
[17] For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.1.17.NIV
If Christians do not apply faith appropriately, they cannot live a successful life.
1 Peter 5:8-9 ERV
[8] Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat. [9] Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have.
https://bible.com/bible/406/1pe.5.8-9.ERV
The devil’s goal is to attack, and attack the Christians.
The enemy is against God and he is against the Christians.
Christians must be on guard continually.
Victory is only assured as long as we stay close to Jesus who has won the battle for us.
