GROWTH

Follow up from my post on 10/20/2022

Jesus was fasting. This was a profound time as well; 40 days and nights! After which he was approached by the enemy and therein comes the temptation of Jesus. Woah, let’s back up for a second. The enemy tempted Jesus of all people! Yes! Yes he did! What I also find very interesting is the fact that it happened, AFTER Jesus was fasting. Have you ever fasted in your life, or maybe spent an extended period of time getting into God’s presence, building your connection and communion with Jesus? It feels great, doesn’t it? Like you’ve become a new person.

But have you ever given an effort to get close to God, and instead something happens that makes you wonder “Why is this happening to me?” You pray, you seek the face of the Lord, you tithe, you even make sure to follow what the word tells you as carefully as you can. You repent where you need to, apologize where you must, are humble in your heart, you go to church and take part in ministries. So why? WHY am I being attacked right now?

Jesus being 100% man and 100% God fasted for all that time, and instead of coming out like Superman, he became hungry. Not only this, he had recently gotten baptized too. Two moments where you’d imagine becoming so overwhelmingly strong, and instead you’re met with adversity. “What is going on here”, you shout in your heart and mind! Perhaps it’s only me, but when I invest my time and energy and efforts into something, mostly I expect some compensation afterward, not an argument or a fight.

Jesus is a prime example for us to use as motivation during times in your life when you’re doing good, you’re doing right and you’re not seeming to get the payout you thought you would. Everything that happened in Jesus’ life happened for a reason. He experienced life as a man for a reason, he endured temptation for a reason, and it wasn’t because Jesus was being disobedient. Jesus never sinned, and he was still tempted, and that’s my illustration to you. Your life isn’t going through these challenging seasons because you’re being disobedient. Some of you reading this post have come to a time in your life of …ya ready!?

GROWTH

G.lorious

R.efreshing

O.nset

W.inning

T.enacious

H.oly

Growth is Glorious! But it doesn’t always look that way at first

Growth is Refreshing, but the journey makes you feel the opposite at times

Growth brings about a new Onset of changes you’ve been needing

Growth doesn’t feel this way, but you’re actually Winning the battle

Growth can make you feel like you’re getting weaker, but you’re actually becoming more Tenacious

Growth can be a hard process, but your in it with the Holy one

Today, right here, right now. You saved men and women of God, young and old. You’re in the struggle because you’re in a time of growth. Not because the enemy has just been given free access to attack you and ruin your life. You’re here in this time and you’re here in this moment because there is a new thing being brought into your life. You’re GROWING A new level of endurance, a new level of faith, a new level of tranquility and calm that will take over your heart. When this process is over, you will see we’ll beyond your struggle and you will only see that you’re surrounded by blessings. At the end of the fast, at the end of the temptation, the Bible says that angels came and ministered to the Lord.

Jesus the giver, tired and needing to be “given”. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate a savior, who experienced tiredness and put on a form like my own even though he didn’t have to in order to understand me.

When your process is over, you too will receive the rejuvenation that you’ve much been craving as well. You too will be able to lift your head up high and close your eyes in gratitude over the much needed rest that will FLOOD your entire spirit. Someone reading this right now perhaps is being reminded of what that rest felt like, and I AM talking to you right now. Your rest, rejuvenation, restoration and reinvigoration are coming. Don’t you think for a second that you’re only being punished, abandoned, or cast out. Jesus was outcast and you chose Him as your savior. He knows all too well what it’s like to be left behind and abandoned and He will NEVER do that to you like it was done to Him. Not ever!

So I want you to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Are you ready to remember what your struggles are for? Are you ready to accept what your hardship is for? Are you ready to stop confiding in how much this hurts right now and think about the coming glory? Because that is what’s coming for you, blessings, steadfastness, uplifting renewal of your faith, your heart, your mind and

YOU!

God is uplifting YOU!