¹³ Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done with love. I Cor. 16:13-14 NKJV

When you are in the thick of it. When the walls around you crash down unexpectedly. You find yourself running to worry and setting up camp. But why? Why is that the first place we go?

Psalms 91 says; “” He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, will abide under the shadow of the almighty. “”

Well, where are we dwelling? If we are in Jesus, He is in us, We can choose to abide in His Word. His promises to us, that never change.

Seven months ago I was hit by some unexpected terrible news. After crying for 2 days and continually asking God why it happened. I got a word from God. He cared enough to let me know. He said, “Stand Firm”. A few days later, I received another word. He Said, “Watch, Stand Firm, Be Strong”.

After another day or two, I learned I needed to be walking in Love, even though I did not “feel” like it. I did not understand how or why I needed to continue to show love to somebody who just “didn’t care”. Seemed silly to me. But it was humbling. I learned over the course of a couple of weeks. That my 2 words from God were the same WORD.

“Watch, Stand Fast in the Faith, Be Brave, Be strong. Let ALL you do, be done IN Love.” I also learned that of course, it lines up with scripture. As it should. When we get a word from God, He will confirm it, and it will always be in line with scripture. It will not ever go against His written word. However it will not always make sense.

Is it pleasing to God? Can it be confirmed in His Word? Is it out of Love?

When you how to hear from God, it makes it easier to understand what we are listening for. When Jesus died on the Cross, and He sent His Holy Spirit after. That was for us, so we could have a teacher, and translator inside of our hearts. He is with us always, and we can ask to understand.

When things happen. When people leave, or pass away; When we loose our job or our homes…. We do not always get to know why. We do not always get to understand. But we get to choose, if we are going to walk in misery with worry; Or if we are going to walk in freedom with God.

Its our choice. But along the way, we learn how to see, how to hear, and how to understand. Our time is short. The things of this world, will pass away. That’s why we put our hope, faith, and trust in the Lord. He always is, always was, and always will be.

As for right now, the word says, the suffering of this world, is not to be compared with the joy set before us. Meaning it really stinks right now, yes, however, we have a hope and a future in Jesus Christ. He walks beside us and guides us through.

Let me break down this word…

“Watch” — We watch and see what the Lord is doing in and through this situation.

“Stand fast in the Faith” — We stay in the Word, write His loving promises on our hearts, and do not let them go.

“Be Brave” — Even when the situation is scary, hard, and overwhelming; we can be brave because the God of angle armies is always by our side.

“Be Strong” — When we know who goes before us, and who stands beside, We can face everything with a strong front. Alone we are weak, in Christ we are strong.

“Let us do EVERYTHING in LOVE” — Love is not a feeling. Its a choice, its an action. It is doing everything with thought of Jesus and not of ourselves. We have all heard I Cor. 13….. But do you know it? “I am patient because of the love of God that was poured out into me. I am kind, I am not envious or boastful. I do not rejoice in evil, but when truth and justice prevail.” We can not do this on our own. If we struggle to Love and to know what Love is. We ask God to show us. He is faithful to do so.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not ^[b]puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^[c]thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  I Cor 13: 4-8 NKJV

This does not mean our problems will be over. It does not mean won’t cry, or fail. It does not mean that it will be easy. It means, He will equip us, hold us, and help us through. He gives us a future and a hope. He guides us into love, into helping one another. We can encourage one another, because He encourages us. We are not alone.

Love you all. Be blessed always….