A couple of weeks ago at church, dear friends gave me a copy of sermon notes from Jerry W. Arnold. He preaches at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Virginia. The title of the message was: God doesn’t make the decision hard!
We make decisions every day…Some big ones some small ones. Reflection is part of making those decisions. Looking at where we’ve been and where we want to go.
As God directs me throughout my next steps, these were words I needed to read and hear. This time of year always brings a time of reflection. These words helped put my reflection in focus.
The message centered around several scriptures. There were a couple of key statements he made as well. “If you are not systematically reading God‘s word you will have many difficulties in your life.” His word will lead us down the right path.
Psalms 139.13-18.
◦ God knows us!
◦ He knitted us together!
◦ He is with me always!
Ephesians 2.10.
◦ We are God‘s workmanship.
◦ We are created to do good works.
◦ He prepared us to do it.
God designed us to do good works for His glory and to help people.
Proverbs 15.22
◦ Seek wise counsel
As we move forward daily what should we be doing:
◦ Read the Bible.
◦ Pray.
◦ Seek wise counsel.
◦ Reflect – what has God given me the opportunity to do in my life?
◦ Who has God put on my heart to love?
◦ Live putting God first, honoring him and all I do!
Romans 8.28.
◦ ALL will work out for God’s glory
Psalms 127.1.
◦ God has to be in it or it is all in vain.
I want to be used as an instrument for the Lord daily. These are the steps to do that. I’m thankful for the reminder from dear friends through a sermon from someone far away.
God uses ALL things!
Bottom line – “we are designed to do good works for gods glory and help other people.” As long as we are in God‘s word and listening to him he will lead us step-by-step. “It is one day at a time walking with God and living by faith and his faithfulness!”
thenextmailboxboston 
Matthew 11:28-29, scripture used in a devotional given in1960 @ First Baptist Church in Portales, New Mexico by Frank Taylor. Excellent job Tricia, lynmw, Dad
I disagree with the statement that God doesn’t make the decision hard and the sentiment that if you’re systematically reading God’s word you won’t have difficulties because because “if you are not systematically reading God‘s word you will have many difficulties in your life.”
I was in the word daily when my husband was raping and beating and cheating on me and when he tried to murder me. I was in the word daily when my health was failing and I was dying. I was systematically reading and rereading and desperately trying to find the right verses to pray to make my situation better because if I could only have enough faith and read the word systematically enough, the difficulties would cease. I didn’t do anything to deserve the treatment I had or the challenges I have faced for decades. My health failing was the result of a childhood of toxic abuse at the hands of my family and the churches we attended. Yes… In church… Where a girl was raped on our mission trip and the girls were all blamed for what happened to her because the boobs god gave us were too attractive while the boys who did it faced no consequences. Look at the church in america to find their response to the allegations of sexual abuse and grooming by church leaders; it is everywhere and I was not the only one. No amount of bible reading would make that stuff end or disappear and no lack of bible reading caused it.
And God doesn’t make the decision hard? There is no verse, no book, no guidance in the bible on how to face difficult medical choices. There is a vaccination mandate. If I don’t get vaccinated, I face a loss of my job unless they accept my accomodation to remain unvaccinated but that will require me to have weekly tests, paid for out of my own pocket which may be cost prohibitive and may be too difficult to locate weekly in order to remain employed. If I do get vaccinated, I risk death because I am the person who is not supposed to get vaccinated ever and even if it doesn’t kill me directly, it can activate an immune response that could kill me, or it can activate a disease I carry that is inactive at the moment but has a mortality rate of 70%; the odds of beating it twice are 9% but I’m on my third round if it activates and the odds of that are 2.7%. If I do get vaccinated I could die… If I don’t get vaccinated I could lose my job and my insurance which pays for my medication that keeps me alive and I could die… Where is the easy decision?
This is toxic positivity and it is not biblical. It gaslights people with varied experiences and concerns into believing that maybe if they would only have enough faith or read for 5 more minutes that something will change and God will listen to their prayers. It tells people facing impossible choices that if they were only right with God they wouldn’t have an impossible choice to begin with.
I disagree with my whole heart.
Hi Gwen,
Thank you for your honesty. I respect your thoughts and appreciate you sharing them. The sermon outline that was given to me ministered to my soul considering where I am currently in my life. I did not share the whole outline only my personal takeaways. This blog is a way for me to process life through journaling and getting my thoughts out. Again, thank you for your comment. Praying you are doing well with your recovery and will continue to keep you in my prayers. You are an inspiration to many.
Trish