Tag Archive | suffering

Prayer & Praise

Sep3

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
James 5:13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.13.NASB1995

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
Psalms 50:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.50.15.NASB1995

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
Psalms 63:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.63.5.NASB1995

🌹What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
1 Corinthians 14:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.14.15.NASB1995

Amen!!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Rejoice in Persecution?!

Sep1

As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance (steadfastness) of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
James 5:10-11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.10-11.NASB1995

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.10.NASB1995

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
1 Peter 3:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.3.14.NASB1995

🌹Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.12.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Reviled? Blessing!

Jun11

He (Jesus) opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Matthew 5:2, 11 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.11.NASB1995

We live in a world that seems to be disinterested in who Jesus is, what He does, or that He even exists. Sharing the gospel can be received with hostility and because of this God’s people seem to have replaced courage, confidence in the Lord, and being witnesses to the world with fear. But Jesus said, “Fear not for I am with you.” Jesus also warned us of retaliation so we would be prepared and gave us the Holy Spirit to speak through us. Jesus said, “blessed are”, so let us trust His Word!

You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Matthew 10:22 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.10.22.NASB1995

These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.
John 16:3 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.3.NASB1995

but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
1 Peter 4:16 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.16.NASB1995

🌹If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Peter 4:14 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.14.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Just Pray

May30

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
James 5:13 NASB

Every person who has ever lived has suffered. It could be the everyday struggle to just make ends meet or as devastating as living life without a treasured love one. Troubles looming over us at every turn.

Our suffering, troubles, anguish have a purpose. It teaches us our need for our Sovereign God. It brings Him glory as we let Him lead the way. When we pray we ask God to intervene in, be a part of, our life. In turn we bless Him when we cheerfully sing His praise.

🌹Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
Psalms 50:15 NASB

Thank You God for hearing my prayers, seeing me through hard times, and restoring me to the joy of You, Lord. I sing praises to Your name and glory be to You, Sovereign God. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Exult

Mar6

Exult: to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant:

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; Romans 5:3 NASB

We show triumphant joy in our tribulations?!

We rejoice exceedingly in our tribulations?!

We are highly elated, jubilant in our tribulations?!

Do we, really? It is so easy to take the path of “O woe is me” when tribulation, suffering, or persecution comes. But 

. . .You have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 1 Peter 2:21‭-‬23 NASB

Jesus is our example and

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14 NASB

That is how we rejoice in tribulations!

Personally I have found that during times of tribulation and suffering God is the closest. I am more aware of His presence and I grow tremendously as I trust that He is doing a good work in me. And this is why I rejoice in tribulation:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NASB

🌹God, help us to exult in tribulation.

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Obedience from Suffering

Mar2

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
Hebrews 5:8‭-‬9 NASB

The Son of God suffered. The Son of God!!! And yet we expect a perfect, smooth ride through life when we are merely adopted children of God.

He learned obedience from the things He suffered.
This really jumped off the page as I read it. Obedience brings suffering?! That isn’t what we expect, is it? Looking over my life as a child of God I have experienced much suffering. And it was at those times that I was close to God. I cried out to Him in fervent prayer. I grew in my walk. I learned. I was obedient. Thank You, Jesus for Your example. Through suffering You showed us what humble obedience to the will of God looks like.
We need affliction to teach us submission. (1)

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
Colossians 1:24 NASB

The Christian life is not an easy road. It is not enough to make a profession of faith but not have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. We must heed His Word and obey Him. If Jesus is our Savior, He must also be the Ruler, Prince, of your lives. We must be willing, submissive, to let Jesus reign over us. If Jesus isn’t our Ruler, He isn’t our Savior.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Luke 9:23 NASB

🌹Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon


(1) Matthew Henry’s Commentary; BibleGateway.com, passage Hebrews 5:8-9

Persuaded

May4

So, having obtained help from God, I (Paul) stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Acts 26:22‭-‬23‭ NASB

Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”
Acts 26:28‭-‬29 NASB

🌹God, You announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that Jesus Christ would suffer. Jesus, You are the fulfillment of this and the resurrection promise. All the prophets proclaimed that through Your name, — Jesus, the name above all names — everyone who believes receives forgiveness of sins. God, I pray for the unbelieving in whose case the god of this world has blinded their minds. I pray that they will see the light of the gospel of Your glory — Jesus — in whom is the image of God. God I pray for souls to be won for Your glory. I pray that neither they nor I take lightly this gift of grace as King Agrippa did. I pray for all who I have opportunity to share with that they will be persuaded to become a Christian when they know You personally as Savior and Lord. Amen.
Acts 3:18/Acts 10:43/2 Corinthians 4:4 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Gethsemane

Apr11

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mark 8:31 NASB

Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
Matthew 26:36‭-‬38 NASB

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:27 NASB


🌹Jesus. Perfect example. When troubled and deeply grieved You went to Your Father. You did not go seeking Your own way or asking to be taken out of what was coming. You went to the Father to connect, be strengthened, not forsaken. You confirmed Your calling, the purpose of Your life on earth with the Father. Before facing rejection and suffering You went to the Father. Jesus, may I be found kneeling at Your feet seeking Your strength when faced with suffering and persecution for Your name sake. Thank You for being my perfect example of what to do when facing trials, hard times, persecution, etc. In Jesus name and for Your glory. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Suffering Christian

Dec9

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
1 Peter 4:14, 16 NASB

But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
John 15:21 NASB

Expect it. For the sake of His name, the name Jesus, you will suffer. Rejoice that you have been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. (Matthew 5:11; Luke 6:22; Acts 5:41)

🌹 The glory of God is Jesus and His glory rests on us in His Holy Spirit. Because we know the One who sent Jesus, let us glorify God in the name of Jesus through our suffering!

Continually Seeking Him, 


Sharon 

Rejoice in Your Testing

Dec8

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
1 Peter 4:12‭-‬13 NASB

Praise God for testing in our lives…

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10‭-‬11 NASB

God may we…

always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:10 NASB

🌹 Succumb to testing that we may rejoice with exultation, attain the resurrection from the dead and that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies. 

Continually Seeking Him,


Sharon