My Daily Guide
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have
overcome the world. --John 16:33
Jesus declares that trouble will come to everyone, but how to respond is the
puzzling question.
When Jesus was calling men to follow him, he gave them a rather discouraging
word rather than promising that to follow him would be a pleasant road and a
pain-free mission. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother,
and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also,
he cannot be my disciple-- Luke 14:26. In this passage the word
hate means to "regard less." God wants us to let nothing come between Himself
and us, especially in his leading, if we are to be fruitful for Him.
Trouble and opposition will surely come to us to try us, to see where our hearts
are. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try
you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye
may be glad also with exceeding joy. --I Peter: 12-13
God had prepared his disciples earlier by promising them the Comforter which is
the Holy Spirit. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. --John 14:26.
The comfort Christ gives us in time of trouble and testing is this: There hath
no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. --1
Corinthians 10:13
INTRODUCTION: Prayer is as essential to the Christian as water is to a camel crossing the desert, as fuel to a jet, air to a tire, as the engine to the automobile. When Christians live without prayer, they soon lose the way, become withered, fruitless, powerless and a prey for Satan. The constant communion and fellowship the Christian has with Christ in prayer is the real secret of a victorious life.