VAST ETERNAL GOD/PURPOSE
If you decide to pray with me from the link provided, you will find these two themes. We start with the eternal God who is very big and spend much time praying over God’s purposes.
As I was preparing for prayer night, this word came to me.
“No amount of pleasure can make up for a lack of purpose.”
“Pleasure is a poor exchange for purpose.”
I felt the touch of the Holy Spirit on these two sentences. After all, how many try to fill the void that requires a purpose for their life with pleasures so they won’t notice that there is a huge hole? Soon the thrill is gone as is the happiness that the pleasure brought. Then what? Everyone needs to have a sense of purpose to fully enjoy the journey.
But what about purpose and trouble?
TROUBLE ALSO HAS A WAY OF BRINGING US INTO QUESTIONING PURPOSE
I think often about those that need to know there is a purpose in their troubles.
MANY YEARS AGO
Many years ago, I suffered a snow skiing accident that broke both bones at the bottom of my left leg. The bad part was that they compounded (came out the skin). With the breaks being so low, there wasn’t skin and muscle to cover with the kind of blood flow that was needed to heal the area. Before it was all said and done, I had 9 surgeries and surgical procedures in two and a half months. I was very sick not only from the accident but from all the chemicals. So besides being bedfast, wheelchair bound, and then in a cast and brace for a year and a half total, I was chemically sick for the next 5 years.
If you have ever been in a long haul of trouble, you know how your heart searches for purpose in it all. I looked but all I could see early on was my 3 year old son suffering because of my situation and my husband stressed because he was trying to travel with his employment while I couldn’t work. I could only see that I had to leave my youth/associate pastorate ministry of 9 years due to the injury and that didn’t seem very purposeful.
INSULT TO INJURY
Then the trouble became more than physical. My parents divorced after 30 some odd years of marriage. We bought a house and three hours after we closed a tornado landed on it and tore most of it up. We ended up in a hotel for 3 months with me in a cast and on crutches and chemically sick.
I LOOKED FOR PURPOSE
I wish I could tell you that I found a great purpose at the time, but that wouldn’t be true. What I did find is the verse that gave me hope for purpose realized one day.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
WITH MY WALK WITH GOD…
I knew I had a walk with God. I certainly couldn’t figure out why all this had happened to me so I had to look at what I did know.
- I loved God
- I was called
- His purpose mattered most to me
With that in mind, I resolved that these things were going to work to my benefit when it was over.
HAHA!! I WAS RIGHT!!!
There are too many things to state that came out of that almost 7 years! Here are just a few.
- I was delivered of fear
- I fell in love with Jesus more than ever
- I explored God’s word in the area of healing until it really got in my heart
- My faith grew
- My ability to minister grew
- I was supernaturally healed overnight, years into the problem
I AM DANGEROUS TO THE DEVIL, IN JESUS NAME
I am convinced that whatever the devil meant for evil to me, Jesus used to His divine purpose. I always tell people…nothing is ever wasted!!
SINCE THOSE HARD (SEEMINGLY PURPOSELESS YEARS)
I have seen many people healed from everything from cancer to backs to allergies. I have seen hundreds (not exaggerating) filled with the Holy Spirit speaking in a new prayer language and many born again!
I AM CONVINCED
That those dark years contributed to some of the blessing I enjoy today.
IF YOU DECIDE TO PRAY WITH US THIS WEEK
I am believing that even if you don’t immediately know the purpose of your situation, you will find comfort and trust until you know.
MY HUSBAND WALLACE AND I
We laugh and say, “Hindsight is always 20/20.”
Sometimes there is a timing issue, sometimes there is a season issue. Whatever the issue is in your life, church or family you can be sure of this:
YOU CAN TRUST THE PURPOSE OF GOD TO BE GOOD FOR YOU
As you align with Romans 8:28. Enjoy the prayer time!!!
Blessings,
lisa
© Copyright Lisa Swayze 2017