It is a country for the strong, and it will make demands upon him.”
–Louis L’Amour (Brionne)
“Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”
–Psalm 25:21 (NKJV)
———————————-
Like it or not some of the things that happen to us come from the Lord. All the things that happen to us He allows. I don’t understand totally, but life brings problems, the devil brings problems, we cause our own problems, and at times the Lord chastises us through our problems while other times He is wanting to build our character. In the midst of our situation, sometimes we make a promise to the Lord–a vow. The second portion of Psalm 66 praises God for He keeping power and His deliverance along with the aspect of paying vows that were made.
8 — Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise be heard.
9 — Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved.
10 — For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 — You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.
12 — You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
13 — I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows,
14 — Which my lips have uttered and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
15 — I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, with the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah (NKJV)
Have you noticed that there is trial before victory? You have to run the race, you have to train hard, before you can expect to win any awards. Life is the same. One thing that all should learn–experience is a great teacher, but it gives the test before teaching the lesson. Don’t fall into that trap.
Fire refines–the hotter the fire the better. Far too often we give the devil credit for our problems, and yes, he is often the one who brings them to bear. However, the Lord is there so that our feet will remain steadfast. You thought you couldn’t bear the load, and yet, look at you carrying all that weight. You thought you couldn’t cross the raging torrent, yet look where you are standing–on the other side. F.B. Meyer said, “The fire of affliction fetcheth it [grace] out.”
Look back at the trials, burdens, and difficulties in your life. See what God has done. If He did it before, will He not keep you now in your present situation? But wait one minute–don’t forget to pay your vows. Perhaps you promised the Lord something in the midst of trouble. Have you made good on that promise? Don’t fear the fire, but don’t forsake to pay your vows.
“Here, in thy courts, I leave my vow,
And thy rich grace record;
Witness, ye saints, who hear me now,
If I forsake the Lord.”
–Isaac Watts
–Psalm 25:21 (NKJV)
———————————-
Like it or not some of the things that happen to us come from the Lord. All the things that happen to us He allows. I don’t understand totally, but life brings problems, the devil brings problems, we cause our own problems, and at times the Lord chastises us through our problems while other times He is wanting to build our character. In the midst of our situation, sometimes we make a promise to the Lord–a vow. The second portion of Psalm 66 praises God for He keeping power and His deliverance along with the aspect of paying vows that were made.
8 — Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise be heard.
9 — Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved.
10 — For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 — You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.
12 — You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
13 — I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows,
14 — Which my lips have uttered and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
15 — I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, with the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah (NKJV)
Have you noticed that there is trial before victory? You have to run the race, you have to train hard, before you can expect to win any awards. Life is the same. One thing that all should learn–experience is a great teacher, but it gives the test before teaching the lesson. Don’t fall into that trap.
Fire refines–the hotter the fire the better. Far too often we give the devil credit for our problems, and yes, he is often the one who brings them to bear. However, the Lord is there so that our feet will remain steadfast. You thought you couldn’t bear the load, and yet, look at you carrying all that weight. You thought you couldn’t cross the raging torrent, yet look where you are standing–on the other side. F.B. Meyer said, “The fire of affliction fetcheth it [grace] out.”
Look back at the trials, burdens, and difficulties in your life. See what God has done. If He did it before, will He not keep you now in your present situation? But wait one minute–don’t forget to pay your vows. Perhaps you promised the Lord something in the midst of trouble. Have you made good on that promise? Don’t fear the fire, but don’t forsake to pay your vows.
“Here, in thy courts, I leave my vow,
And thy rich grace record;
Witness, ye saints, who hear me now,
If I forsake the Lord.”
–Isaac Watts