1 Peter 1:6
In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith being much more precious than gold…
1 Peter 2:11, 28
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war again the soul, For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
I was thinking this morning about my soul. My souls – the real me inside, is ready to meet the Lord. However, there was a time when my soul was NOT ready. I had to be taught by the various trials that the Overseer of my soul, had in store for me to go through. If it were not for the Lord and His choice of me, I would have followed the same and or similar path that my – family in their sin – followed. But because of His choice of me (why I do not know) and because He loved me before He ever created me(why I do not know) he allowed me at an early age to come to faith with many trials to go through.
My trials:
- An alcoholic abusive father
- Horrible divorce
- Left alone because of the divorce – latch-key child – because there was no support from my father – my mom had to work 3 jobs
- A severe motorcycle accident that almost killed me
- Me – going through a divorce myself
- 30 years of starting and running my own company
My Result
- Saved at 11
- At age 16 – I began to pursue the Lord and grow from the milk of His word. (1 Peter2:2)
- Growing in maturity in Christ
- Teacher of an incredible group of men https://www.facebook.com/upperroomacworth/
Anyway – These verses spoke to me in that it says “If need be.” I do not want to “have to have” any more pain and pounding in my life because of my sin. I want to be right with the Lord walking in the Spirit obeying Him. I want to lead a quiet and simple life waiting on His return. However, I am comforted that He is the overseer of my soul and that He fully knows what I need – and when I need it.
I know that the primary reason for more pounding is lusting after something that the Lord has not given me. I want to lay aside anything or anybody that competes with 1st place. He is to be the supreme 1st place in my life, not something or somebody else. People and things are never to be the supreme pursuit of a true child of God. There is nothing wrong with things or important people in our lives, but they are NOT to be the reason why we get up in the morning. God wants that role.
Lord – thank you for your faithfulness and watching over my soul. You know what I need, and I hope to enter into your kingdom with great reward and praise because of how you brought me to it in faithfulness and sovereign providence.