Everything that happens to you from Satan is screened by God first. This dialogue between Satan and God assures us that God is in control. When you are threshed like wheat (tested), it is only by God’s permission. Look at this passage from Job 1:7-12.The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”"Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.At the end of this testing, Job learned that the all-powerful God of the Universe holds the answer to suffering. Job argued to God that he was sinless and not deserving of suffering. God finally spoke and put Job in his place by asking him a few questions that he could not answer, such as “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” (Job 38:4). Job understood then that we may not have all the answers to why we suffer. “Surely spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (Job 42:3). There is one major lesson to know or will not be able to face the death to self: it is the necessity of experiencing God’s cooking pot. If you are cooking out in this desert, it is under the auspices of the Heavenly Father. He knows how to get each pot to the correct temperature so as to melt off impurities from our hearts. If you believe you are a victim, that God is picking on you, or that you should not suffer because it is time for someone else to suffer, then you might jump out of the cooking pot, out of the hot desert, or off the altar. Ezekiel 24:3b-5 says:” ‘Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it. Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces —the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones; take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.’ “ The only way I have ever been able to tough it out is to know that this pressure to submit my will is from the Father. James 1:2-4 points out, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Most of us have been through some significant suffering. Some have suffered child abuse, sexual abuse, or molestation. Others have experienced verbal abuse, injustice, and financial devastation. We have all endured many things, no matter what it looks like on the outside.It sounds all well and good that we will gain so much patience and character, but when I am in the middle of having to give up my food or my way, gaining more character is no motivation for me. As I said before, the only thing that can possibly make me stay in this heat is to know that it is God’s oven. Because He coordinated, so worthy of reverse, I would not consider running from the desert if that is where He wants me. I would consider changing only my will and desires.For example, even if a marriage is tough—God hates for you to jump out of the cooking pot before the cooking is done. God and Jesus always encouraged us first to stay in the oven!Change yourself before you change the surroundings. Make sure God is leading you to change jobs, or God just might re-create the same situation in the next job. Do not even think about getting even with someone who has wronged you—in fact, turn the other cheek.How do I know if I am right about this? Just try it for yourself. Try to get out of any suffering, including the painful suffering of dying to yourself with food. You will find that you remain miserable. And if you jump out of one cooking pot or off the altar, you will find that God will put you in another. You seemingly will put on five pounds overnight, and you will feel downcast again. Now reverse that choice of behavior and just bear through the wait for hunger. You will come through the pain and feel fantastic on the other side. You will get on the scales and reap reward! It boils down to the illustration above.*62\237\2*
HOW TO FACE GIVING UP THE FOOD: KNOW THAT IT IS GOD’S OVEN
Posted: under Weight Loss.
July 15th, 2011
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