Sunday...Feb. 09, 2020 | One Step Back...Ten Steps Forward

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Sunday to you all! It’s so good to be with you today!  I not only praise God for this beautiful day that I am viewing outside my window…but I also praise God for the light of His presence; that continually shines deep within my heart…AMEN!!
Last night, as I was trying to enjoy an evening off, I found myself experiencing more pain than usual…and as I was sitting on my daybed in the office…relaxing and letting my body have a break; I began to think on how I can have days when the pain levels drop, as if I will never experience pain again…only to experience even more later. Sometimes, I wonder why this happens; but lately, God has been helping me to see these moments, in a similar way to what Job experienced…and when I see the pain in this way…I also see a battle…one that is definitely going on between good and evil.
You know…just as I deal with pain in this way; we can also experience moments in our lives, when we feel as if we are finally walking out of the difficulties of life…only to see that another blow to the heart and soul, has taken us back to where we once were. How can this be?
As I was searching the scriptures, for a Bible verse that would help and encourage us; God led me to a couple verses in I Peter 1:6-7…and we read… “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7) These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” In other words…these verses are talking on how we can find it easy to praise God during the good times; but what about the moments, when we find ourselves taking another blow; that seems to take us backwards in life?  
Early this morning…God woke me up with some thoughts that truly touched my heart…and now I would like to share these thoughts with you. The first thing that God wants to remind us of; is that for each step that knocks us backwards…we should be willing to let God take us ten steps forward. In other words…these steps that knock us back shouldn’t be viewed as defeated steps; but rather, they should be seen as an opportunity to experience God’s power, through the weakness that we were just knocked back with. When we choose to focus on the steps that take us backwards; that only brings us to a halt, while we wallow in failure, rather than giving God the chance to pick us up and take us forward once more.
The second thing that God showed me this morning; is that Satan only pushes us back; because the progression that we are making in life is drawing us closer to God and further away from evil…so like Job, our faith becomes tested through each circumstance Satan uses, as an attempt to take us down. The thing we need to remember; is that when we choose to press on…despite what Satan is attempting to do; we do become strengthened, while our actions radiate back on Satan and make him powerless. One thing I see continually in my life; is that if I don’t press on, through this battle of pain; then I know without a doubt that life could get much worse…and why…because I made the wrong choice and chose to give into the battle.
No matter what you are facing right now…and no matter how many times you’ve been knocked back by Satan…let God’s power lift you to your feet and help you to press on. The battles may seem very hard and difficult…believe me I know; but one thing I’ve come to truly see; is that with God…these battles can become much easier to fight, when He is leading the way.  
Today, I pray for all who are walking through a very hard battle in life; that God will give all of us the strength to not focus on the steps we’ve lost in life; but that we will focus on where these new steps ahead can lead us…Amen!!
Well…time for me to enjoy some moments with God and my husband, along with some rest. Please take care…have a great Sunday and I will hope to be with you soon!
Many…many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane