The Plumbline

If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small. (Proverbs 24:10 NLT) When you are 'under pressure', what strength do you draw from to refrain from giving into that pressure? We might feel pressure from all life throws our way, but have you ever felt 'spiritual pressure'? It is that type of 'pressure' God is exerting to get us to actually be more pliable in his hands. An artisan who works with clay will tell you it takes a bit of pressure to remove the unwanted air bubbles and clumps from the clay in their hands. Those things actually make the clay object they are creating 'imperfect' so they must be removed in order for the object to have its best form, fulfilling its intended purpose.  Perhaps you are feeling a bit of 'spiritual pressure' right now. God is dealing with a few unwanted 'bubbles and clumps' in the 'clay of your life'. He is not doing it to hurt you - he is doing it so you can take on your 'best form...

I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? (Psalm 56:4 NLT) What has God promised for your life? Peace in the midst of turmoil? Hope in the midst of fear? Provision in the midst of lack? All of these and more! We cannot underestimate the promises of God or argue that God doesn't really provide what he promises. The promises of God are without reversal - once they were given, they remained in effect! Do we fully trust God to do as he has promised? Do we recount his promises when doubt, frustration, or turmoil come our way? If we are honest here, we might just have some pretty weak faith when it comes to trusting God to do EXACTLY as he said. We think he 'might' come through, 'might' see fit, 'might' find it within his power. That is some weak trust right there!  Sometimes we add, "God, if it is your will...", to one of God's promised actions, but we are showing we don't fully trust him. For example, Go...