30 June 2020
As I read the Word of God, I see that there is one essential character requirement throughout and it is called …. endurance!
We are all looking for some kind of short cut, but for Jesus it is about our character far more than our comfort.
There is just no plan B, no easy way out. Endurance is an essential element of victorious Christian living and is only cultivated by enduring.
Whatever you are facing today may be very, very bad, even sad! It cannot just disappear from your life; you have to face it and work through it. So many times, these pains and disappointments carry a spiritual root and few are willing to take the ax to the tree.
Sixteen years ago, we were in a very serious car accident. Suddenly, we were faced with a child with a severe head injury and a lot of trauma. Our whole life changed, but the battles did not stop there. Through the years we learned that there were many more sounds and vibrations (dark scrolls on the genes) and epigenetics that had legal rights against us.
The enemy wants to tire and discourage us so that we will all give up the good fight of faith – BUT GOD! He always comes through, revealing the truth of what we are fighting – and the Word of God says that the truth sets us free. Our situation is still not perfect according to the world’s standard and opinion – but I know how we have changed. With each trial there is less of us and more of Him.
Once we realize that He fights with us, guides us and teaches us, we will accept the trials in our lives. Instead of complaining we will say, “Thank You for what You are about to teach and reveal to us. I know that You will never leave us nor forsake us. I place everything into Your hands, surrendered to Your will and purposes. I know that victory is Yours. Not by might nor by power but by Your Spirit we will move ahead.”
James 1:2-3 We can count it all joy … knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience (endurance).
But James warned us that we must let “patience – endurance” have its perfect work in us. This means we must continue to endure until God’s purposes are completed and the trial comes to an end. We must endure until we walk in truth and more of Christ’s character is formed in us. This is not easy for we are all human.
The last two months we faced a giant and I felt that I had no more strength in me. As I called upon my Abba, He faithfully came through for us and renewed our strength. He made a way where there seemed to be no way.
People often ask me, “How long will this trial last?” The answer is simple, I have no idea. God very seldom tells us the timespan in advance. I believe it depends on us. The quicker I realize that it is a spiritual battle and that God wants to help me to get this stronghold out of my life, the faster the process will go.
But we have to be aware of the enemy’s devices. He builds a wall between our right and left brain – calling it the wall of denial. And this prevents most people to deal with what is really going on in their lives.
But God! If you ask Him, He will help you to break the Jericho wall of denial – and you will find all the secrets, pain, brokenness and darkness deep in your heart. He is standing at the ready to heal us – because He gave His life to do just that!
Isaiah 61:1-3 THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes of those who are bound,
:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
:3 To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Have you ever felt like giving up? Thinking I cannot take it any longer!
Hold on, you are at the brink of a miracle. The miracle is not always what you expect. The miracle is about spiritual freedom and moving out of bondage, it is about being transformed into God’s character and nature. The miracle is seeing how God opens up ways and doors where there seemed to be none.
God’s purposes are not what we think. He wants to change us back into His design of us. So, the sooner we learn to endure – repent when necessary, break old patterns and strongholds, deal with deep hidden trauma and get our broken parts out of death, the more rapid our spiritual progress will be.
Paul says that we need to exercise self-control in all things. Without self-control we will not have the strength to endure.
1 Cor 9:25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.
When we are confronted with any kind of challenge to endure, we have to know that every area of our lives will be exposed to pressure and all our weaknesses will be exposed.
God wants us to overcome and endure so that we can progress to a higher Christian virtue of Godliness, love and kindness – carrying the nature of Christ.
After months with Covid 19, I can still not work in South Africa or do conferences and Spirit Schools. I thank all of you that partner with us. We will continue to send out MP3 teachings to your mailbox.
Your donation is a seed into Kingdom soil. I thank you for your generosity and love. We take hands and together we build God’s Kingdom.
I thank you for prayers and love.
Retah and family