Prepare Yourself for Trial

Prepare for trial

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Sirach 2:1 “My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trial.” This spiritual truth has been confirmed so many times in the lives of the saints and in our individual lives. I’m trying to walk this road, with Jesus, following Jesus, but it’s hard and seems to have lots of obstacles and difficulties. Yep. In Matt 7:14, Jesus wasn’t being clever when He said “for the gate is narrow and the way is hard.” -- He was being real. If you have committed your life to Jesus, to following Him, to loving Him, to listening to Him, you’re walking the narrow way and it’s hard. So why do we freak out when we struggle? This is what Jesus told us would happen. The freak out is because we lack faith. Do we believe Jesus is who He says He is? I have been convicted more and more in my need for increased faith –the gift of God. The reality of Jesus is this – He is ever present with us, loving us, reaching out to us, desiring to strengthen us and our faith—but we continue trying to make it up the narrow way on our own power without Him. Stupid.

As you prepare to attend the C2D4 retreat know this—you will encounter obstacles to keep you from attending. The enemy does not want you on the narrow way that leads to life. Prepare yourself for trial and arm yourself with the love of Christ. He will strengthen you. He will guide you. “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still.” Exodus 14:14.