Christian Living

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Are you in a circumstance that seems to be stuck? Nothing is budging or happening? There is no positive resolution in sight? I have been there more than once. Whatever your situation is, the story in John 5:1-9 may be of help. Pull out a Bible and read it.

The man in the story had a physical affliction for 38 years until Jesus came by and asked him a simple question, "Do you want to be made well?" At first this may seem like a silly question, but of course, Christ never asked ridiculous questions. He always got right to the heart of the issue. This man was in a helpless condition, or so he thought, but isn't it sometimes possible that people don't really expect to be delivered from their problems or circumstances because they have come to accept them, or maybe they have given up?

Isaiah 61:1-3 proclaims that Christ came to offer people deliverance from whatever is holding them captive. There are some things that we need to do, however, for this to happen.

First, we must get rid of wrong thinking like it talks about in II Corinthians 10:4-5. This man had lost hope and had given up. Jesus came by, by surprise, and delivered him. How many times have you and I come to just accept things the way they are, not really expecting any positive change? I think that maybe this is the reason that Christ asked the question he did.

True, there are some things that simply will not change, but there are other circumstances that really can see a positive outcome. We have just given up believing that. Psalm 27:3 reads "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

Secondly, it is essential that we develop an attitude of expecting change through God's provision and power. There is a promise given in Psalm 84:11. "...no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." There is a condition, however. If we want to see positive change we need to be walking uprightly.

I had a good thing happen recently. God suddenly provided a way out of a situation that had not budged for years, and I am now able to proclaim what it states in Psalm 40:2, "He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock, making my footsteps firm."

Whatever kind of spiritual pit you are in, you must not allow yourself to fall into the worse "pit" of complaining, excuses, and acceptance. You must instead grab hold of God's grace, power, love, and promises.

Keep believing and doing whatever is within your control to do something about, and maybe you will be able to see God bring you up out of the pit of destruction or out of the miry clay, and set your feet upon a rock.

Sometimes we are stuck in spiritual valleys when we would rather be on top of a spiritual mountain. Just remember this: it is in the valley where the fruit grows. Don't get too excited about having top-of-the-mountain experiences. After all, Christ was crucified on the top of a hill. God, on the other hand, does not want you and me to stay in the pit or stuck in the miry clay.

Thirdly, you must know what needs to happen to get out of your stuck situation. When the right opportunity comes along recognize it and latch on to it. Christ will be there to help pull you out as He was for the man in the John 5 story. Then you can soar like the eagle like it talks about in Isaiah 40:31.

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