Encouragement

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The grace of Jesus reaches higher than the highest heaven and lower than the lowest hell. All we must do is receive His grace with child-like simplicity and thanksgiving. God has been so rich toward me during the past few weeks. I must tell you what He has done for me so you will be encouraged and be filled with hope.

I started applying for the Doctor of Ministry program at The King’s Seminary on May 18. My beautiful wife encouraged me to do it after 15 years of having that desire in my heart. Today I finally received my full registration for the upcoming seminars in October. This has been a battle to fight for me. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN TO HELL AND BACK. The enemy does not want me to be refreshed and renewed in this anointed opportunity to grow. He has fought me furiously during the whole time. How many of you have experienced the same thing? If something you desire to do is threatening to the enemy, He will try and stop you. THE GREATER THE THREAT, THE GREATER THE FIGHT WILL BE AGAINST YOU. There have been many delays, frustration and confusion where I have had to experience patience from the Lord. My Master of Divinity degree transcripts took over two months to arrive there! Heavy assaults of fear and anger have been displayed in me many times. The grace of Jesus has filled me and covered me during the whole ordeal. He has given me the victory!

The Lord has shown me something very special that I want to share with you. He passionately wants to give us the desires of our hearts more than we want to receive them. First, He gives us a PROMISE or desire as we delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). Next, He allows the enemy to PERPLEX us. This is where our faith is tested. Will we trust Him or give up? Then, we must PERSEVERE by enduring (“remaining under” in Greek). All hell is fighting against us. Finally, we receive His PROVISION in His perfect timing.

The test is in the battle. The enemy brings so much doubt, fear and anger that we begin to contemplate if the battle is worth it. Be encouraged, my friend, if you are in a red-hot, fiery trial. God sees you coming out in a stronger and more purified state. Now, YOU must see yourself being strengthened by the Lord to come out in victory (Colossians 1:9-11).

I face a new battle. I have read seven of the required fifteen books and I have written two papers on my identity as a Christian and a pastor. I still have much to do before the seminar. Then many post-seminar requirements await me. This happens again in February and June for two weeks at a time. Then the whole thing happens next year. The last two years are spent doing a research project related to my ministry.

In addition, we have many book signings for my newly published book, "Disappointments Transformed into Destiny," at www.danwoodworth.org. We are preparing to create a new community of faith and love. If that is not enough, we are continually trying to catch up in our business that the Lord helped us to create (www.onedayredesignsinc.com). The Lord led us to do ALL these things. The busier we become, the more He empowers us with His grace!

The assault of the enemy is nothing new. The feelings of discouragement, futility, fear, anger, frustration, loneliness and the host of other negative emotions we face are common to all of us (I Corinthians 10:13). IT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO US, BUT HOW WE RESPOND TO IT THAT MEASURES OUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH. The strength of men and women is not determined by how rich we are, how intelligent we are or how strong we are. THE REAL HEART OF THE MATTER IS HOW EASILY WE ARE DISCOURAGED. Jesus is our encourager! HE is the GLORY AND LIFTER OF OUR HEADS! Worship Him! Sing to Him! Ask HIM to fill you with HIS LOVE, HIS JOY, HIS PEACE, HIS GRACE AND HIS MERCY! Bless Him and He will strengthen and bless you!

The lesson I am learning is that the grace of God becomes stronger and richer as I worship Him. The battles become more intense as I receive more of His grace. I must trust Him more. He loves me fighting bigger battles, enjoying more adventures and falling in love with my wife as I fall in love with Him!

My friend, He longs to make you stronger in Him. His ultimate goal is to continually transform you into His very own image in ever-increasing splendor and greater glory (Romans 8:29 and II Corinthians 3:18).

Listen to His voice, trust Him and cooperate with Him. He has far greater blessings for you than you can possibly imagine. Meditate on Ephesians 3:14-21. Start with verse 14 and read and speak every verse up through verse 21 in the Amplified Bible:

14 For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].
16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] –
21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

Try an experiment by meditating on these verses until they become so real in you that the “Word becomes flesh” (John 1:14). The grace of Jesus reaches beyond the highest heaven and the lowest hell. His grace is sufficient for you!


Copyright © 2006 Daniel W. Woodworth

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