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How many of us feel some sort of pressure right now? It could be the pressure to perform and produce under unrealistic expectations at work. Let's be honest, fewer staff are doing more nowadays. Or there might be a problem in your family that's creating pressure. You look all around but see no reasonable solution. Same with money. Not having enough for basic needs will keep most up at night.
These and other pressures are acknowledged in the Bible because God knows they affect mankind. He therefore provided plenty of insight on how we should navigate the pressures of life. Consider what Jacob said of his son Joseph and how he described the younger man's experience.
Genesis 49:23-25 - With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. /But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, /because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.
Despite everything Joseph went through, he remained steadfast in his obedience to God's instructions and laws. The pressures posed by being sold into slavery by his brothers and thrown in prison on false accusations didn't cause Him to turn away from his father's God. Indeed, that same God helped him during those years of unfair treatment when Joseph had no choice but to accept his fate. In the end, he rose to fame and fortune. His 'defeats' led to victory, and his blessings stretched to his descendants.
In these challenging times, God wants you to remain strong in the face of life's pressures. He wants you to fix your face like flint, remembering that He will get you through everything. He desires that you show Him you trust Him again to usher you to the victory you allow Him to design for you. It's not easy, and He knows this. You might see people engaging in immoral things and still advancing, but God wants you to remain on His path of righteousness. Many of those people who appear to have gone ahead of you didn't do things God's way, and so their 'accomplishments' will end up as fool's gold. Very pretty but not real and thus of no value.
If you choose to walk with the Lord and let Him direct each step you take, the end result will be one that is secure. There will be blessings that you enjoy and that your descendants and others will benefit from as well. This is because He has promised to bless the heirs of those who love Him up to 1000 generations (Exodus 20:6). Plus, the main advantage is entrance to heaven.
Remember the Parable of the Sower? Jesus warned His disciples about four categories of people they would evangelize to. Of that group, two of them deserve our attention. One group will receive God's word with joy but walk away from salvation due to a time of testing, meaning the pressures of life (Luke 8:6;13). Another group will also receive the word with joy, but will succumb to the worries of life and/or other factors. For this category, pressure can cause them to stall in their Christian journey, thereby preventing them from maturing in faith, spiritual strength, and receiving God's blessings (Luke 8:7;14).
We must stay steady amid the challenges and pressures life brings us. Remember that although problems are real, God's word is more real - all who trust in Him will not be disappointed. Always turn to Him first with every problem, knowing that He is the God of Strategy and will show you the right path to help you overcome the pressure. Fast, pray, give thanks, fellowship with others, call on your prayer group to join you, and seek answers in the Bible. Remind yourself of the times He saved you or someone else. When you get through the pressure by His grace, be sure to share your testimony and publicly honor Him. This pleases Him and opens the door for even more blessings.
God bless you, and welcome to the 500th Praise & Pray (for others)! Come ready to praise the Lord, then we'll pray for our personal needs today. If you have a petition, feel free to share. I ask one thing only - if you share a prayer point, be sure to also leave a comment praying for someone else who left their prayer request. Participants will support in prayer as the Holy Spirit leads them. Join us at 11:45 am EST with your communion elements ready. We’ll take communion together around 11:50 am, just before fellowship begins at noon. See you then!
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