Day 30 -The Courage of a Stronghold - Daily Inspirational Verses from Real Life

Psalm 27:1 - (ESV): "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Many times in the daily and weekly life of someone with TBI, as I am, thoughts of leaving it all behind enter your life.  Frequently, if you pay attention to the sports news, that ends end death at your own hand, one of the charming outcomes of living or not living with TBI.  More often, the idea of just getting into a car and driving off to nowhere often seems appealing.  A Mountain Stronghold would be awesome.

I have actually gotten into a car and driven off, not knowing where I was going, and since I have no ability to read a map or follow written directions, my intention was to get lost and never come back.  A few times it took days to find my way back.

Today was one of those days.  Once again, an agency that should know better has decided once again to see if I really have TBI.  For 3 hours, I could not breath, or think, or stop shaking.  My wife tells me I have been here before; many times, nearly all the time, but since short term memory and long term memory are also issues with TBI, I have to take her word for it.

Then it dawned on me.  Of who should I be afraid.  It does not matter what someone else says or thinks, my God knows the truth and has always taken care of me.  He will here too.  I began to calm down, and spent some time in prayer.  At fist asking for rescue, then for peace.

As I started to relax, my wife told me she talked to them, and this was just a routine exam; one they had not done in 20 years.  Ok, that was fast.  God answered that prayer.

Yet, if you know TBI, you know there is the rest of tomorrows to worry about what others think. Today, I remind myself that courage means doing the right thing, and knowing my God will always take care of me.  Doing the right thing is all I have had to look forward to for 20 plus years, and I am still there.  God has always been there for me.

He will be for you to.

Pull back the curtain of fear, and let the light of our Lord into your life.  He is for you, so what does it really matter who is against you.  You have already won, you just don't know what form the victory will take.

Get ready to stand with your God in the stronghold he has built around you.

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For information on be certain of your Status with God, overcoming your actions that keep you from God, and allowing you to accept his free gift of eternal life, Click Here.

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You Might Die in your Troubles, but you Might Live Too.

Romans 8:28 - (ESV): " And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Yesterday in church, I learned what Romans 8:28 really means, and I was not surprised, as I always assumed that is what it meant to begin with.

Paul is NOT telling us that all our problems will be fixed. He is telling us all of GOD'S problems will be fixed by his using us.

Aside from the good news that God wins, and we are his, that is a little sad. To drive the point home, the pastor also quoted, " And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Tada, he says. God did not even rescue Jesus, so why would he rescue you. See, it is all about God!

For sure, it is all about God. I was very down heartened, and started doubting my faith. I began thinking I was less than a Christian, because I was putting all my worldly hopes onto God's shoulders too. I even remembered Daniel 3:16-18 " Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

They were even willing to die for the Lord, even if he did not rescue them.

You see, in my life, right now, I am in way over my head. I can not get out of the trap I am in, and now one can help me. Only God. I am not saying, Help me God, and if not, it is ok. I am saying, "Help Me God."

So I began to feel even less of a Christian. Maybe there is not hope. I am not afraid of death, and I was starting to look forward to it. Rather be with God than in this mess. Again.

Then it hit me.

John 11:1-6 - (ESV): "Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."

Lazarus was brought back to life. God did help. In the flesh. 

Buck up Christian.  It is all about God, and God will use your suffering to make you stronger, to help his needs, but he also fixes things in the world.  Your world.  There is hope, and if not, there is hope in eternal life.


Wait a minute. God helped the three in the furnace too. I forgot.

Just because there examples in the Bible where God lets us feel the pain, does not mean we are always going to feel the pain.  He asks that we follow him, and believe that in the end, it works out for God's best interest ... and that God's best interest is also you best interest.