December: Trials and Pain
The devil, things and people being what they are, it is necessary for
God to use the hammer, the file and the furnace in His holy work of
preparing a saint for true sainthood. It is doubtful whether God can
bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.
The Root of the Righteous, 157.
December 5
Trials and Pain: This Does Not Come From God
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
--James 4:7
I have had times in my life and ministry when the burdens and the
pressures seemed to be too much. Sometimes physical weariness adds
to our problems and our temptation to give in to discouragement and
doubt. At these times it seems that even in prayer it is impossible
to rise above the load. More than once, by faith that seemed to
have been imparted directly from heaven, the Lord has enabled me to
claim all that I needed for body, soul and spirit. On my knees I
have been given freedom and strength to pray, "Now, Lord, I have
had enough of this-I refuse to take any more of this heaviness and
oppression! This does not come from God-this comes from my enemy,
the devil! Lord, in Jesus' name, I will not take it any longer--
through Jesus Christ I am victor!" At these times, great burdens
have just melted and rolled away--all at once.
Brethren, God never meant for us to be kicked around like a
football. He wants us to be humble and let Him do the chastening
when necessary. But when the devil starts tampering with you, dare
to resist him! I Talk Back to the Devil, p. 15
"Thank You, Father, that 'greater is He that is in [me] than he
that is in the world.' I resist any attempt of Satan to defeat me
today and will conquer in the victory You guarantee. Amen."