Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
1 Peter 1:6-7, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
In a trial your mind is heavy.
Pressure is on your soul.
You just want to shake your head in disbelief.
What has happened is almost oppressing.
Something has affected you.
It has affected your emotion, so that your soul feels as though it is collapsing.
You feel uncertain.
Two things are going on in you at one time.
You love the Lord, at least you thought you loved the Lord.
And at the same time, you have these trials that have crushed your soul, and you feel heavy.
Do not forget that the Lord Jesus also had a soul.
In the hour of trial He said, “Now My soul is troubled” (John 12:27).
And in Gethsemane, His soul was awestruck and in distress (Mark 14:33-34).
The soul of the Lord Jesus went through severe testing, and it was exceedingly sorrowful.
“The testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:3).
In the testing, your mind, your emotions, and even your will feel very weak.
You feel limp.
Yet you will discover that after a few moments, or a few hours, or maybe a few days, something in you–despite your wanting to give up, despite overwhelming feelings of discouragement, despite it all–something in you rebounds and you say, “Lord, I still love You. Lord, I want You.”
This was the testing of your faith.
Something happened to shatter your feelings.
And in your thought life, you could not pull everything together.
But there is something deeper.
You start to pray.
“Amen, Lord. God, I love You.”
You discover that this is genuine.
You do love Him. Why?
Because your faith will not quit.
You keep coming back, you keep responding to Jesus.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
John McCain -Hospice
Marlon Cook
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Ward
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
Joe Shelnutt
John Austin
June Cronan
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathy Mabe
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher – Improving
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Miles Bradshaw
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Pat Chupp
Ricky Gipson
Rose Fuller – Rehab
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Tom Witcher