Storms come to drive us to the only true protective shelter – God.

This pictures a torn down fortress built by Solomon at Arad in the Negev, most often called his southern fortress.

Problem, this fortress didn’t last any longer than the protective fortress David built around Jerusalem. Why? Solomon, through his numerous wives, introduced idol worship into both cities.

Solomon built a miniature temple replica in Arad, complete with a sacrifice altar. The people could worship God here in Arad, even though God instructed the Israelites to only sacrifice in Jerusalem. Whatever was easiest and felt good could be worshipped.

There is only one way to worship the Father if you want sustained victory; and that, is His way. Jesus reiterated this when He said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one gets to the Father except through Me.”

Scripture talks about God being our fortress, our protection against life’s storms (Ps. 18:2). Yet, Paul talks about fortresses we build in our minds (2 Cor. 10:4-5). The rationalizations, justifications and arguments we use to justify what we want to do when we want to do it. In other words, whatever is easiest and pleasurable to us. Sound familiar?

These strongholds, just like the one pictured, will not last any more than David and Solomon’s fortress walls. Only worshiping God through obedience creates a stronghold that can last against any siege or siege engine for God is the only one who can truly protect us.

It’s time to deal with your man-made ineffective fortresses. Today, let the Spirit show you the lies you are relying upon in order to refortify yourself for the coming storms.

“No healthy Christian ever chose suffering. Instead they chose to do God’s will as Jesus did whether it meant suffering or not.” Oswald Chambers

This little guy got knocked down not because he made a mistake, but simply because his opponent was better at that point in the game. 

Yet, what must this guy do if he wants to win? Get back up again. I wish our lives were a straight trajectory upward, but they are not. Life knocks us down. 

Jesus was literally knocked down. He was nailed to a cross not because He sinned, but because He was obedient. 

Suffering doesn’t equate to sin. It does equate, however, with opportunities to grow our faith as seen in our obedience.

We will reign with Christ someday and the pathway to that place is suffering (Rom. 8:17). When life gets hard (aka suffering) keep getting up by faith in the truths the Spirit gives you. 

Victory will come. It’s His promise to you. 

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.” Bonhoeffer

God redeemed the horrendous decision made by Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery and by Potiphar to falsely imprison him by putting Joseph into a position in the Egyptian government where He could save his entire family from at least a regional famine.

After the famine was over, though, Joseph and his brothers brought their father Jacob back to Canaan to bury him with Isaac and Abraham. Could the entire clan have stayed? Scripture never said they couldn’t. They stayed because they had a good life in Egypt.

This bad decision led to a future Egyptian government enslaving them for hundreds of years. But didn’t God tell Abraham his future family would be enslaved (Gen. 15)? Yes, He did. But, did He say this because He knew the choices Jacob’s family would make to stay in their comfort zone in Goshen?

The Lord gave the Canaanites over 400 years to turn to Him, which could have happened even if Jacob’s family was living in the Land. And then another 40 years to hear about what God had done to Egypt, the world super power of its day, in order to turn from their gods to Him like Rahab did.

The reality of our world is that people have free will to make good or bad choices. God doesn’t cause either one! People do. Yet, God has the power to take those horrendous choices made by others, like Joseph’s brothers and Pharaoh’s officials, and turn them into something good for His glory (Rom. 8:28), especially where others can see Jesus in us and turn from their disbelief to belief in Him.

Take the long view – redemption. Not everything that happens to us is good, in fact far from it. Yet, we love and serve a God who can turn those horrible situations out for His glory and your becoming more like Jesus for everyone to see.

“To trust God in the light is nothing. To trust Him in the dark – that is faith.” Spurgeon

This is the wilderness of Paran where Moses sent out 12 tour guides (aka spies) to check out the land God promised these former Egyptian slaves – the Israelites.  

God described this piece of real estate as a land flowing with milk and honey. Keep in mind, at this point, they were in the Land! See much of that here? I don’t!

God was asking them to trust that He was fully capable of keeping His promises, even though they couldn’t see the goodness of the Land…yet.

We know the rest of the story. The guides brought back fruit for the people to see with their very own eyes and to touch with their very own fingers some of that milk and honey. They were standing in this desert and could see God’s word come true!

BUT, they heard about the giants and the fortified cities and whined against God. Liar, liar, pants on fire!

No, He was speaking the truth. He was simply asking them to trust Him.

Sometimes God gives us a glimpse of His plans for our lives and at other times He doesn’t. Either way, He wants to deepen our faith in Him in order to keep going, even if we are standing in the wilderness.

He never promises us that His plans for our lives will be easy, but always tasty!

When we discover what we want is what Jesus already gives, only then we will find that He is enough.

We say we are looking forward to heaven and being with Jesus. We ask the Lord to come, like yesterday. And yet, we hold onto this life with two white-knuckled fists.

Think about that for a second. Isn’t what we’re hoping to get out of whatever it is we are holding onto is simply a mere reflection of what is found in Jesus’ presence?

We say Jesus is all that we need, but we keep striving for what we already have, Jesus.

Is Jesus enough? Just a question He wants you to ask and let Him answer. You won’t be fulfilled until you do.