HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME

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HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME
I, like many of you have a number of friends who are going through difficult times in their lives right now. I have friends who are dealing with heath problems, relationship problems and several who are out of work and don't have any prospects for employment.
As I have talked these friends I see various reactions to their difficulties. Most deal with it by looking to God and his promises for their strength. Very few seem to feel a hopelessness regarding their situations, yet we know that Satan never gives up in trying to break our spirits. The scripture talks about him actively "walking about looking for those he can devour".
In the few years I have been on this earth, one of the greatest tragedies I have seen, is to see people with their spirits broken. Many have expressed concern for me at the death of my father, but I think I am doing pretty well. I know the creator of the universe and know that my father is with him.
Someone shared these words with me recently: "Death is not the greatest loss in life, the greatest loss is what dies within us while we live," (Author Unknown). Life is a struggle isn't it? The scripture speaks repeatedly about our running the race of life or fighting to remain faithful to God. Paul wrote to the young man Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-12, "But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses."
Is Satan trying to discourage you by whispering in your heart that no one cares, that things can't get better, that there is no job out there for you, that you are too old, too young or have too little education? Does he plant worries about bills and loosing possessions in your heart? Perhaps it is time to regain control of our hearts and focus on the world the way God intended for us to do. To realize, as Jesus said, that life does not consist of the things we own (Luke 12:15). Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11b-13, "I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. (NLT)
That is a hard example to follow isn't it? I have to admit that I have not grown to the point that I can live a "worry free" life. I am however still working on it and praying to the one who controls all things about it. There is a song we sometimes sing that goes like this: "He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, the Sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me. There really ought to be a sign upon the heart, "Don't judge me yet, there's an unfinished part." But I'll be perfect just according to His plan Fashioned by the Master's loving hands."
I continue in my struggle to give myself over to the one who can give me a life of no more sorrow, doubt or heartache. How about you? --Messages from the Heart