When the light is yellow, please DON'T speed up.

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (MSG) 

"These are all warning markers - DANGER! - in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel - they at the beginning, we at the end - and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence."

God is so faithful and he has set out warnings in our lives to warn us of what to be careful of, ways people can easily get off track... I find myself questioning why I don't more clearly listen to these warnings. Why I don't more clearly seek the advice of my Heavenly Father in his word!? Everything is so clearly laid out, so specifically set forth, all we have to do is pay attention. 

I love the way the Message version lays out those verses so blatantly. Its amazing how sometimes we simply need a "God-smackdown" because we get so far off track! 

This passage continues in the NIV as "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 

How amazing is our God!? He truly is faithful! He has the reputation for it, he can get me out of anything he puts me in! He is trustworthy, completely trustworthy. 

I need to trust in his warning signs and trust that even though it might be more convenient or make more since at the specific moment, in my brain, to speed through the yellow light or to take a shortcut clearly marked "DO NOT ENTER" it is NOT smart. Obviously. 

God has a clear and perfect plan for me and my full desire is to follow it intensely, not wavering away or thinking that I am "above temptation," because I clearly am not. No one is. 

Again in 1 Peter 5:10, Peter tells us, "The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make your strong, firm and steadfast."

He is so good, and his plans are perfect. 

These passages are exactly what I needed today and what I need to cling to throughout times of trial. He is forming me into the woman that He wants me to be, not who others want me to be. I'm so amazed by how he has blessed me and how he continues to show me the right paths to take, while closing the doors on others. 

One of the most important things that I need to realize and that I feel everyone needs to realize while they are going through trials is that the enemy knows we are more vulnerable when we are removed from our support systems! You wouldn't go into a battle alone, would you? Then why are we trying to fight alone?! Our trials, and the temptations we are facing in this world are not just ours... Others are struggling, and others need encouragement as well. Cling to one another and spur each other on towards good works. 

As it says in Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

The trust and honesty of good friends is becoming so real and so valuable to me. I am so amazed by how God is using people in my life to encourage me and to help me through difficult points in my life. I am so thankful for all He has blessed me with and all he continues to reveal to me.

Be encouraged but please be wise, the growing pains you are feeling now will soon cease and you will be stronger than you ever thought was possible. 

We stand together in this battle, we are all as one. 




Some more encouragement I found this morning is found in Matthew 7:7-8, Revelation 3:19-20, and 1 John 5:14-15.
God is so good. His lessons and his love is new every day!