Testing

Im reading a great book right now by Scott Wilson, pastor of The Oaks Fellowship, on the south side of Dallas. The book is called The Next Level, and it truly is amazing. Its a 31 day journey through the tests we see major Bible character walk through. Some pass the tests with flying colors, while others fail miserably only to face the same test again. Check this link for a daily video blog that tracks with the book.

Scott relates the tests God allows in our life to either a prison or a classroom. We can become bitter and angry about the test and run away (the prison thought) or we can embrace what God si teaching us while learning the lesson as we pass the test. I throughly believe that God is preparing each of us for what He has prepared for us.

So my reading for the day is some classic scripture about trusting God.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9 (NLT)