Stop looking at your circumstances. Ask God to help you create the circumstances you want instead of the ones you’ve got.
Dictionary.com defines circumstances as:
“a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner, agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor:”
First, circumstances and facts change. . .truth doesn’t (God’s Word is truth).
Malachi 3:6
“For I am the Lord, I change not. . .”
Hebrews 13:8 AMPC
“Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).”
Matthew 3:2
“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:2 AMPC
“And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Romans 12:2 AMPC
“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
Acts 3:19 TLB
“Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Second, your attitude will determine your tolerance of the circumstances you’re facing.
Ephesians 4:2 GNT
“Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another.”
Third, talking about your circumstances won’t change them . . . but action based on God’s Word will.
Romans 2:13 MSG
“Merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.”
James 2:24 GWT
“You see that a person receives God’s approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes.”
Genesis 39:22
“And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.”
James 1:22 AMPC
“But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].”
James 1:25 NLT
“But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”
Fourth, your character. . .not your circumstances. . .will determine your destiny.
Ephesians 5:13 GWT
“Light exposes the true character of everything.”
First, she married a foreigner instead of one of the Moabites in her home town.
Second, she was probably ostracized from her family. . .because she didn’t marry the one they picked. . .as would have been the custom.
Third, her husband died and she was forced to live with her mother-in-law who according to the scripture was a bitter woman over the loss of her husband and sons.
Fourth, widows who lost their husbands and had non one. . .were not highly esteemed . . .that’s why Jesus taught the church to care for the widows and the orphans.
Fifth, now her mother-in-law is returning to her home where Ruth will be a foreigner.
Ruth 3:11 GWT
“Don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do whatever you say. The whole town knows that you are a woman who has strength of character.”
Fifth, your peace factor should never be affected by your circumstances.
The key to developing a peace factor in your life is to know the Word and pray it.
John 14:27 AMPC
“Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]”
Isaiah 26:3 AMPC
“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMPC
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. The Lord [be] with you all.”
Sixth, your response to less than desirable circumstances will determine your future success.
Proverbs 24:10
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”
The Message Bible translation of Proverbs 24:10 says:
“If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place.”
Seventh, adverse circumstances are from hell. . .opportunities are from heaven.
I Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC
“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].”
Here are two things certain from 2 Corinthians 9:8.
1. God is able and willing to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance.
2. God wants you to always. . .not sometimes. . .but ALWAYS and under ALL circumstances and whatever the need [wants you] to be self sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
Proverbs 28:14 AMPC
“Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”
1 Corinthians 13:7 AMPC
“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC
“Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].”
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS