Saturday, March 26, 2011
END TIMES READING PLAN: Ezekiel 20, 34
SCRIPTURE READING
Song of Solomon 4:16 Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow. (ESV)
Rom 8:28 We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)
All things work for God’s ultimate purpose in preparing a Bride as Jesus’ inheritance. Many Christians are quick to embrace the south winds of refreshment and blessing but struggle with accepting the north winds of trial, struggle and adversity. We need both the north winds of testing and difficulty and the south winds of refreshing to mature us. Both play a strategic role in maturing us into the Bride of Christ. Only God has the wisdom to know the right combination of the north and south winds that are necessary in each season of our life. Only God fully knows His purposes and plans for our lives, our make-up and destiny. The guiding principle through all of human history has been God, using His power and wisdom to select, train and prepare a Bride to reign with Jesus. Both blessings and challenges work together to train the Bride. Our prayer must be a two-fold prayer, we must pray for the north wind of adversity and the south wind of blessing since both play a strategic role in maturing us to be a pure and spotless Bride. In testing and difficulty and in times of prosperity we must acknowledge that God alone knows the purpose and He is sovereign.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask the Lord to show you how the north winds of adversity and the south winds of blessing have worked together to mature and refine you.
2. Ask God to soften your heart, to grow in you a deep trust in Him so that you can learn to love and trust Him in all circumstances, during the north winds and the south winds.
3. Spend some time thanking God that He is in control of all your circumstances, that He is sovereign, that you can trust Him fully.
