john3610
New Member
June 9
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:3
From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:
Sadly, some Christians are prone to look on the dark side of everything and to dwell more on past difficulties rather than on what God has done for them. When asked their view of the Christian life, they list their continual conflicts, their deepest problems, their sad adversities, and the sinful condition of their heart. Seldom will they even allude to the great mercies God has graciously given them.
Yet a Christian whose soul is healthy is joyful and will share along the lines: "I will not speak about myself except to God's honor. 'He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God' (Ps. 40:2-3). 'The LORD has done great things for [me], and [I am] filled with joy'" (Ps. 126.3).
This kind of brief summary of their experience is the very best any child of God could hope to exhibit. Yes, it is true we must endure trials, but it is just as true that the Lord delivers us out of them. It is true we all have our sinful shortcomings, which we all regret, but it is equally as true that we have an all-sufficient Savior who overcomes these shortcomings and delivers us from their power.
When we look back, it would be wrong to deny we were once in the Slough of Despond [the bog in The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1628-1688) where Christian sinks under the weight of his sins and guilt], or that we have crept along the Valley of Humiliation [also from The Pilgrim's Progress]. It would be equally as wrong to forget that we went through them safely and profitably. We did not remain in them thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader who "brought us to a place of abundance" (Ps. 66:12).
The deeper our troubles have been, the louder our thanks to God should be, for He led us through them all and has preserved us until now. Our grievous trials should not sour our hymns of praise, but should actually become the bass part of life's song:
"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
From the pen of Jim Reimann:
No one enjoys believers who live as though they have been baptized in vinegar. They drain energy from us rather than motivate us to be better Christians. If you examine yourself and come to the realization this describes you, there is hope. But it involves being honest and being willing to change your thinking.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Phil. 4:8). "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2).
Our thinking is transformed as we discipline ourselves to spend time in the Scriptures. "We have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16)-the Word of God
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:3
From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:
Sadly, some Christians are prone to look on the dark side of everything and to dwell more on past difficulties rather than on what God has done for them. When asked their view of the Christian life, they list their continual conflicts, their deepest problems, their sad adversities, and the sinful condition of their heart. Seldom will they even allude to the great mercies God has graciously given them.
Yet a Christian whose soul is healthy is joyful and will share along the lines: "I will not speak about myself except to God's honor. 'He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God' (Ps. 40:2-3). 'The LORD has done great things for [me], and [I am] filled with joy'" (Ps. 126.3).
This kind of brief summary of their experience is the very best any child of God could hope to exhibit. Yes, it is true we must endure trials, but it is just as true that the Lord delivers us out of them. It is true we all have our sinful shortcomings, which we all regret, but it is equally as true that we have an all-sufficient Savior who overcomes these shortcomings and delivers us from their power.
When we look back, it would be wrong to deny we were once in the Slough of Despond [the bog in The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1628-1688) where Christian sinks under the weight of his sins and guilt], or that we have crept along the Valley of Humiliation [also from The Pilgrim's Progress]. It would be equally as wrong to forget that we went through them safely and profitably. We did not remain in them thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader who "brought us to a place of abundance" (Ps. 66:12).
The deeper our troubles have been, the louder our thanks to God should be, for He led us through them all and has preserved us until now. Our grievous trials should not sour our hymns of praise, but should actually become the bass part of life's song:
"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
From the pen of Jim Reimann:
No one enjoys believers who live as though they have been baptized in vinegar. They drain energy from us rather than motivate us to be better Christians. If you examine yourself and come to the realization this describes you, there is hope. But it involves being honest and being willing to change your thinking.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Phil. 4:8). "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2).
Our thinking is transformed as we discipline ourselves to spend time in the Scriptures. "We have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16)-the Word of God
