Where Can I Find Peace From Suffering?

We suffer in many ways, some of us suffer deeply, even after years of trying to get relief.  Some of us even carry painful scars through our lives.  The Bible gives a story of a woman who had suffered deeply for years and what she did to find great peace.

"At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my clothes?'"  Mark 5:30

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."Mark 5:34*.

This is from the story of the woman who had an incurable flow of blood. For twelve years, she spent her money on doctors who failed to heal her. Finding Jesus in the crowd she touches his cloak thinking just touching Jesus' garment will transfer healing to her.

Having a flow of blood made her culturally unclean, an outcast, and if she was open about her condition she might have been stoned by the crowd. Her touch according to their views transferred uncleanness to whatever she touched, and touching a teacher would be a very bad thing.

In response to her touch, she is immediately healed. Jesus perceives the healing and asked the crowd who it was that touched him. She comes forward and tells all about the miracle. Then Jesus said those wonderful words. "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

There are so many encouragements in this passage. Read the passage in your Bible, (see link below) and look for these encouragements:

1. Jesus is accessible. When she pressed through the crowd she was able to touch him. So don't give up, keep trying to come. He is there waiting for you.
2. Jesus knows. He knew the woman had been to him, he knew she touched him, he knew she was healed, and he knows your hurt.
3. Miracles are rarely secret and when they are it is only for a time. We are given blessings to qualify us to testify to the glory of God. He looked for her so she could testify.
4. Faith in Jesus brought her healing, and faith in him can bring healing to us.
5. Jesus wants to bring us peace. He blessed this woman with "Go in peace." He wants to say the same to us.
6. He wanted her to be free on all levels, He said, "be freed from your suffering." It is freedom not only of the physical illness, but the emotional pain, and psychological, and even socially, since a flow of blood made one "unclean." socially. 
7. Jesus' power is awesome. He could bring complete healing to one who had an illness for so long a time. No matter how long we have suffered he can bring peace and freedom.
8. Her faith had action. She had to take the risk of being discovered as an unclean woman in a crowd, and of touching a teacher. Though she was trying to "get away with it" when the call came she came before him and fell down and told all that happened. My faith has to have action.

We hear it all the time, and it is still true even if old; come to Jesus, bring him your hurt, pain, and suffering. He is waiting to say, "Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

*To read the entire passage click here, Mark 5:27-34.

(c) Adron 6/3/13

What Does It Mean To Believe? Galatians 3:6

What Does It Mean To Believe

People ask us to believe; even God asks us to believe. What is it, and what difference does it make?

"So Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Galatians 3:6 NIV.

BACKGROUND
Abraham received a promise from God that was impossible to humanly fulfill; it required a divine miracle. Despite the impossibility of the promise, Abraham believed God, who esteems Abraham as being right with him.

The word "believe" causes much confusion. To some, it means just holding an idea, an intellectual assent, or opinion. We must have a correct idea of what belief is and why it is important.

BELIEF IS IMPORTANT
The wrong idea of belief means we miss much of what God is trying to say to us about himself and us. Much of what God communicates to us in the Bible is in terms of belief. If we miss what God is saying, we miss more than an interesting message; we miss His blessing, life, and we may miss salvation.

BELIEF IS NOT JUST AN IDEA
Abraham used belief; for him, it was an act. The belief was something he did; as far as Abraham was concerned, God made a promise, and Abraham considered His word good since God can keep the promise because of who God is.

THE RESULTS OF BELIEF
He was credited with righteousness. Credit is to have something given to you ahead of your ability to provide it, like receiving merchandise before you have the money to pay for it. Abraham was given the consideration of being righteous with God before he was righteous.

We all need righteousness. To be righteous with God is to have no sin before God and be accepted by him without judgment. Abraham was given this standing without earning it by any work but by believing God's word.

HOW DO WE BELIEVE
Trust, confidence, and faith help us understand what believing is. It is not just an understanding of a fact; it is a knowing that acts on the truth- like you believe the food is not poisoned, so you eat it, you believe the car will start, so you turn the key, you believe the bridge will hold, so you cross. Believing has to be expressed in action.

The Bible says, "Believing comes from hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God."* Being exposed to God's Word deepens our faith in God; many engage in a daily Bible reading plan for this purpose.

We may have the righteousness that God gives by believing his promise. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." **

*Romans 10:17, ** John 3:16.

To learn more about coming to God, follow this link to my other blog: Click here.

© A.E. Dozat

Is Zeal For God Enough to Go To Heaven?

Some people observe every religious rule and regulation of dogma hoping that strict observance of religious discipline will earn them a place in heaven, but is it enough to get us in heaven?

"For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." Romans 10: 2-4, NIV.

ZEAL
The Bible passage above speaks of a particular people but the point applies to all. These people were famous for their strict observance of the teaching of Moses and the Prophets, interpreting the scriptures with such strictness to guarantee that they did not fail to keep all the hundreds of laws they perceived.

RIGHTEOUSNESS
They knew they needed righteousness as the grounds upon which they may stand before a holy and just God to have his acceptance, favor, and entrance into heaven.

RELATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Paul the Apostle points out that their zeal was without knowledge. On the surface, this looks backward since they knew the hundreds of laws and interpretations of those laws. The knowledge Paul referred to is not head knowledge of religion and traditions but heart knowledge that comes from knowing and experiencing God. This second type of knowledge is superior since it is the knowledge that comes from a relationship with God. Without a relationship with God, the only other option is to establish righteousness based on strict observation of rules. This man-made righteousness is not sufficient to cover sins.

The problem with having zeal without knowledge is that you may miss the point. In this case a relationship with God and our hope of salvation, it is a big point. How tragic to spend a life observing every little rule and discovering God had something else in mind- something better.

THE SOURCE

Righteousness given by God

The point of the laws and teachings of the scriptures is not the laws and teachings for if righteousness could be earned there would not have been a need for Christ; it is the person of Christ who alone fulfilled all God's requirements. Instead of earning righteousness, we may receive righteousness as a gift.

Jesus is the righteousness of God and God offers the righteousness of Jesus to us.

THE CATCH
God asks only that we believe. No one is successful at keeping all laws but we may have righteousness with God because of what Jesus did. Instead of doing works we believe and thereby receive his righteousness on our behalf.

© Adron 6/7/12

What Does a Person Who Suffered Say About Suffering? 2 Timothy 1:12

We all face suffering sooner or later. We react to suffering in different ways such as anger, despair, or like Paul, the Apostle embrace suffering knowing he had more than the suffering.

"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2 Timothy 1:12, NIV.

SUFFERED
Paul suffered much for the gospel. He was betrayed, stoned, beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and the list goes on ending in martyrdom. Paul had a focus in his life, and it wasn't himself, his problems, or his trials; but it was a focus on Jesus.

KNOW
He said, "I know." he had the confidence and assurance that comes out of knowing; not just a knowledge born from books, or classroom learning- he had something different. When you say, "I know Joe," you don't mean you recognize Joe's face but that you are acquainted with Joe, that you are friends, or companions or more.

Paul had both kinds of knowledge; he knew intellectually who he believed in and he knew personally who he believed in. He knew Jesus as a friend and Savior.  Paul knew Jesus as Savior; that as God he was sufficient to take our sins on the cross and pay completely their debt. Paul knew that only a holy God could have done that.

ENTRUSTED
Paul's knowledge of Jesus gave the greatest conviction of eternal heaven; he could have argued it from doctrine, or he could have rationalized it, but because he knew Jesus as Lord personally he knew Jesus was sufficient to the task. He had no doubts about who it was he was trusting his soul to, and he had no doubts that trusting his soul to Jesus was sufficient and more to assure his salvation and good standing in the day of judgment.

We are given strong words of assurance and confidence in this verse; we have "know", "believed," and "convinced." Knowing Christ is powerful in giving our faith strength to overcome the doubts of our eternal future. The activating word in this verse is the word "entrusted" Paul gave complete trust in the Lord Jesus to save him. The challenge that we must consider for ourselves is whether we, like Paul, have entrusted our future to Him who is able, and have trusted him have we grown to know him.

To find out how you can believe in Jesus as your Savor follow this link: click here.

(c)Adron Dozat

Where is God When You Need Him. Psalm 121:3-4

In our darkest times and deepest trials, we are tempted to demand of God that He pay attention. We wonder if God knows about our suffering. We ask "Does He see?"

"He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber: indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:3,4, NIV

GOD IS ACTIVE
This verse from the Bible is full of activity. It uses words like, "He will not..." and,"He who watches..." and," Will neither ..." God is involved and active during our trials. He is not absent or distracted.

HE WATCHES
Twice it says, "He who watches." This double emphasis leaves no doubt that God is watching our troubles. He is the God who is already watching, we don't have to get His attention, He already is the God "who watches."

When we say God watches we don't just mean he sees, but like a guard on a city wall, He is watching to protect the city, ready to call the alarm and defend against a foe. God is watching over our trials ready to defend and protect.

A WATCHMAN
The watchman made the city safe and the watchfulness of our God keeps us safe. While others are asleep the watchman may turn back an enemy attack. We in our earthly state do not know or see the battles fought outside our vision on spiritual battlefields.

A watchman who slept while on duty was no good and was even a danger to the city, but our God is ever alert. Three times it uses the personal pronoun, "He," and three times it says our God will not slumber or sleep. Our Father in Heaven is watching, the Holy Spirit in us is counseling and comforting, and the Son is standing as our intercessor. We are protected, we are guarded, and we are covered!

STAND
We may receive wounds and blows in this wicked world but we still stand secure because "He will not let your foot slip." We stand on our feet and it speaks of our standing before the All-Seeing Ruler of All Time. Our standing before Him does change and our eternal salvation is secure.

If this post is helpful you also might like to read more encouragement from Psalm 121, CLICK HERE.

(c) Adron Dozat

Finding Religion or Finding God. Isaiah 55:61

Sadly many do not find the Lord because they refuse to be humble or they want their own glory, or they want religion instead of a savior.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6, NIV.

NOW
We say “seize the moment,” we mean act now; the opportunities may not come later. “Seek the Lord while he may be found" suggest that there is a time when the Lord may be found and there it warns that a time may come when the Lord may not be found. We put him off saying, “I’ll accept Jesus, but not just yet I’ll have my fun and turn to the Lord later.” There is no guarantee that later will come. If you put Jesus off till your old age will you be able to think clearly and make that choice?

FIND
To say “Seek the Lord while he may be found…” means finding God is possible. It is not just the dream of poets but clearly taught in the Bible. God can be found and we can have a relationship with him.

EFFORT
We must put some effort to it. To “Seek” God is worth, time, energy, and sacrifice. To seek Him is not just a glance in the Bible or attending church three times a year, but to look for Him like someone who moves the furniture around, empties the closets, and upturns the drawers to find some lost treasure.

PERSON
Seeking God is not some monastic ritual fraught with penance and self-denial. The Bible says “Call on him while he is near.” What is easier than to call out to the Lord? This is a prayer. Pray earnestly confessing your sins and admit you are not able to pay up for them; that your sins have separated you from God and put you in judgment, but Jesus is God’s substitute for your sins; he took them and paid for them on the cross. Tell God you accept Jesus’ righteousness in exchange for your sins and that you receive forgiveness based on what he did.

NEAR
God is “near,” because the gospel is free to us, (though it cost Jesus everything). A God of love makes salvation simple for a child, cheap for the poor, and easy for the weak.

If a doctor found a cure for a deadly pandemic and kindly offered it to every person free so that all humanity would live would you say, “No I will go to medical school and become a Doctor and build a research institution to find my own cure for this lethal plague?” That would be foolish. To reject what God offers in Jesus is just that.

(c)Adron Dozat

A Treaty of Peace with God. Romans 5:1

The world wants peace, our communities want peace, and as individuals, we each want personal peace.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God through our lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 NIV.

WE WERE ENEMIES
Because of our sins that we were enemies of God even though we may not have known it; our sins offended Him and established warfare between us and God.

JUSTIFIED
To be "justified" is to have all charges against us wiped clean and to be proven innocent of any crime. To be justified before God is to say that we stand in front of the All-Knowing God clean and innocent; as if we never had any contact with sin.

JESUS
The verses that precede these explain it, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25). The death of Jesus paid the penalty of our sins and gives us peace that we could never find otherwise, a peace the world, psychology, philosophy or religion could never know or give. Peace with God our Creator is the beginning of having peace within ourselves.

PEACE
We do not receive the peace with God by good deeds that outnumber our bad deeds, or by our acts of devotion, or by any observance, or sacrament, but only by faith.

He built a bridge to cross from guilt to peace, that bridge is the cross of Jesus where the Lord of Love after living a sinless life gave up his life and took our sin's punishment upon himself. It is like a treaty between two nations to lay down their weapons of war. A legal peace enforced by powers greater than the individual soldiers who formerly fought. This treaty of peace is first ratified by God in the resurrection and then we agree to it and receive it by faith.

IT STARTS
Peace with God is only the beginning. We now stand acceptable to Him in a new relationship with God where we are His children, ambassadors to this world and co-laborers in His work among mankind.

Those three words “Peace with God” are so beautiful! What a blessing to think all our fears of God and our doubts can be utterly washed away. If you do not have peace with God come to God through the blood of Jesus alone, confess your sins, and accept the gift of peace with God by faith.

To learn how to come to God and find eternal life and peace follow THIS LINK to read more.

(c) Adron Dozat 8/11/10

The End Result of Knowledge. Proverbs 22:19

We go to school or study and get our heads full of facts, formulas, dates, and data. What is it all good for? What is the real purpose of education?

“Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.” Proverbs 22:17-19. NIV.

We are made to learn and grow intellectually. A normal, healthy mind is curious and learns, even if it is the small and mundane things of the day today. The mind that does not learn is ill and experiences entropy.

In its wise sayings, the book of proverbs answers the end purpose of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. The modern man says it to get ahead, or get a better job, or to fulfill the “American Dream,” but proverbs teach that knowledge is “So that your Trust may be in the Lord.”

God had a purpose when he gave us the ability to reason and learn. Learning about the natural universe around us reveals more of God, and thoughtful consideration of what we learn ought to point us to Him. Since God created all things, any subject, whether science, math, history, sociology or literature, or any other discipline, draws us closer to The Lord. Even to study the structure of a leaf, or the composition of an element or the progress of human history causes the thoughtful to see the Creator's hand. His universe demonstrates His greatness, power, immeasurable creativity, and awesome wisdom. To consider any discipline of study should cause us to declare, “Yes, there must be a God!”

Knowledge should cause us to trust in the Lord. How can you not trust in The One who is so All-knowing and All-powerful? How can you not trust The One who made mother birds, created sunshine, gravity, stars, atoms, the heart, the eye, sound, or any other thing you can consider?

Learning alone is not enough; we need help in our understanding. The proverb encourages us to “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise.” God is not only revealed in creation, but He speaks in the Holy Scriptures to make clear to us His love and purpose. Let’s become devoted to studying His Written Word and His creation.

(c) Adron 7/25/10

The Prayer of Jonah. Jonah 2:4

We know the story of Jonah and the fish. Jonah was running from God and his rebellion caught up to him on a boat heading to an obscure place called Tarshish. During the storm of God’s judgment, the sailors toss him overboard and God provided a fish to swallow him. He had a clear understanding of what God wanted him to do but in utter disregard of God he totally rebels, suffers punishment and consequences of historic magnitude which land (excuse the pun) him in the darkest depths of the sea. Jonah felt he had lost his relationship with God, and his commission as a prophet. He felt he had turned his back on God and God in kind had turned away from Jonah.

“…I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.” Jonah 2:4, NIV.

In the belly of the fish, he prays an incredible prayer, (all of chapter two). If you were to argue that prayer was no longer an option this would have been it! Jonah prays and God who is merciful hears his prayer. God hears Jonah even from the bottom of the sea; even though he has rebelled, sinned, and heading the wrong way. We are never too far from God that He won't hear our prayers.

His prayer is like a chorus we all could sing, it is the despair we all have felt. “I have been banished from your sight.” We often feel as if we have failed God so much and so repeatedly that there surely is no way to redeem our situation. We feel “banished,” that is judged, condemned, and sent out the back door.

Then the great turn around the word, “Yet.”  He says it as if he was saying “in spite of” or “non-the-less.” It is like he is saying “just wait and consider this great thing.” It is a big word that little word, yet.

What a prayer of faith! He is comforted and says “yet I will look again toward your holy temple.” He has not given up and is not thinking about heaven now, or he would use different imagery; he would say "I will come to your holy temple." He is speaking of present real deliverance. In faith, Jonah anticipated actually going again to the temple in Jerusalem. He says this because he knows he will receive the deliverance he asked of God. Remember he is saying this while still in the belly of the fish at the bottom of the sea!

If only my prayers were so confident. If I could learn one thing from Jonah it would be how to pray. I need to pray to believe and express that I believe.


P.S. Take time to read all of Jonah 2 there are many more insights on prayer.

(c) Adron 5/28/10

What Does The Bible Say About Depression. Psalm 42:11

We all have times of discouragement.  In our struggle with discouragement, we turn to programs, pills, education, government, or something else, and it leaves us as depressed as before.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11, NIV.

AN AUTHORITY
The author of this verse experienced deep depression. He uses words like downcast,” meaning not able to look up. He is “disturbed,” meaning his peace was taken away. He had experience with the deep darkness of depression.

HOPE
The deepest problems of our hearts are often answered by the simplest truths. “Put your hope in God,” not in money, government, programs, relationships, or education. Hope looks forward in faith and trust. One may say it is faith. We must actively trust God and not spend our time feeling sorry for ourselves.

We can put this into practice by:
     * Meditating on His Love.
     * Drawing close to God through His Word.
     * Review the promises He gives.
     * Remember, He knows your inner need.
     * Remember, He made you and understands you.
     * Express to God in prayer that you put your hope in Him.

FOCUS
When we focus on God and not on our problems, we begin to find healing and take the first steps to lasting peace. Hope in God will lead to praise; like the verse says, “I will yet praise him.” - there is a future beyond this trouble, and this sorrow is not all there is.

SAVIOR
God is our “Savior.” We are not saved from our sins by an angel or any created person or thing, and our own actions will not save us- instead, we are saved by faith in God, our Savior. God wants us to know the joy of salvation. Out of love, God sent his Son to die for our sins, so if we trust Jesus, He will be our Savior. Whatever depression, defeat, or sorrow you carry. I encourage you to "put your hope in God." Bring your grief to God in prayer, and keep praying until you can start to praise him and continue to praise him.

If you need to learn more about how God can be your savior, see my other blog: Click Here.

A Prayer.
Psalm 42:11.
Heavenly Father, You are the God of joy.
You deserve my total service and worship,
but sometimes I get so down and discouraged,
Where I feel depressed and in a dark place.
I know You made me for a better purpose.
You want me to experience joy and salvation.
I know you love me; you see me and understand.
Pardon my sin of selfishness with this life.
Forgive me for withholding worship and praise.
Turn my heart to You and away from self-pity.
I put my hope in You alone for victory.
I accept Your wise and good purpose for me.
I receive Your love and forgiveness through Jesus.
Give me a lifestyle of worship and joy.
Thank You, Father, for these wonderful blessings.

© Adron 1/3/10