A few days I was getting a headache and praying it away wasn't quite working like it usually does. So I asked the Lord about this, and He simply said,
"Not My goodness but My severity"
This took me by surprise a little. And I felt like the Lord was telling me I was in the wrong somehow. He highlighted to me that I was not at peace! So I repented--turned--from this mistake as well as I could. And the headaches gradually went away. Thank you, Lord, for the comfort in your discipline. His rod is supposed to comfort us! (Psalms 23:4) It may not be easy to undergo, but God always works our discipline for the good.
Just a few minutes after the Lord said this, and as my headache was going away, I saw a new book on the table, and flipped it face up to look at the title. It was called "A Severe Mercy", by one of CS Lewis's friends. Wow! What a confirmation. I did not know we had that book, nor had I ever heard of it. But I realize that God's mercy leads to discipline--that His mercy calls for severity. It was the Lord who prompted me to flip over that book as a way to confirm His message! God is so masterful in His workings. He always confirms His word.
So if you're going through a trial of some sort, it may not be from the enemy! It may be discipline from the Lord--an effort by Him to get you back into line. Now, your trial might just be a spiritual attack. But it could be disciplining from God! And we need to inquire of God to see if we're in the wrong. We need to inquire of Him, to see if we opened up a door someplace or are walking without His light. We shouldn't try to war against God's will only because we mistook His teaching for something else.
So let's war against the enemy, yes, with his condemnation and lying and problems. But let's make sure that our trials are not actually God trying to get our attention. He may be wanting us to repent. He may want us to be healed, delivered, brought out--He does--but only if we will first identify our problems. So we need to diligently seek Him whenever we encounter a trial. It could be that He just wants us to cast the enemy out. But maybe He wants to tell us something first.
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." Psalm 119:67
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes" Psalm 119:71
"Not My goodness but My severity"
This took me by surprise a little. And I felt like the Lord was telling me I was in the wrong somehow. He highlighted to me that I was not at peace! So I repented--turned--from this mistake as well as I could. And the headaches gradually went away. Thank you, Lord, for the comfort in your discipline. His rod is supposed to comfort us! (Psalms 23:4) It may not be easy to undergo, but God always works our discipline for the good.
Just a few minutes after the Lord said this, and as my headache was going away, I saw a new book on the table, and flipped it face up to look at the title. It was called "A Severe Mercy", by one of CS Lewis's friends. Wow! What a confirmation. I did not know we had that book, nor had I ever heard of it. But I realize that God's mercy leads to discipline--that His mercy calls for severity. It was the Lord who prompted me to flip over that book as a way to confirm His message! God is so masterful in His workings. He always confirms His word.
So if you're going through a trial of some sort, it may not be from the enemy! It may be discipline from the Lord--an effort by Him to get you back into line. Now, your trial might just be a spiritual attack. But it could be disciplining from God! And we need to inquire of God to see if we're in the wrong. We need to inquire of Him, to see if we opened up a door someplace or are walking without His light. We shouldn't try to war against God's will only because we mistook His teaching for something else.
So let's war against the enemy, yes, with his condemnation and lying and problems. But let's make sure that our trials are not actually God trying to get our attention. He may be wanting us to repent. He may want us to be healed, delivered, brought out--He does--but only if we will first identify our problems. So we need to diligently seek Him whenever we encounter a trial. It could be that He just wants us to cast the enemy out. But maybe He wants to tell us something first.
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." Psalm 119:67
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes" Psalm 119:71
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