"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. " 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
This verse has been on my mind for almost a week now. I've had a tougher than usual last week, and I've been struggling through it and leaning on the mercy of God. God has taught me through my mistakes and pridefulness, and made me bowed down before Him. The Holy Spirit cuts to the heart, then comforts the heart that has been broken and yielded. In the past, The Lord has been gracious to discipline me if I ever become distracted away from Him, and recently He's again renewed me to Himself. I now have a greater focus on Him and His heart, and He's delivered me from the threats of evil that the enemy would have me believe.
I've been humbled in my disciplining, and God took me to a point where I knew that transparency between Vanessa and I was necessary. I was led to confess my struggles and pet sins to her. Confession is a part of healing and a command of God (James 5:16), but it takes a willingness to bare all to others. In the past this has been a big weakness of mine...
So, I shared with Vanessa my struggles and the healing began. It is God who does the work, but there is an effect added when we can build of off the experiences of others. This process was also humbling, but afterwards I felt so much better. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord" for His pure, effective version of counseling. Vanessa uplifted me so much through her comfort. I knew she was able to do this, only because she herself has been receiving comfort and mercy from God in those same areas of struggles. When God takes us out of a trial, He expects us to share His love and comfort with others. Once Vanessa had been comforted, she became such a support for me. Praise Jesus for extending His hands of spiritual healing through the willing hearts of others. And for a wonderful wife, of course...(Proverbs 19:14)
Confirmations below. God gave so many signs and synchronicities that validated this message of comfort. Below are just two.
11/23/14: I was reading on The Quickened Word and there was a recent post that I was reading the comments for. I read the very same verse (the one above) that had been brought to my remembrance, in the comments section of this article. God is so faithful.
11/25/14: A Rick Warren devo popped up in my email. These somehow make it through my gmail filter every 3 weeks or so. And today's mentioned a particular verse about comfort....yes, the same segment about comfort! Here it is:
“God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things.”
This is verses four through six, and it's a much different translation...I kind of like the variety. Verses 5 and 6 were a great addition, as they expounded on the things that I had just lived out with Vanessa.
This verse has been on my mind for almost a week now. I've had a tougher than usual last week, and I've been struggling through it and leaning on the mercy of God. God has taught me through my mistakes and pridefulness, and made me bowed down before Him. The Holy Spirit cuts to the heart, then comforts the heart that has been broken and yielded. In the past, The Lord has been gracious to discipline me if I ever become distracted away from Him, and recently He's again renewed me to Himself. I now have a greater focus on Him and His heart, and He's delivered me from the threats of evil that the enemy would have me believe.
I've been humbled in my disciplining, and God took me to a point where I knew that transparency between Vanessa and I was necessary. I was led to confess my struggles and pet sins to her. Confession is a part of healing and a command of God (James 5:16), but it takes a willingness to bare all to others. In the past this has been a big weakness of mine...
So, I shared with Vanessa my struggles and the healing began. It is God who does the work, but there is an effect added when we can build of off the experiences of others. This process was also humbling, but afterwards I felt so much better. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord" for His pure, effective version of counseling. Vanessa uplifted me so much through her comfort. I knew she was able to do this, only because she herself has been receiving comfort and mercy from God in those same areas of struggles. When God takes us out of a trial, He expects us to share His love and comfort with others. Once Vanessa had been comforted, she became such a support for me. Praise Jesus for extending His hands of spiritual healing through the willing hearts of others. And for a wonderful wife, of course...(Proverbs 19:14)
Confirmations below. God gave so many signs and synchronicities that validated this message of comfort. Below are just two.
11/23/14: I was reading on The Quickened Word and there was a recent post that I was reading the comments for. I read the very same verse (the one above) that had been brought to my remembrance, in the comments section of this article. God is so faithful.
11/25/14: A Rick Warren devo popped up in my email. These somehow make it through my gmail filter every 3 weeks or so. And today's mentioned a particular verse about comfort....yes, the same segment about comfort! Here it is:
“God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things.”
This is verses four through six, and it's a much different translation...I kind of like the variety. Verses 5 and 6 were a great addition, as they expounded on the things that I had just lived out with Vanessa.
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