FAITH
Flatten the Mt. Everest in Your Life
By Stacie Ruth Stoelting
Guest Columnist
CBN.com –
I hurt my back while rock climbing recently. Hey, I really wish I could say that I hurt it while lifting an injured elderly lady to safety. But, no, I hurt my back while rock climbing.
My exuberance eclipsed common sense: I tried too hard with my own strength levels (and only made it half-way up the advanced climb). It taught me a lesson: In my own strength, I fail and hurt. I may take ibuprofen, but only rest and treatment offer the answer to the pain problem.
That reminds me of life. We feel pain and try painkillers instead of getting treatment to get well. We try things ranging from sports, socializing (online and offline), shopping, and all sorts of other activities to distract us. But we still hurt and wonder why.
The answer to our pain rests in knowing Dr. Jesus. Jesus offers an answer to the pain question. He promises to make things right in the end and stays with us in the interim. In Max Lucado’s fantastic book, Fearless, he puts it well: “He has diagnosed the pain of the world and written the book on its treatment. We can trust him. ‘Everything will work out in the end…’”
Does your soul feel numb with anguish? God loves you and wants to comfort you. Did you realize that love never dies? God has made a way to bridge the gap between mistake-plagued humanity and Himself. Jesus came to bear our burdens. He died that we may live with hope and Heaven. (Click here to meet Him!)
Jesus gives us true love and life. Alcohol will not do it. Overeating will not do it.
Today, let Jesus feed your soul with His love.... And, hey, you can never overeat on that!
"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" (John 6:35)
Have you encountered flakey fakes in the faith? Good news: Jesus always keeps His Word! He never says something and forgets. He knows what you need and already works behind-the-scenes to answer your prayers. He helps us on earth and provides Heaven.
Download this empowering fact into your heart:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7)
Celebrate the present and His presence today! While giving Him Sundays, let's also give Him our Mondays…our Tuesdays…etc. In John 15:4, Jesus invites us: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." Abide in Jesus and He’ll abide in you. Take some time to receive His love and let Him love people thru you.
Ever thought of applying the Word to the world rather than the world to the Word? Let’s check our Maker’s life manual before making decisions.
Instead of finger-numbing, knee-scraping climbing, let’s bend our knees. Let’s talk and listen during regular prayer time. The great thing is that our reception doesn’t change with our area. There’s no distance in prayer! (Hey, my Facebook prayer group, Praying Pals, prays each Friday and includes people from South Africa, India, Japan, Philippines, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Brazil, Hawaii, etc. We all pray and see God work. Consider yourself invited!)
Remember Ephesians 6:18: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
If we didn’t climb life’s mountains with Jesus, we would miss out on a Heavenly view on life. Problems point us to the problem solver. The climb makes us value the mountain mover. Hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ earth arrival, Isaiah told us about Jesus: “Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”
Today, let's climb on Jesus' back and do some faith-filled rock climbing. With Him, you’ll never fall. The only way to the top is to let Jesus carry us. Wow, the view from the top is more than worth it!
 Going through a rough time? Join Stacie Ruth’s prayer group at www.prayingpals.org. After Stacie Ruth met Jesus, her life blossomed with true joy and purpose! Life’s blows hurt her, but Jesus heals and strengthens her. Now an author, actress, and recording artist, she laughs at the irony and praises God, who uses unlikely people...like herself. Discover why she's sung/spoken for the President, been pictured in major media (The New York Timesand USA Today), written a book at age 15, and keynoted conferences since she was a teenager. Today, she offers a new conference for those hurting from job losses, financial troubles, depression, grief, diseases (like Alzheimer’s), and other heartaches through her national conference, The Heart Hospital. Her new album, Heavenly, will release nationally in July. To watch video clips, listen to music, view and download photos for articles, and other features, visit www.brightlightministries.com.
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