Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-23


And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.

Permit me to ask you this question: What will the obstacles and opposition you meet do to you today? Will they make you bitter, or will they make you better? Will they overcome you or you will triumph over them?

Your answer to these questions are largely determined by whether you spiritual or carnal; dead to self or living for self; crucified with Christ or not.

If you are committed to pursuing God's purposes, then the issue is not so much what your circumstances will do to you, but what you will do to your circumstances.

The Christian who understands this has the power to say to life - do your worst, I have the resources to take every negative and turn it into a positive.

Nothing successfully opposes the believer whose life is hidden with Christ in God. Jesus faced and endured grievous opposition from sinful people in His ministry. He saw opposition in its most terrifying form.

What did Jesus do? Anytime He faced such opposition He would go out into the hill country to pray. Prayer, that powerful means of communicating with God and controlling not so much the situation as the outcome of the situation, made Jesus not a victim, but a victor.

One of the major purposes of God seems to be that of producing character in His children, not their ease, not even their happiness - except as a by-product - but their character. And how is character produced?

One way it is produced is through overcoming difficulties. So don't groan at the obstacles and opposition that face you today - grow in them. They help to sharpen your character - and your faith!

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see that your power at work within me is far greater than the challenges that confront me. Scriptural Reading: Ephesians1:11-23