A Writing Challenge: Day 17 & 18

Praise & Prayer:  Today's praise and prayer go hand and hand. After a rough but blessed week, I feel that this is perfect for this weekend's praise and prayer. I praise Him for the pain. For the hard times, the suffering and the sorrow. It's not easy to do this but it's the truth. We need to praise and thank Him for the hard stuff. I want to take a minute and share with you a few verses from the book of Philippians. It is taken from the Message version of the bible. I have read these verses several times before, but this time these words really spoke to my heart and were more real than ever to me.

29 There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You’re involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through. 

That's right, the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. Wow!! That is such a hard thing to do, but it needs to be done. I praise you Father for the hard things, because nothing in this life was ever promised to be easy. The hard times develop our faith and strengthen our trust. Thank you for this gift.

So my prayer today is not asking of anything Father, it is a simple thank you for it all. The good and the bad, because we know that the testing of our faith is what makes us whole and complete, lacking nothing. If there were no sin in this life, we would not need a Savior. I need a Savior and if the suffering is what is necessary to bring You glory, then I thank You for that. In Your precious Name we pray, Amen.

Many Blessings,