How Long You Gonna Take The Same Test?

"that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 1:7

Whenever we experience persecution, tests, and trials for an extended period of time, we like to compare ourselves to Job. And because many of us were taught incorrectly, we think that we’re experiencing them because ‘God allowed it’ ; as if to say God and Satan are working together and sometimes God 'allows' him to mess with you. No, that's not it at all. Those hardships are proving that the Word is real to you and oftentimes it’s done because of Satan.

An example of this is in the Parable of the Sower. Mark 4:15, 16 says: ‘And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.’ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure (the various trials to prove the genuineness of their faith.) But some only endure for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake (for the proving or the testing of the genuineness of their faith), immediately they stumble.

Satan created that problem for you. He tested you and you failed. Why? Because you haven’t studied for the test. You were on Facebook®, watching Scandal®, and drinking cocktails during the time you could have been in the Word. You don’t have any root of the Word for that particular problem in you and the reason you don’t is because rooting takes time; and yours was spent doing other things.

So how can you pass the genuine test? Set aside time for the Word. Commit to waking up fifteen minutes earlier tomorrow to pray. Set aside another twenty aside today after you get off work to watch television ministries or get online and watch a few of their archives. And if nothing else, just be quiet and allow peace to get in your heart about the problem. You’ve got to do something. Question is, how long are you going to keep taking the same test and expecting to pass when you haven’t studied?

Pray this with me: Heavenly Father, I know I need to be in Your Word more. But by the time I get off, I'm tired and I just want to rest my mind; so I jump on Facebook and stuff as a form of relaxation. Please renew my mind to what real relaxation is and that its found by spending time with You. In Jesus' name.

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