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The Test to Claim Me - Pop Quiz - 240 · Marriage Life and More and Bible Study

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Daniel Moore: Charles Stanley once said Every test, every trial, every heartache.
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Daniel Moore: That's been significant.
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Daniel Moore: I can turn it over and see how God has turned it into good, no matter what.
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Daniel Moore: This week, on Connecting the Gap, we're continuing our series on Unshaken, holding fast in a culture of compromise.
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Daniel Moore: This week we're in episode four of that series.
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Daniel Moore: We'll be back to continue that.
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Daniel Moore: The Gap this is a podcast about marriage, bible and book studies, and we interview people occasionally that have a story.
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Daniel Moore: I'm Daniel Moore, your host.
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Daniel Moore: Thank you for joining us this week.
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Daniel Moore: Feel free to leave a comment on our platforms, give us a thumbs up or a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and we'd be grateful to you for doing that.
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Daniel Moore: Well, as I said here in the intro, we are in episode four of our extended series on Unshaken.
1:46
Daniel Moore: Hope you've enjoyed the episode.
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Daniel Moore: So far We've got a ways to go, but this week we're going to be doing episode four of that extended series this week.
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Daniel Moore: The test to claim me.
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Daniel Moore: When I married my wife, michelle, we were still young, she already had two boys and I had a girl.
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Daniel Moore: In the grand scope of things, everything looked like we were healthy.
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Daniel Moore: Truth be known, michelle often fought migraines.
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Daniel Moore: She would put the Excedrins down like candy at times and it would still seem to not phase them.
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Daniel Moore: The doctors were looking into it to see what could be done.
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Daniel Moore: In the process of the tests that were run, it was determined that she had a major cyst on her ovaries which were causing most of the acute pain in her body.
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Daniel Moore: I always remember feeling sorry for her because she would be in so much pain sometimes and the migraines would cause her to have complete blackouts and she would be immobile for some time in the darkness of our bedroom until they would subside and she could function again.
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Daniel Moore: After many consultations and attempts to try different medications, the doctor decided some more invasive intervention was needed.
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Daniel Moore: They eventually decided that the best route to take was a complete hysterectomy.
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Daniel Moore: They bypassed the possibility of a partial because they didn't think the problem would be completely solved.
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Daniel Moore: The surgery was set up and completed.
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Daniel Moore: Michelle was in the recovery stage.
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Daniel Moore: The surgery was set up and completed.
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Daniel Moore: Michelle was in the recovery stage.
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Daniel Moore: As she was healing, she eventually began to have acute pains in her side and back.
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Daniel Moore: The pain finally got so bad that we decided to have some deeper tests run to see what needed to be done to resolve the issue.
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Daniel Moore: Something inside of her wasn't right.
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Daniel Moore: They sent her in to have several tests run to see what the issue was.
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Daniel Moore: What they found would completely rock our world at the time.
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Daniel Moore: As they were running the test, they found that her ureter had been cut when they did the hysterectomy.
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Daniel Moore: The reason this was possible was because they did the hysterectomy robotically to be as invasive as possible.
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Daniel Moore: Some time had passed already since the procedure had been done and, to our dismay, they found that the kidney was slowly shutting down.
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Daniel Moore: We were in a race for time to save her kidney.
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Daniel Moore: The scheduling was a little bit of a mess as we needed to get her in quickly to have any chance of saving it.
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Daniel Moore: They rushed her in and put in a stent.
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Daniel Moore: The ureter at that time had started to heal but was closing off from the scar tissue.
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Daniel Moore: The stent relieved the pressure in the kidney enough to give her some relief from the pain, and the healing process continued.
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Daniel Moore: The time finally came to remove the stent, so after a quick outpatient procedure it was removed.
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Daniel Moore: We moved on thinking that everything was resolved.
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Daniel Moore: Then she started hurting again.
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Daniel Moore: We got another appointment set up and went to have it checked.
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Daniel Moore: The ureter had closed over again and the kidney was in about as bad of shape as it had ever been.
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Daniel Moore: The stent had been taken out too quickly.
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Daniel Moore: They rushed her in to try to insert a new stent and after some time in the waiting room they came out to inform me that it closed over too much and they couldn't get it back in place.
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Daniel Moore: My worst fears set in.
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Daniel Moore: What were we going to do now?
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Daniel Moore: How was I going to tell Michelle that they couldn't get it fixed?
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Daniel Moore: When she came out to the car with me and was released, I asked the doctor what the next step was.
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Daniel Moore: The answer he gave me was even more disturbing.
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Daniel Moore: They couldn't perform the necessary procedure locally.
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Daniel Moore: We would have to go to a specialist in Springfield, missouri, or KU Medical Center in Kansas City.
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Daniel Moore: We chose KU as it was a much better option.
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Daniel Moore: But then there was another problem.
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Daniel Moore: There were only a couple of specialists there that performed those kind of procedures and due to the nature of the medical center.
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Daniel Moore: The doctors had to look over your case and agree to take you on as a patient.
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Daniel Moore: Of course, the first doctor turned her down.
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Daniel Moore: By this time I had sat and watched my wife shed many tears of pain.
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Daniel Moore: There was also some anxiety and a little fear of the unknown in there as well.
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Daniel Moore: If this didn't get fixed, she was going to lose that kidney.
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Daniel Moore: To make a long story short, a doctor finally did take her case and he even stayed late on Thanksgiving holiday to do her surgery before he left for his vacation.
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Daniel Moore: We were so thankful for his care and willingness to help.
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Daniel Moore: Michelle left the medical center with stage 4 kidney disease.
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Daniel Moore: I am happy to say that today she now only has stage 2 kidney disease, which is considered a pretty standard level for most adults.
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Daniel Moore: God has worked a miracle in her body to this day Now.
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Daniel Moore: I'm not one that thinks there are demons hiding behind every rock, but it is easy to tell when Satan is messing with you sometimes and trying to cause problems.
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Daniel Moore: Michelle and I had resolved our marriage differences by this point and Satan didn't like that.
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Daniel Moore: Our mantra through the whole thing was not today, satan, we leaned on God and he delivered us in the last hour.
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Daniel Moore: It's time like these in 1 Corinthians 15, therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing move.
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Daniel Moore: You Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
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Daniel Moore: While these verses are true, we shouldn't fret about our perishable bodies, because there is a resurrection.
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Daniel Moore: I still didn't want Michelle to die.
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Daniel Moore: I didn't want to watch her suffer with such a debilitating disease that could very likely claim her life prematurely.
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Daniel Moore: Then there is verse 58, which encourages us to stand firm in our faith so that nothing can shake us, to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord.
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Daniel Moore: My uneasy feeling during that time persisted for a while, but I had to make a choice.
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Daniel Moore: Eventually, I decided to reaffirm my commitment to Jesus to serve Him no matter what, even in the unbearable event of losing my precious wife.
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Daniel Moore: The timing of Michelle's ailment and subsequent recovery could have been coincidental.
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Daniel Moore: The timing of Michelle's ailment and subsequent recovery could have been coincidental, but in this case, hindsight is 20-20.
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Daniel Moore: The entire incident clearly tested our faith.
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Daniel Moore: God allowed it to mature our faith and increase our trust and joy in Him.
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Daniel Moore: The challenges that we encounter in life are not mere coincidences or happenstance.
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Daniel Moore: Rather, they serve as chances for us to deepen our faith and personal growth in God.
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Daniel Moore: God uses these trials to test our strength and prepare us for what lies ahead.
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Daniel Moore: Recognizing the significance of these trials, regardless of their duration, and learning how to effectively navigate them can be transformative.
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Daniel Moore: Knowing our identity is critical.
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Daniel Moore: Setting our core convictions is too, but unfailingly, at some point we will all be tested.
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Daniel Moore: As discussed in Episode 2, establishing our fundamental beliefs is crucial for maintaining a resilient and unwavering faith.
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Daniel Moore: However, having strong convictions alone will not shield us from the trials that will challenge them.
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Daniel Moore: Just as a chain is only as sturdy as its weakest link, the strength of our faith depends on the steadfastness of our beliefs in times of adversity.
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Daniel Moore: It takes bravery to confront the adversary and hold firm, so we must be certain of the foundation on which our faith stands.
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Daniel Moore: Convictions reflect the decisions we make prior to facing hardships, while faith demonstrates our capacity to act on those convictions.
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Daniel Moore: When tested, daniel knew what it meant for his faith to be tested repeatedly.
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Daniel Moore: In fact, he even asked his Babylonian captors to put him to the test, and here's how it happened.
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Daniel Moore: In Daniel 1, verses 11-14,.
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Daniel Moore: Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, hananiah, meshiel and Azariah Please test your servants for ten days.
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Daniel Moore: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
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Daniel Moore: Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.
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Daniel Moore: So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
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Daniel Moore: Daniel asked Ashpenaz to test him and his Hebrew friends for ten days.
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Daniel Moore: Well, why ten?
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Daniel Moore: Well, throughout Scripture, the number ten represents the testing of faithfulness obeying the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20,.
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Daniel Moore: Giving a test to the Lord in Deuteronomy 14.22 and Malachi 3.10,.
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Daniel Moore: Praying for ten days in the upper room after Jesus ascended in Acts 13,.
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Daniel Moore: Enduring ten days of persecution in Smyrna in Revelation 2.10.
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Daniel Moore: Daniel knew that his faith would be put to the test and he embraced the challenge Rather than trying to avoid the discomfort of being tested.
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Daniel Moore: Daniel saw this conflict with culture as an opportunity.
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Daniel Moore: Our faith will always be challenged when faced with cultural changes.
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Daniel Moore: Satan employs trials to weaken us and lead us astray from our beliefs.
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Daniel Moore: He seeks to hinder our progress and question our commitment.
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Daniel Moore: Paul experienced this and explained we wanted to come to you.
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Daniel Moore: Certainly, I, paul did again and again, but Satan blocked our way.
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Daniel Moore: That's 1 Thessalonians 2.18.
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Daniel Moore: The Greek term used for blocked here means to cut a ditch or make a detour.
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Daniel Moore: When we are following God's plan for us, we directly oppose Satan's intentions and strategies.
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Daniel Moore: Consequently, the enemy tries to obstruct our path and persuade us to surrender, diverting us from our course, us from our course.
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Daniel Moore: Ultimately, his aim is to make us serve him.
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Daniel Moore: When our truth is put to the test, we must decide whom we will serve.
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Daniel Moore: This story was once shared with me by a man named Chet.
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Daniel Moore: One of the most defining challenges to my faith came during my summer internship in New York City.
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Daniel Moore: Let me start by saying that living in the city as a young Christian was a whole different world compared to the quiet suburb I grew up in.
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Daniel Moore: The fast-paced culture, the overwhelming distractions and the constant push to blend in with the crowd.
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Daniel Moore: It all tested my convictions in a way I hadn't expected.
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Daniel Moore: Chet continued I landed a competitive marketing internship at a trendy media firm in Manhattan.
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Daniel Moore: Chet continued I landed a competitive marketing internship at a trendy media firm in Manhattan.
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Daniel Moore: The job was exciting, the team was sharp and the environment was intense.
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Daniel Moore: People there lived for the hustle, late nights, loud bars, casual hookups and a steady flow of just one more drink seemed to be the rhythm of everyone's life.
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Daniel Moore: It was like stepping into another universe where faith didn't even seem to fit.
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Daniel Moore: From day one, chet said, I quietly committed to stay grounded.
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Daniel Moore: I kept a small devotional in my backpack and made time to read it during lunch breaks at the little park down the block.
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Daniel Moore: I didn't make a big deal about it, but people noticed, especially my team lead, brandon.
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Daniel Moore: He was young, charismatic and always had something sarcastic to say about religion.
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Daniel Moore: One afternoon he spotted me reading and smirked Still reading your fairy tales?
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Daniel Moore: Huh, he said loud enough for the team to hear.
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Daniel Moore: I looked up and replied calmly yeah, I read this every day.
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Daniel Moore: It keeps me grounded.
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Daniel Moore: Brandon chuckled and rolled his eyes.
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Daniel Moore: Come on, man, you're smart.
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Daniel Moore: You really believe that stuff?
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Daniel Moore: All of it I really do.
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Daniel Moore: Chet said, trying to smile without sounding defensive.
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Daniel Moore: Brandon leaned in his voice, dropping just a bit Even when life kicks your teeth in, you still believe in this God of yours.
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Daniel Moore: Then?
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Daniel Moore: Yes, chet said more firmly, especially then.
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Daniel Moore: The conversation ended there, but I could tell it stuck with him.
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Daniel Moore: Over the next few weeks Brandon found new ways to poke fun Mocking prayer, quoting scripture out of context, joking that I wouldn't last a month without breaking down and joining the quote-unquote real world.
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Daniel Moore: Then one day it got personal.
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Daniel Moore: Brandon called me into a conference room under the guise of helping with a campaign.
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Daniel Moore: But as soon as I sat down he tossed a folder on the table.
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Daniel Moore: But as soon as I sat down, he tossed a folder on the table.
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Daniel Moore: Inside was a mock proposal he had made using my name for a satirical, faith-based ad campaign.
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Daniel Moore: It was filled with crude jokes about Christianity and portrayed me as a naive preacher boy.
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Daniel Moore: Everyone else had seen it already.
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Daniel Moore: Chet's stomach dropped.
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Daniel Moore: He was humiliated.
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Daniel Moore: What do you think?
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Daniel Moore: Brandon asked with a grin.
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Daniel Moore: Too close to home, chet paused, fighting the urge to lash out.
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Daniel Moore: His heart was pounding.
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Daniel Moore: Every instinct wanted to defend himself, to snap back, to walk out and never come back.
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Daniel Moore: But then, quietly, chet said, I felt a different response rise up inside of me.
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Daniel Moore: I looked Brandon in the eye and said I forgive you.
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Daniel Moore: He blinked.
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Daniel Moore: What?
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Daniel Moore: I forgive you, it hurt, it's not funny, but I forgive you.
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Daniel Moore: The room went still.
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Daniel Moore: Something in Brandon's expression shifted.
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Daniel Moore: He didn't say a word, he just stared at me, then slowly nodded and walked out.
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Daniel Moore: The next day he pulled me aside, I've never had someone say that to me.
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Daniel Moore: He admitted you actually live what you say you believe.
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Daniel Moore: That's rare.
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Daniel Moore: Can I ask you something?
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Daniel Moore: Why?
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Daniel Moore: Jesus that day began a series of honest conversations over coffee and lunch breaks not debates, just talks.
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Daniel Moore: Brandon never did become a Christian during that internship, but he listened and, more than that, he respected the faith that he once mocked.
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Daniel Moore: All because in that moment I chose not to fight back but to live what I claim to believe.
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Daniel Moore: Chet said.
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Daniel Moore: I tell you this story not because I'm such a strong believer who faced such terrible persecution.
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Daniel Moore: This little incident is nothing compared to the persecution so many Christians around the world face from their families, their communities, their leaders and their governments.
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Daniel Moore: I still think about Brandon and pray for him, and I still remember what that humiliation felt like for the rest of that week.
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Daniel Moore: But there has never been a moment in my life that forced me to choose whether or not to follow my faith the way that one did, whether or not to follow my faith the way that one did.
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Daniel Moore: Jesus said we cannot serve two masters.
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Daniel Moore: Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
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Daniel Moore: That's James, chapter 4, verse 4.
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Daniel Moore: When culture shifts, you will be tested, but never give in to the pressure, because it will make you stronger.
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Daniel Moore: God will always use the test in our lives to make our faith stronger and to reveal His glory to those around us.
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Daniel Moore: Just look at what happened next with Daniel and his friends.
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Daniel Moore: At the end of the 10 days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
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Daniel Moore: So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
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Daniel Moore: To these four young men, god gave knowledge and understanding, to all kinds of literature and learning, and Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
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Daniel Moore: At the end of time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
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Daniel Moore: The king talked with them and he found none equal to Daniel, hananiah, meshiel and Azariah.
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Daniel Moore: So they entered the king's service.
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Daniel Moore: That's Daniel, chapter 1, verse 15 through 19.
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Daniel Moore: They excelled in the test, impressing God, who granted them knowledge and wisdom.
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Daniel Moore: The king was so impressed that he invited them to join his inner circle for their unmatched skills.
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Daniel Moore: Through the 10-day trial, their circumstances improved tenfold.
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Daniel Moore: Testing always leads to growth and improvement.
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Daniel Moore: Life is filled with challenges and trials.
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Daniel Moore: Significant lessons and achievements often come from experiencing hardships.
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Daniel Moore: The process of childbirth, the beginning of life, involves immense pain for both the mother and the baby.
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Daniel Moore: Most women describe the agony of giving birth to a baby the size of a bowling ball as unmatched by any other pain.
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Daniel Moore: It is likely a difficult transition for the baby also, moving from the comfort of the womb to a noisy cold room where they are handled roughly until they cry out.
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Daniel Moore: Thankfully, we do not retain memories of that initial discomfort.
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Daniel Moore: However, we do recall the effort, difficult sacrifices and extensive time invested in establishing a career, starting a new venture or serving in a ministry.
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Daniel Moore: When we adhere to God's direction and align our lives with His purpose, we will encounter challenges.
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Daniel Moore: There will be moments when we are tempted to quit, to opt for the simpler path or to flee from adversity.
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Daniel Moore: Yet these trials serve as an opportunity for personal growth, transforming into milestones that propel us towards fulfilling God's plan for our lives.
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Daniel Moore: In Isaiah, chapter 30, verse 19 through 21, it says how gracious he will be when you cry for help.
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Daniel Moore: As soon as he hears, he will answer you.
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Daniel Moore: Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more.
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Daniel Moore: With your own eyes, you will see them Whether you turn to the right or to the left.
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Daniel Moore: Your ears will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way.
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Daniel Moore: Walk in it.
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Daniel Moore: The manner in which we navigate challenges and hardships is crucial for a thriving Christian life.
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Daniel Moore: We will all encounter tough times.
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Daniel Moore: They are unavoidable.
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Daniel Moore: Our reactions in these situations have a direct impact on our faith and personal development.
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Daniel Moore: Embracing and acknowledging tests as essential components of our growth is vital.
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Daniel Moore: They serve as vehicles for our advancement.
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Daniel Moore: It is emphasized that embracing struggles is a fundamental aspect of our spiritual journey.
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Daniel Moore: It's how we grow, we're told in 1 Peter 1, 6, and 7,.
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Daniel Moore: In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while.
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Daniel Moore: While you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, these have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith, of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire, may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
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Daniel Moore: Virtually every aspect of our lives serves as a trial.
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Daniel Moore: Those committed to deepening their faith may encounter more challenges than individuals who do not follow God.
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Daniel Moore: Referred to as the refiner's fire in the Bible, in Malachi 3.2,.
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Daniel Moore: This process mirrors the technique used by blacksmiths and metal workers to enhance the quality of their creations.
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Daniel Moore: By heating the metal and identifying impurities, they purify and refine the material to better suit its intended purpose.
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Daniel Moore: God tests us to refine us, not to punish us.
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Daniel Moore: You may recall the days when your teachers would spring a pop quiz on you, catching you off guard with an unscheduled and often unforeseen test.
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Daniel Moore: You catching you off guard with an unscheduled and often unforeseen test.
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Daniel Moore: While not always enjoyable, these assessments served as valuable indicators of our learning progress.
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Daniel Moore: Likewise, our daily lives present us with similar impromptu quizzes.
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Daniel Moore: Each day offers opportunities for us to strengthen and develop our faith.
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Daniel Moore: Spiritual testing essentially mirrors God's version of a pop quiz, presenting challenging situations or unforeseen circumstances that bring to light our capabilities, advancement and maturity.
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Daniel Moore: Often we may misinterpret opposition.
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Daniel Moore: It is common to perceive tests simply as assaults from the devil, but this is not always the reality.
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Daniel Moore: While the enemy may seek to strike during times of testing in hopes of finding us at our weakest and most vulnerable, the tests we undergo present opportunities for personal growth, elevation and advancement to the next stage.
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Daniel Moore: Rather than seeing them as hindrances to be detested, these challenges should be embraced as chances for progress.
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Daniel Moore: In truth, they may indicate that we are closer than ever to fulfilling our divine purpose.
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Daniel Moore: Paul wrote in Acts 20, verse 23,.
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Daniel Moore: I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
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Daniel Moore: After facing numerous tests and trials in his life and ministry everything from shipwrecks to jail cells, not to mention murderous crowds Paul knew the value of those situations.
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Daniel Moore: He said not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.
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Daniel Moore: Perseverance, character and character, hope.
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Daniel Moore: That's Romans, chapter 5, verses 3 and 4.
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Daniel Moore: 5, verses 3 and 4.
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Daniel Moore: In Romans 12, 12, it says.
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Daniel Moore: Later he also encouraged us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
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Daniel Moore: And Paul wasn't the only one with this counterintuitive message.
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Daniel Moore: James, the half-brother of Jesus, explained consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your, that's James 1, verses 2-4.
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Daniel Moore: We can only grow in our faith if we're tested.
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Daniel Moore: It's that simple.
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Daniel Moore: It might not be what we want to hear, but it's true.
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Daniel Moore: Long before Paul and James, david also saw the value of test and welcomed them.
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Daniel Moore: In Psalms 26, 2, david said test me, lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.
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Daniel Moore: Like Daniel, david asked to be tested.
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Daniel Moore: That was Psalms 139, 23, and 24.
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Daniel Moore: More frequently, it's the other way around for many of us.
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Daniel Moore: We want God to spare us from trouble and remove all obstacles from our paths.
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Daniel Moore: But when we ask for that, we're essentially praying that we won't grow.
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Daniel Moore: Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, reminded us in Proverbs 17, 3, the crucible for silver and the furnace for gold.
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Daniel Moore: But the Lord tests the heart.
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Daniel Moore: If we want to grow, we can't back away from places where we see our faith clashing with the culture around us.
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Daniel Moore: Instead, we can view that friction as an opportunity for our faith to be tested, embrace the conflict with the courage of the Lord.
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Daniel Moore: It is not unexpected that courage frequently empowers us to persevere through trials and surmount challenges.
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Daniel Moore: Courage is a mindset that enables you to maintain faith in your eventual success, even without a clear path to achieve it.
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Daniel Moore: But what is the source of this courage?
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Daniel Moore: The etymology of the word itself sheds light on how courage is cultivated within us, deep in our innermost being.
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Daniel Moore: The term courage in English originates from cour or c-o-u-r, the Middle English word denoting the heart, symbolizing one's profound emotions.
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Daniel Moore: This usage stemmed from old French courage, derived from the Latin word cour c-o-r, meaning heart.
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Daniel Moore: The correlation between cour and courage stemming from the word word cor C-O-R, meaning heart, the correlation between cor and courage stemming from the word for heart, is striking.
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Daniel Moore: This connection is logical as our hearts serve as the arena where our beliefs and challenges clash.
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Daniel Moore: They engage in a confrontation to ascertain that endures and remains steadfast within our hearts.
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Daniel Moore: In times when societal norms test our beliefs, it is essential to demonstrate courage, a profound inner strength, by standing firm and refusing to yield or adapt.
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Daniel Moore: Courage is the driving force behind upholding our beliefs.
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Daniel Moore: What is the source of our fortitude to remain steadfast amidst shifts in culture?
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Daniel Moore: Well, it originates from the same place as where Daniel, abraham and Paul drew their strength the divine presence and the teachings of God.
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Daniel Moore: This is the very wellspring from which David derived his courage when confronted with the possibility of losing everything dear to him his loved ones, his authority and the esteem of his followers.
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Daniel Moore: David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day.
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Daniel Moore: Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag.
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Daniel Moore: They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old.
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Daniel Moore: They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
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Daniel Moore: When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
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Daniel Moore: So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.
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Daniel Moore: David's two wives had been captured, ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
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Daniel Moore: David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stunning him.
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Daniel Moore: Each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters, but David found strength in the Lord, his God.
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Daniel Moore: That's 1 Samuel, chapter 30, verses 1 through 6.
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Daniel Moore: David, the ruler and military commander of Israel, openly sobbed alongside his soldiers until they had no energy left to cry.
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Daniel Moore: Evidently, several of his men succumbed to bitterness and contemplated stoning David for the perceived failures.
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Daniel Moore: However, david's reaction is worth noting.
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Daniel Moore: He drew his resilience and resolve from his faith in the Lord, his God.
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Daniel Moore: God.
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Daniel Moore: I love how the King James Version renders verse six saying David encouraged himself in the Lord Sounds great, right, I mean how cool that David, at his lowest point was able to encourage himself in the Lord.
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Daniel Moore: But how do we do that?
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Daniel Moore: It's no coincidence that David's poetic lyrics in the Psalms often serve to ignite courage in our hearts.
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Daniel Moore: In Psalm 61, verses 1 through 2, hear my cry, o God.
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Daniel Moore: Attend to my prayer.
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Daniel Moore: David, begged From the end of the earth I will cry to.
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Daniel Moore: In Psalm 61, verses 1 through 2,.
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Daniel Moore: I believe that the key to discovering motivation lies in our response, rather than our immediate reaction.
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Daniel Moore: Rather than our immediate reaction.
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Daniel Moore: In challenging situations, the urge to react impulsively, displaying our anger, fear, confusion and frustration without restraint, can be strong.
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Daniel Moore: We might lash out at others, assume self-blame, feel heightened anxiety or fall into despondency.
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Daniel Moore: However, it is vital not only to acknowledge our emotions, but also to channel them towards God and devote time to solitary worship.
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Daniel Moore: In that time, we each must ask ourselves am I responding or reacting?
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Daniel Moore: God is capable of managing our most intense and unsettling emotions, most intense and unsettling emotions Simply perused through Psalms.
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Daniel Moore: If you harbor any uncertainty, and he desires us to confide in him, with what is at risk, david, akin to Daniel, paul and sundry others, exhibited courage because he comprehended the influence of worship.
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Daniel Moore: I, too, have imbibed this wisdom through personal experiences.
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Daniel Moore: Following moments when I received distressing news, I have sought peace in my office and beseeched God through my prayer, pouring out my heart to Him in worship.
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Daniel Moore: This routine has served as my anchor, furnishing me with the courage I needed.
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Daniel Moore: Each day, our perceptions often distort the magnitude of our trials.
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Daniel Moore: From our vantage point, our challenges can appear insurmountable and all-consuming, while God may seem insignificant and remote.
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Daniel Moore: Yet for God, the omnipotent and omnipresent ruler of all existence, our issues likely appear trivial.
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Daniel Moore: Nonetheless, when we engage in solitary moments with Him, our perspective finds equilibrium.
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Daniel Moore: Although we may still be unable to see beyond our obstacles to fathom a resolution, we understand the importance of maintaining our focus on Jesus as we progress step by step.
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Daniel Moore: The longer you devote to Jesus, the less time you will waste being daunted by the views of others or fretting about your dilemmas when confronted with loss, adversity or significant setbacks.
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Daniel Moore: Now, my initial response is to worship God.
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Daniel Moore: Though this behavior wasn't innate to me initially, I now appreciate how it has rescued me countless times in my endeavor to remain resolute in my faith.
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Daniel Moore: Worship serves as your lifeline and yields the courage needed to energize your faith amidst trials and you will be tested.
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Daniel Moore: The critical question is simply how will you respond?
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Daniel Moore: Fearfully, allowing the enemy a chance to derail your faith, or with courage to step forward and trust God?
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Daniel Moore: With the outcome?
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Daniel Moore: Culture wants to claim you, but you don't have to let it.
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Daniel Moore: You have all you need to pass any test that you face.
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Daniel Moore: You have the courage of the Lord.
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Daniel Moore: Well, that's going to end the episode for this week.
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Daniel Moore: As we leave today, don't forget that God's Word never fails us.
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Daniel Moore: God's Word has stood the test of time and, through Jesus' death on the cross, he has connected the gap.
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Daniel Moore: Connecting the Gap podcast is a part of Connecting the Gap Ministries, and we pray that you have a blessed week.