Anyway, I started in the first section today, entitled The Way of the Cross. The first devotional, Embracing the Cross by Fenelon, was without a DOUBT written directly TO ME. :) I was kinda flabbergasted by how directly the Lord spoke through it into my current situation. Wow. So I just wanted to post a few quotes from this morning's reading that really hit my heart.
"Do not add to the cross in your life by becoming so busy that you have no time to sit quietly before God. Do not resist what God brings into your life. Be willing to suffer if that is what is needed. Overactivity and stubbornness will only increase your anguish."
"God prepares a cross for you that you must embrace without thought of self-preservation. The cross is painful. Accept the cross and you will find peace even in the middle of turmoil. Let me warn you that if you push the cross away, your circumstances will become twice as hard to bear. In the long run, the pain of resisting the cross is harder to live with than the cross itself."
"Nothing so shortens and soothes your pain as the spirit of non-resistance to your Lord."
"The hardest thing about suffering is not knowing how great it will be or how long it will last. You will be tempted to want to impose some limits to your suffering. No doubt you will want to control the intensity of your pain." (HELLOOOOOO DANA!??!)
Basically, his point is that if we relinquish control of our suffering to the Lord and trust His heart toward us and His purpose in our suffering, then He will more quickly (and with less pain, though it may not FEEL less at the time) accomplish His will in us in the midst of our pain.
Help me Lord. I want to be wholly surrendered to You in this season.
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