Embracing Life’s Milestones: A Path of Ever-Increasing Strength
Psalm 84:7
They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
We use milestones as measuring devices to help us determine both how far we have come, and how far we have left to go. The same is true of our journey with God. Though we do not necessarily measure in terms of literal distance what God has brought us through, we do have “milestones”, or reference points, in our past! For instance, my first reference point of significance was when I first felt the tug of the Holy Spirit pulling me to Christ one night while I was watching Billy Graham on television and listening to the invitational song “Just as I Am”, when I was too young to even remember my age! Another one was listening to the old-time preacher preaching like there was no tomorrow while his zeal alone left a lasting impression upon a child still young enough to get by with laying in the floor up under the church pew! I then go to the day I got saved, which was by far the biggest reference point of my life! Then I go to when I surrendered to the ministry, then to the day I answered the call to preach the Gospel, then to the day I married my wife, and the list could go on and on.
My point is, events of significance that happen in our lives is what we use to measure our levels of spiritual growth and development, or the lack thereof! I’ve noticed that some only refer to the “valleys” of life. They do not view their walk with God as one going from “strength to strength” but from “trouble to trouble”! Friends, we must realize that for every valley is also a mountain-top experience! God uses our valleys to make us stronger! That’s why our text says “from strength to strength”!
When we become addicted to the ministry (1 Corinthians 16:15), our focus shouldn’t be so much on the trials themselves, but the victories they render, and the strength we gain from them! That’s what keeps me going when I’m in a season of trial; I’m looking for my next victory, my next breakthrough, my next answered prayer, my next mountain-top experience, my next God encounter where He clothes me with His strength (see Psalm 93:1)! We should learn to live our lives in Christ from strength to strength, not from misery to misery! See also 2 Corinthians 3:18! Be not as concerned with your next trial, but with the next giant you shall slay with the Lord’s strength upon you!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
We use milestones as measuring devices to help us determine both how far we have come, and how far we have left to go. The same is true of our journey with God. Though we do not necessarily measure in terms of literal distance what God has brought us through, we do have “milestones”, or reference points, in our past! For instance, my first reference point of significance was when I first felt the tug of the Holy Spirit pulling me to Christ one night while I was watching Billy Graham on television and listening to the invitational song “Just as I Am”, when I was too young to even remember my age! Another one was listening to the old-time preacher preaching like there was no tomorrow while his zeal alone left a lasting impression upon a child still young enough to get by with laying in the floor up under the church pew! I then go to the day I got saved, which was by far the biggest reference point of my life! Then I go to when I surrendered to the ministry, then to the day I answered the call to preach the Gospel, then to the day I married my wife, and the list could go on and on.
My point is, events of significance that happen in our lives is what we use to measure our levels of spiritual growth and development, or the lack thereof! I’ve noticed that some only refer to the “valleys” of life. They do not view their walk with God as one going from “strength to strength” but from “trouble to trouble”! Friends, we must realize that for every valley is also a mountain-top experience! God uses our valleys to make us stronger! That’s why our text says “from strength to strength”!
When we become addicted to the ministry (1 Corinthians 16:15), our focus shouldn’t be so much on the trials themselves, but the victories they render, and the strength we gain from them! That’s what keeps me going when I’m in a season of trial; I’m looking for my next victory, my next breakthrough, my next answered prayer, my next mountain-top experience, my next God encounter where He clothes me with His strength (see Psalm 93:1)! We should learn to live our lives in Christ from strength to strength, not from misery to misery! See also 2 Corinthians 3:18! Be not as concerned with your next trial, but with the next giant you shall slay with the Lord’s strength upon you!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill