1.It can be tempting to think that whenever difficult times arise, it’s Satan trying to tempt or even destroy us. But sometimes, it’s God pressing us for the purpose of our growth and ultimately, His Kingdom. Hard times tend to teach us lessons that information alone can’t. How has this truth shown up in your life recently?
2. When grapes become wine, their longevity increases many times over. When God is pressing us, it’s to create the conditions that allow the work He’s done in us to last generations. Each of us carries the works God placed in one of our ancestors. Some of whom we never even met! Can you share about an elder whose life continues to bear fruit in your life? What can you do to make sure that this fruit keeps producing?
3. We have a lot of things that can bring us joy, but the only way for our joy to be complete is to have Jesus’ joy in us. To do that, we need to stay focused on doing His will and keep His commands, regardless of our current circumstances. One of the commands Jesus left with us was to love our neighbors as ourselves. We all can appreciate a random act of kindness, whether it’s from a stranger or a loved one. What is a totally out-of-the-ordinary act of kindness you can show someone this week? Now commit to following through, and see what happens when you do.
