Trials and Pain

The devil, things and people being what they are, it is necessary for God to use the hammer, the file and the furnace in His holy work of preparing a saint for true sainthood. It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.

The Root of the Righteous, 157.
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Trials and Pain: Forced to Our Knees

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the
revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of
Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
–2 Corinthians 12:7

The experiences of men who walked with God in olden times agree to
teach that the Lord cannot fully bless a man until He has first
conquered him. The degree of blessing enjoyed by any man will
correspond exactly with the completeness of God’s victory over
him….

We might well pray for God to invade and conquer us, for until He
does, we remain in peril from a thousand foes. We bear within us
the seeds of our own disintegration…. Deliverance can come to
us only by the defeat of our old life. Safety and peace come only
after we have been forced to our knees. God rescues us by breaking
us, by shattering our strength and wiping out our resistance. Then
He invades our natures with that ancient and eternal life which is
from the beginning. So He conquers us and by that benign conquest
saves us for Himself. The Pursuit of Man, 45,50.

“Lord, indeed invade and conquer my heart today. Bring me to my
knees in complete surrender; break me; shatter my strength and
wipe out my resistance. Invade my nature today and conquer me for
Your glory. Amen.”

On this day...

• 1 Samuel 1 - 2023
• Judges 5 - 2023
• We Have Found the Messiah - 2009
• This Is He Who Baptizes with the Holy Spirit - 2009
• His Creatorship is for His Glory - 2009
• THE ABSOLUTENESS OF JESUS CHRIST - 2008
• Song of Solomon 3:4 - 2008
• Song of Solomon 3:4 - 2008
• Song of Solomon 3:4 - 2008
• Co-workers, Not Competitors - 2007