February 18 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

 “Is God Contending With You?”

II Timothy 2:3; Hebrews 12:7; Job 10:2

I find myself contending with God in trying to find out where I stand in His will. I am not afraid of asking Him why things are going the way they are, He is my Heavenly Father, I can ask Him anything. One of my questions is, why am I on the backside of the desert again? My answer, or at least part of it, comes immediately; Some of the graces God extends to us, come not from prosperity, sunshiny days and mountain top experiences, but trials and tribulations. Sometimes love cannot be detected until it is surrounded by darkness, like a lightning-bug. Hope cannot be seen during happy, prosperous days, it can’t be discovered unless adversity overshadows it. A dark background makes a gem shine it’s brightest, so do afflictions for the believer. You can never realize faith until first it is exercised. Our true graces can never be discovered without first going through some trials and temptations. Growing in grace brings trials and trials bring on progressive sanctification. Trials and even chastisement now, prepares us for other things on down the road, that we wouldn’t know how to handle had we not gone through this particular desert place. Sometimes our comforts and allowances are cut off that He might make us better soldiers in this fierce battle of wills. Sometimes we are forced to march and endure hardness, wading through icy streams, wide rivers, rugged mountain terrain, all the while, carrying heavy loads. There are certain graces God will give to us, only by contending with us. Could this be growing pains?

“One Day”

Troubles and trials oft’ find we here, 

Amidst a burdensome world,

But one day soon the desert will flourish, 

A new Heaven and earth He’ll unfurl.

-Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:

“Our true graces can never be discovered 

without first going through some trials and temptations.”

Daily Scripture Reading: Numbers 12-13       

Weekly Memory Verses: 1 Corinthians 12:12-18

With love and prayers,

May we be your faithful Philippians 2:16 Missionaries?

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Tom and Linda Milam, Missionaries to America and Around the World