Recent Blog Entries
-
The Day of Small Things from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. As with many of my messages, this was a word for me, but I will share it with you as I found it encouraging. I have been building a new social media website for Refreshing Hope behind the scenes for months. It is a massive undertak... -
Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. Then he said to them, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send ou...
-
Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth dea...
-
- led by Lynn BrownThis is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
The Pressure Cooker
-
For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us 2 Corinthians 1:8 WEB
When we have something tough that we are trying to cook, we break out a pressure cooker that we have, and soon it will become so tender that it just falls apart. The pressure cooker is an amazing device for speeding up long cooking tasks. Something that would take three hours to cook normally, can be cooked in the pressure cooker in about thirty minutes.
When the Lord decided to put me in the ministry, He brought the pressure of closing our existing business. When I tried to keep it open, He turned up the pressure until I literally had no choice but to do what He wanted, or starve and be homeless.
You would think that He could have just asked me, but instead He went the silent route of drying up our business, bringing great financial pressure on us, and then at the last minute, the week that we prepared to move out of our home, He opened up a door in ministry and here we are. Now I know without a shadow of a doubt that He put me here and that He is with us. I don't have to wonder if I forced my way into the ministry, for He forced me into the ministry.
We spent some quality time in God's pressure cooker. It got us where He wanted us to be, and it also changed us in the process. We learned a lot during that season. Serving God with your whole heart, giving all that you have, praying on your face in tears, praise and worship and fasting, does not necessarily rescue you from hardship or pressure. Sometimes you are meant to endure it and have something squeezed out of you.
Paul wrote that that they were under so much pressure, so far beyond their power and means, that he thought they were going to die. Then he wrote that it was so that they would trust in God, and not in themselves. This was what the Apostles went through.
That is scary for those that want to be in control, but still serve God, because there will come a time when He will break you and teach you to trust Him instead. When your world begins to crumble because you are no longer in control of the situation, guess who was your God: You. I still remember the day that I had to start trusting Him, and it was because I was powerless against what was happening, much like Paul.
There is good news, it does not last forever. Pressure cooking is the fast track, but intense. Who you are when under pressure, is who you really are. God already knows. He wants you to know, and He allows pressure to steer us in the right direction.
He knows just how much we need, for how long, and something that could take years, may only take weeks. Don't panic and give up when you are under pressure, you are not the first. You will come out of it better when you are done and you will have a testimony to share with others.
Prayer: Heavenly Father I pray that You work Your perfect will in my life. Put me where I need to be, and surround me with those that need to be there. Give me hope Lord and help me to remain stable under pressure. I have put my trust in God, what can man do to me? In the name of Jesus Christ I pray.> You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <
Tip: You must be logged into the website to leave comments.
Amen
Amen
Amen,Thank you Father. Whatever I go through you are there. Thank you
It's easier to trust and allow THE LORD to be in control when the water or sailing is smooth. But when the waters get rough I can easily resort to my own understanding and it never works. This devotion is a good reminder to rely and trust HIM daily with everything and whether in calm or rough waters. Thanks Dion and team.
Amen! I am where I am at in life because of the pressure cooker!
Prayer: Heavenly Father I pray that You work Your perfect will in my life. Put me where I need to be, and surround me with those that need to be there. Give me hope Lord and help me to remain stable under pressure. I have put my trust in God, what can man do to me? In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen thank you... I must be in that pressure cooker right now... standing in faith and believing his good promises are already here <3 luckly I have seen evidence before and know he never fails so all the lies in my head can be squelched as fast as they surface ;) Thank you Pastor! Great reminder :) God bless
I am going through a tough time in my life right now. This puts it all into perspective. I have gone through tough situations before, and God has always come through, putting me where I need to be. I pray, that the pressure I'm under, is, our Lord, once again, putting me where I need to be.
God Bless you Pastor Dion, for coming into my life.
I am praying, this pressure ends soon, and the blessings begin to shine, in Jesus name, Amen
Keep believing, Paul, God is always right and His timing is always right. Psalms 94:18-19, If I should say, "My foot has slipped, Your lovingkindness, O LORD, willhold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort, hope, joy, and courage delight my soul.
Amen
Thanks. For good teaching! Key remember He is with Us. Easy to for get- He is loving and knows best. I=-- fold bend, crumble.. Hum, will be amazing when I get tit back down! Testemony time-yep!!!
Praise God for all things.Yes we all have been through the pressure cooker.Keep up the faith,believe and except Jesus Christ and you will receive.He is awesome.I love him. Amen
I can always trust that God is shaping me the way He wants me to be, so He can best use me fo His purpose that He has created me to be. If that is under pressure, He does the perfect job! I pray that I will keep trusting His work, not mine.
Amen!
It is hard to be joyful in the midst of your trial and hardships. But here is a testimony that it's only temporary... Thank you Pastor Dion for sharing your testimony!
Thank you, Pastor Dion, for the words given to you by our Lord. It was definitely fitting for my day and my life. Reading the devotional each day, has touched a place in my heart that is hurting, I'm someone who thinks she can fix whatever is wrong, tho' I know in my heart that isn't so. I keep hearing in my head, "Give it to God." I know only He can fix what is wrong and make me who He wants me to be. Amen
Thank You Lord for all Your blessings, always reminds me that You are the One who runs my life.Amen.
Thank you, Pastor Dion, you always seem to have a word to minister to my spirit. I am going through this same situation in the pressure cooker to break up the foul spirit of pride. I have been use to giving to others in a time of need but now that I am going through some tough financial times others through God have been meeting all my need 5$ here 20$ there. I thank God for this message because I was used to depending on me, myself and I since the age of 15. God is teaching me to depend on him and not myself.
Feeling like I'm in the pressure cooker now, and have been for the last few months. The job that was going so smoothly, is now something I struggle with, in addition to my health problems acting up. I pray that He has mercy on me and opens the door He wants me to walk through soon.
Amen! As for me, I'll put my trust in my Lord & God, wait and pray!
Thank you for the visual metaphor, Pastor Dion. I'm certain God is using my pressure cooker not only for preparing me, but as evidence of His loving plan to those in my life who are watching me in this situation. God is an amazing Master Chef! Praying for faithfulness to live under His control.
Amen!
Prayer: Heavenly Father I pray that You work Your perfect will in my life. Put me where I need to be, and surround me with those that need to be there. Give me hope Lord and help me to remain stable under pressure. I have put my trust in God, what can man do to me? In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3
Thank you Pastor Dion for taking time for this powerful devotion today. Amen. :-)
Oh gosh...just lost what I wrote. Well, I said this a timing message. When we moved up from the south(not as deep as you guys) I thought we were the only ones with a pressure cooker. I was 11. Vegetables tasted so good. Meat too. I am grateful as you pointed out that the pressure only lasts awhile. We have a series of things as I am sure we all do. My husband in Sept will have a skin treatment called Photo Dynamic Therapy. He has fair German skin. Plagued ongoing with different cancers great fully curable. The Melanoma in his leg last yr healed well. They will do this treatment in a two hour separate hor process. Afterwards is the concern of what it will feel like. I read on it a bit. It has good healing reports. Years back he had a cream put on his whole face that he eventually turned bright red. Scary looking. Then he got a reaction to the cream so he was redder.His face was baby smooth. Praying his scalp will too. We are re-mortgaging at a lower rate for 15 yes that is quite a process and can't wait till it is over. Concern how we will be paying School tax bill due end of August. First time ever. His trucking earnings changed in some company cuts. God is good and believing this shall pass too. I scheduled yesterday for my right knee replacement. Oct 9. Different how this surgeon does things for he claims you come home next day. Last time I was in 9 days. God only knows. As I said as others I guess we join to jump in the pressure cooker. Be to you both!!
Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! Heavenly Father I pray that You work Your perfect will in my life. Put me where I need to be, and surround me with those that need to be there. Give me hope Lord and help me to remain stable under pressure. I have put my trust in God, what can man do to me? In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Amen.