Whatever you practice in your daily life will be reflected in times of difficulties. When things are going well for us, most just ride the wave of good with little effort toward working on their faith. I know this too well as I have done this at times in my life. When our faith is shallow, our practice isn't concerned about righteousness and holiness that the Lord has called us to, when the struggles hit all sort of thoughts and anguish come into our hearts.
People wonder during those times if God has abandoned them. People question if God is punishing them from something in their past and it haunts them. These things reveal how little we have developed a trust and assurance in our heavenly Father. If we question something from our past, did we ever find the forgiveness of the Lord? And then we hear the response, "I never forgave myself!" Our lives and thinking drift to this extent. You can't forgiven yourself! Forgiveness is found only in Christ Jesus and forgiveness must be embraced. It's His forgiveness based on the covenant (Heb. 8:12) that was made with us when we entered Jesus. One either accepts it or denies it!
With all this, your life will take on what you have placed your heart around. If holiness and a deep appreciation for the Lord's dealing with you lead you into a greater love, when the difficulties hit, you will practice and lean on His love and holiness. If a lack of love and sincerity is your practice, you will find little love and back away from the Lord when times get tough. With that, you never realize that all trials that come are for your testing, to streamline your faith, to remove hurtful parts of you and bring assurance and the ability to endure which takes you to God. What do you practice each day?
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