"We will be scattered, not into service but into the emptiness of our lives where we will see ruin and barrenness, to know what internal death to God’s blessings means. Are we prepared for this? It is certainly not of our own choosing, but God engineers our circumstances to take us there. Until we have been through that experience, our faith is sustained only by feelings and by blessings. But once we get there, no matter where God may place us or what inner emptiness we experience, we can praise God that all is well. That is what is meant by faith being exercised in the realities of life.

". . . you . . . will leave Me alone." Have we been scattered and have we left Jesus alone by not seeing His providential care for us? Do we not see God at work in our circumstances? Dark times are allowed and come to us through the sovereignty of God. Are we prepared to let God do what He wants with us? Are we prepared to be separated from the outward, evident blessings of God? Until Jesus Christ is truly our Lord, we each have goals of our own which we serve. Our faith is real, but it is not yet permanent. And God is never in a hurry. If we are willing to wait, we will see God pointing out that we have been interested only in His blessings, instead of in God Himself. The sense of God’s blessings is fundamental. ". . . be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Unyielding spiritual fortitude is what we need." My Utmost For His Highest

A resounding YES, Lord. Yes, I see you at work, Yes I am prepared to let You do what You want with me (although I don't have any foresight here as to where You may take me).

If I'm being honest, I am prepared to be without some outward blessings, but I do have a weakness for looking for blessings as confirmation that I'm right with God. I know this is not biblical - take Job for example - but I can say that YES, I am prepared to BE PREPARED to be separated. Or even if I'm not prepared, I trust that the Lord will be with me and make it OK. Yes, I'm willing to wait.

Father, give me spiritual fortitude to go on even if Satan asks to sift me, or if You desire to strip away any motivation but to love You. It's easy for me to imagine the worst and think to myself "do I really want to ask You to do this?" But when I find myself asking that question, I realize that my faith is not fully in You. It's like falling backwards, but bracing myself in case You don't catch me. You ALWAYS catch me - what could I be afraid of? You don't operate by spite. You don't look forward to these opportunities to "really get 'em good." Perhaps an invitation to do work on me is an indication that I am ready for a bigger trial.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:2-8

Perhaps part of what he's saying here is that if I ask You for something (like to purify my faith), I shouldn't be hesitant or base my prayers on conditions (IF You do it without a painful trial, etc)... Purify me, Lord. It's worth it, whatever the trial. My heart burns within me and I have to take a break to think. Is this really what I want?

YES. A resounding Yes. I want Jesus to come in and take down all the idols that have been set-up in His temple - whether he needs to overturn tables with a whip, or simply take them down one by one. I want zeal for Your house to overtake You, Lord! May that same zeal overtake me!