DID YOU PASS THE TEST?
JANUARY 2013
by Lisa Maki
Your day was doing just fine until somebody close to you starts blaming you for something you know you didn’t do. Though you were trying to keep your composure, you became reactive and said things you shouldn’t have said. You went on with your day with feelings of hurt and resentment asking yourself why this person who professes to love you can just pounce on you like that and hurt your feelings. You lost your joy, peace, and then your strength.
That night, in the quietness of your spirit, you remembered the Scriptures you just read the other day. Love suffers long and is kind; ... does not seek its own, is not provoked, ... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, 7).
You then realized that you could have exercised more patience and that you should not have allowed yourself to be provoked. You could have looked at it as an opportunity to practice what you have read in Scripture. But nope, you got in the flesh and lashed out too, just like what was done to you. You became defensive and fought for what you believed was right. Then you allowed your hurts to sink deeper and you meditated on it the whole day. Instead of brushing it off and leaving everything at the foot of the cross, you carried it with you throughout your day.
You just failed the test. What’s worse, you’ve failed this same test several times. How many times do you have to do a retake before you finally pass?
If there is one thing that we will continue to go through in this journey, it is test after test after test. Until we pass the test necessary for the next step, we will not be promoted to that next level. You can’t buy your way and you can’t cheat. If you do, you will be sent back to that same test and it may even be more difficult each time you retake it.
I don’t know about you but I have retaken some tests several times. After some time I finally got tired of going through it again and again and so I had no choice but to pass it. And mind you, I am one person who always wants to pass tests with flying colors. So when I fail a test from the Lord, I make it sure that the next time around I will get an A+ for it.
Going back to our scenario earlier, the best way to turn that situation around is to repent before God and apologize to the person who has hurt you. Admit that you got in the flesh and that you failed God’s test. By doing this you are also setting a real good example to your loved one. By doing this, you actually earn points with God.
What I’ve observed over the years is that most Christians don’t look at attacks as tests from God which is why they act so defeated when the attacks come. Most don’t realize that without overcoming an attack they will get stuck where they are. Some attribute temptations to their own weakness, forgetting that God is in the healing and deliverance business and therefore wants to take us away from any bondage we have. A Christian for instance who has a lust problem should realize that every temptation to view porn is an opportunity to pass that test. The more he or she gives in to the attack, the more it will keep him/her bound. But the more he/she overcomes and passes the test, the stronger he/she becomes, until eventually; lust is totally out of the picture.
Some Christians who are sick and praying to be healed are wondering why they have not been healed yet. The answer is in the test that needs to be passed. It may be a test of patience, a test of faith, a test of perseverance, or a test of forgiveness. Until the required test is passed, the healing will not be completed. Of course there are other reasons why healing takes time for some; while others get healed instantly. There are those who don’t get healed at all and die from their sickness. For the purpose of this article, I am only discussing the reason of “passing the test”.
Three tests that I have retaken several times are: test of patience, test of faith, and test of strength in my emotions. They have come to me in different forms, and most of the time they came all at the same time. One day, as I was going through an emotional time, I cried out to God and said, “Why does this have to happen to me all the time”? Then He said: “Because you haven’t passed it”. That’s when I started understanding the concept of passing our tests, which is what I am sharing with you now.
If you are serious about passing your test, God will surely help you. I am serious, which is the reason why I am overcoming. Sometimes I sense the test while it’s happening, sometimes I don’t. During those times that I don’t, the Holy Spirit is quick to remind me; and when I start realizing what is happening, I breathe deeply and ask God to sustain me. Some days are easier than the others. Those difficult days are days when I feel the battle going on inside of me: the battle of my flesh and spirit. I could almost hear them talk to each other. My flesh goes: I am hurt right now so just let me be. My spirit goes: You have to let go of that hurt and pass this test. Their voices even become stronger as they continue to fight with each other, making me want to run away and leave the two of them. The more challenging part is isolating what I am going through so the people around me won’t get affected. This is the toughest part, actually.
Tough and challenging as it gets, there is always the sweet taste of victory when you overcome and pass the test. It makes you feel fulfilled. It assures you that God is pleased. It gives you a vision of the cloud of witnesses in heaven all cheering for you. It gives you more hope towards the future, knowing that you are fighting the good fight of faith.
My brothers and sisters ... when you surrendered your life to Jesus, you enlisted yourself in His army. You are required to fight. We are in a spiritual war. This life in Jesus is not just about living in peace and joy. It is about fighting for that peace and joy that He already gave us. We have an enemy, and until we are here on earth, the battle continues.
I heard Billy Graham said that when he finally gets to heaven, he will just be in Kindergarten. If that will be his level, where will all of us be? Our education starts here and now and we have to keep passing our tests. As I’ve said, I don’t know about you but I want to pass my test with flying colors. When I am finally face-to-face with our Maker, I want Him to say: Well done my faithful servant. You passed the test”.
Just as you won’t proceed to the next level in school until you pass the level you’re in, you also won’t proceed to the next level in your spiritual walk until you pass the tests that God gives you.
That night, in the quietness of your spirit, you remembered the Scriptures you just read the other day. Love suffers long and is kind; ... does not seek its own, is not provoked, ... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, 7).
You then realized that you could have exercised more patience and that you should not have allowed yourself to be provoked. You could have looked at it as an opportunity to practice what you have read in Scripture. But nope, you got in the flesh and lashed out too, just like what was done to you. You became defensive and fought for what you believed was right. Then you allowed your hurts to sink deeper and you meditated on it the whole day. Instead of brushing it off and leaving everything at the foot of the cross, you carried it with you throughout your day.
You just failed the test. What’s worse, you’ve failed this same test several times. How many times do you have to do a retake before you finally pass?
If there is one thing that we will continue to go through in this journey, it is test after test after test. Until we pass the test necessary for the next step, we will not be promoted to that next level. You can’t buy your way and you can’t cheat. If you do, you will be sent back to that same test and it may even be more difficult each time you retake it.
I don’t know about you but I have retaken some tests several times. After some time I finally got tired of going through it again and again and so I had no choice but to pass it. And mind you, I am one person who always wants to pass tests with flying colors. So when I fail a test from the Lord, I make it sure that the next time around I will get an A+ for it.
Going back to our scenario earlier, the best way to turn that situation around is to repent before God and apologize to the person who has hurt you. Admit that you got in the flesh and that you failed God’s test. By doing this you are also setting a real good example to your loved one. By doing this, you actually earn points with God.
What I’ve observed over the years is that most Christians don’t look at attacks as tests from God which is why they act so defeated when the attacks come. Most don’t realize that without overcoming an attack they will get stuck where they are. Some attribute temptations to their own weakness, forgetting that God is in the healing and deliverance business and therefore wants to take us away from any bondage we have. A Christian for instance who has a lust problem should realize that every temptation to view porn is an opportunity to pass that test. The more he or she gives in to the attack, the more it will keep him/her bound. But the more he/she overcomes and passes the test, the stronger he/she becomes, until eventually; lust is totally out of the picture.
Some Christians who are sick and praying to be healed are wondering why they have not been healed yet. The answer is in the test that needs to be passed. It may be a test of patience, a test of faith, a test of perseverance, or a test of forgiveness. Until the required test is passed, the healing will not be completed. Of course there are other reasons why healing takes time for some; while others get healed instantly. There are those who don’t get healed at all and die from their sickness. For the purpose of this article, I am only discussing the reason of “passing the test”.
Three tests that I have retaken several times are: test of patience, test of faith, and test of strength in my emotions. They have come to me in different forms, and most of the time they came all at the same time. One day, as I was going through an emotional time, I cried out to God and said, “Why does this have to happen to me all the time”? Then He said: “Because you haven’t passed it”. That’s when I started understanding the concept of passing our tests, which is what I am sharing with you now.
If you are serious about passing your test, God will surely help you. I am serious, which is the reason why I am overcoming. Sometimes I sense the test while it’s happening, sometimes I don’t. During those times that I don’t, the Holy Spirit is quick to remind me; and when I start realizing what is happening, I breathe deeply and ask God to sustain me. Some days are easier than the others. Those difficult days are days when I feel the battle going on inside of me: the battle of my flesh and spirit. I could almost hear them talk to each other. My flesh goes: I am hurt right now so just let me be. My spirit goes: You have to let go of that hurt and pass this test. Their voices even become stronger as they continue to fight with each other, making me want to run away and leave the two of them. The more challenging part is isolating what I am going through so the people around me won’t get affected. This is the toughest part, actually.
Tough and challenging as it gets, there is always the sweet taste of victory when you overcome and pass the test. It makes you feel fulfilled. It assures you that God is pleased. It gives you a vision of the cloud of witnesses in heaven all cheering for you. It gives you more hope towards the future, knowing that you are fighting the good fight of faith.
My brothers and sisters ... when you surrendered your life to Jesus, you enlisted yourself in His army. You are required to fight. We are in a spiritual war. This life in Jesus is not just about living in peace and joy. It is about fighting for that peace and joy that He already gave us. We have an enemy, and until we are here on earth, the battle continues.
I heard Billy Graham said that when he finally gets to heaven, he will just be in Kindergarten. If that will be his level, where will all of us be? Our education starts here and now and we have to keep passing our tests. As I’ve said, I don’t know about you but I want to pass my test with flying colors. When I am finally face-to-face with our Maker, I want Him to say: Well done my faithful servant. You passed the test”.
Just as you won’t proceed to the next level in school until you pass the level you’re in, you also won’t proceed to the next level in your spiritual walk until you pass the tests that God gives you.
Lisa Maki is the founder, publisher, and editor of God'z Gurlz. More about Lisa at ...
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