Woe to you who are at ease in Zion,

Notice those that God is pronouncing “woe” to in the verse above. Desiring ease and comfort is a sin that is easy to attempt to justify. When we do desire ease and comfort, we are ultimately desiring for ourselves to be on the throne with an outlook of how we can be served. With a proper view of God we realize that He is on the throne and is to be served at all times, a life that is lived to constantly serve God will be a life that is rarely at ease in this world.

God has not called His children to be at ease in this world. Instead, He has called us to lift our eyes up and set our sights on things above. Everything in this life is worthless compared to the inheritance and hope that God has prepared for us in eternal life. He wants us to trust in Him and His promises instead of trusting in money, love or anything else that this world offers. Be assured that the ease in this world is only taking away from opportunities that God has given us to partake in His glory now and share in Christ sufferings.

When God is at the center of how we view everything in life then ease and comfort will still be our desire, but it is the ease and comfort that God has promised. As our hearts labor tirelessly for the Gospel we will be filled up and comforted with His Spirit. Making our ultimate goal to win souls for Him gives us an opportunity to present God as more glorious then any ease and comfort that can await us in this life. Therefore, let us run this race hard, know that at the finish line when we hear “well done good and faithful servant,” we will know that we have not missed anything.

And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, (Hosea 2:15)

Turning the Valley of Achor into a door of hope is no small feat. Historically the valley of Achor has been viewed as a place of judgment and destruction. How can a place of judgment and destruction become a place of hope? Only at the cross where Christ was troubled as our sin became His so He could be judged for us so that we can be heirs of hope.
The door of hope I find at Calvary where Christ was walked through His own Valley of Achor is where I sing because that is where God declared Himself to no longer be my master, but my husband. By His righteousness and justice my sins were nailed to the cross. Through His mercy and lovingkindness I’ve been brought into relationship with Him. In His faithfulness I have been betrothed to Him for all eternity.
Oh believer, do life’s circumstances have you placed in a Valley of Achor? Know that Christ was troubled for your sake so that you can lie down safely and rest in Him. Let the Spirit open your eyes and realize that your Valley of Achor is a door of hope. Your troubles are meant to lead you to God for you are His bride that He cares for and has orchestrated all things for your good. Embrace His mercy as He has drawn near and ready to not only, but also answer. He has shed His blood to win you for Himself, so how can He not do all else.

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; (Joel 2:28)

God knows us perfectly well and there is nothing about us that escapes His knowledge. The one thing that God can say about every person is that there is none who does good, no one on their own seeks Him. He knows that our hearts are desperately wicked, from the days of our youth we have walked in sin. Our own we are helpless to do good. If God’s common grace was not functioning in believer and non-believer alike then we would all be as evil as Adolph Hitler.

God knows my inability to please Him or do any good, so He took the initiative to pursue me. Not because of good works I’ve done or good works that He foresaw me doing if I had the ability to do, but because of His grace and mercy He saved me. Before I was born, He chose me to be a vessel of mercy. Prior to time existing God placed His grace on my life so that I would one day walk with Him. This is not on the basis of anything I have done, but according to the good pleasure of His will.

Once we’ve been reconciled to God, our spirit’s desire to live to the praise of God’s glory, but yet our flesh is so weak. God knows the weakness of our flesh and has given us His Spirit as our helper. With the Holy Spirit poured out over our lives we are more apt to the conviction of sin. The Spirit leads us in truth and allows us to know the truth of God’s Word, without Him, we are deaf to what God wants to speak to us. The Spirit testify always of Christ, so that we can seek to always live like Christ. Even as adopted children of God we are unable to glorify the Father with our own strength, that is why we must seek more of the Spirit poured out into hearts.

So you, by the help of your God, return; (Hosea 12:6)

Typically when discouragement or overwhelming situations come we realize that we needs God’s help. If we are honest with ourselves, the proper posture of our hearts should be one that continually acknowledges its need for help from God. Our Lord is the creator of Heavens and earth. In Him is unimaginable resources with strength and power to accomplish all. If our faith is found in Him and not in ourselves then all things are possible.

Any Christian growth or desire to do good deeds cannot be done by your own strength. No one on their own does good. Pursuing godliness is not natural to our human nature. All attempts to glorify God on our own are filthy rags and even if they don’t outwardly appear to be soiled with sin, God sees the self-sufficiency was in the design and execution. To be found holy, we must clothe ourselves with the robes of righteousness He provides through finding our strength for growth only in the power of Christ blood.

He is calling you to turn from your sinful nature and live in His grace that is free and available to all that come. On your own you would be dead, but only by His calling you are you brought to life. Surrender completely and know that you don’t hear Him by your own ability and you don’t live by your own strength. He is sufficient for all that you desire to do for His name. Only by His undeserved favor are you His and only by His undeserved favor are you able to accomplish anything for Him.