“Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

2 Corinthians 1:9
John Bunyan, the famed author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, who suffered years of imprisonment and separation from his family (including from his blind daughter), chose 12 years of prison over a freedom that would not allow him to preach. He shared how prison helped build his trust in God. “By this Scripture [2 Corinthians 1:9] I was made to see that if I would suffer rightly, I must first pass a sentence of death upon everything that can be properly called a thing of this life, even to reckon to myself, my wife, my children, my health, my enjoyment and all as dead to me and myself as dead to them. The second was to live upon God that is invisible” (1666).

In my agonizingly slow and ongoing transformation through the years since my stroke, I have found that adversity has pulled away “things of this life.” The world with its enchantments and tangible delights becomes less alluring, less mesmerizing. I am very slowly, with many missteps along the way, learning “to live upon God that is invisible,” trusting Him and nothing else.



Scripture Focus

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Insight

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Bible In A Year

  • 1 Samuel 26-27
  • Psalm 133
  • Galatians 3-4

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