Devoted to Destruction

For it was the LORD's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the LORD commanded Moses. Joshua 11:20

In Joshua this morning I read chapters 11-15 and verse 20 of chapter 11 struck an obvious cord. It was hard to swallow and actually is still lodged in my throat.

Rejoicing

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and characte produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

This morning I read Romans 5 and 6 and this verse really stuck out to me. I mean it is obsurd to my fleshly nature to think of rejoicing in suffering. When I read that it kind of laughed and at first it was rather loud and obnoxious but as I read on it became faint. Because the Lord's wisdom began to drown it out. He explains the reason we have for rejoicing in our sufferings.

JOYfully in Him,
Kelli