Hearing the very disturbing news that twelve men's lives were cut short due to a mining accident has left me with searching God's Word for the better and not to remain bitter. I hope you will find the good in this as I have.

Here's the good that remains; one young man that survived can use this test as his testimony. He no doubt will touch many lives and God can use him to change others. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost their loved ones because that is something we never want to face. It brings to question our own mortality.

Even though we enter the new year with the best of intentions, the fact remains that we can't control what happens where our own lives are concerned. God gives us today if it's in His will. Which is why we really need to be ready for the unknown. If we continue to believe and trust in the Lord, the unknown becomes less of a mystery and a promise of a new life. For this fact alone, we should praise God.

Whether or not you believe in God or have even accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, one thing still remains the same. That is, we all are in a spiritual battle with a very real enemy. His job is to take a personal vendetta out on God's children and keep them for himself, bound in chains and bound for hell.

"The thief comes only in order to steal, and kill and destroy, I came that they may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)". Jn. 10:10 (Amplified)

Jesus tells us Himself that the thief (Satan) has one agenda, which is to destroy God's children by stealing their joy, killing their souls and destroying their lives. For the ones who aren't saved, he will keep them out of the kingdom of heaven, and for the ones who are saved, he will see to it that they will never get their victory here on earth.

But Christ says that He came to give us abundant life, to the full and overflowing. When we face tragedies, our first reaction is to turn from God, and automatically assume that He did this terrible thing to curse us. We get bitter and have nothing to do with Him, He doesn't deserve our time and praise. Satan knows how we react and uses it to his advantage. He hasn't changed his tactics from the first time in the garden. His old ways are still alive and strong today. Modern man has not come very far in this area of truly trusting and believing in God.

Jesus tells us that Satan is a liar and the father of them and yet, we still blame God for everything! We just can't seem to get past the point of things that make no sense. This is where we get in a rut. Satan tells us that nothing good can ever come out of this and if God was truly a loving God, how could He let this happen? We sink into our heartbreaks. Here lies our biggest mistake. God is not One that He should lie. He even tells us that His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. God is perfect as He is Holy. He is righteous and just.

"He is the Rock. His work is perfect, for all His ways are law and justice. A God of faithfulness without breach or deviation, just and right is He." Ps. 32:4 (Amplified)

If we truly trust and believe in Him, then why do we set ourselves up for the fall from the enemy? He attacks our minds, he fills us with such negative thoughts that lead us down the slippery slope into depression, hatred, lonliness, complete and utter helplessness. We need to know in these times that God is always near us. He said He would never leave us nor forsake us. Never means never!

"His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime or in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Ps. 30:5 (Amplified)

Truth is, God does get His feelings hurt, and He does get angry with us when we refuse to listen to Him, but like any good parent, He soon forgives and turns back in love and understanding even when we turn our backs on Him. God's love is perfect, He has no exceptions. But keep in mind, He wants us to recognize who His Son Christ is in our own lives. This then begins our understanding of this life and the next.

It's a matter of life that bad things will always happen to everyone at any time. We can't stop them, but when we learn to trust in God (who does understand) He will bring us to the point of accepting with His grace and His peace and His joy. This ability brings us to the point where we can see beyond the here and now and that God promises something much better. After all, the joy of the Lord is our strength, and that is exactly what the enemy has come to steal!

If you remember, even Jesus wasn't exempt from Satan's temptations. This deciever will stop at nothing or no one in order to get what he wants. When Satan tries you to get down and worship him, all you need do is what Jesus did.

"Then Jesus said to him, 'Begone, Satan! For it has been written. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him alone shall you serve." Mt. 4:10 (Amplified)

When you know God's written word and then proclaim it to the enemy, things will begin to change for the better.

"Then the devil departed from Him and behold, angels came and ministered to Him." Mt. 4:11 (Amplified)

It's a fact that Satan can not stay in the place of praise and worship. But until you demand him to leave, even the angels won't interfere until he has left. It wasn't until Satan was commanded to leave that the angels came and ministered to Jesus. It's still the same for us today. We must follow the good Book, it's the blue print of perfect life and how to beat the odds.

In these times of mixed up and crazy situations, we must dig deep and hang on to the promises of God. He also tells us that what the enemy means for evil, He means for good. Being humans, we can't always make sense of this but God also says,

"ALL things work together for the good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." Rom. 8:28

We have all been called to be used for His purpose. His Word says that many are called but few are chosen. Do you want to be chosen? Perhaps now would be a good time to stop and listen to what God has for you. Let this be the one thing you change for the better this new year.

When you let God rule over your heart, your feet will be sure to follow His ways.