The End Time
Thriving in Difficult Times

The end time will be a period of great difficulty so how can we thrive in the difficult times?

I believe most of the gloom and doom we read and hear about in the news and about government from the media are designed to keep us in a state of fear. 

Fear keeps us tuned in to the media and exposed to the commercials that pay for the media to stay in business.

I believe the fear is used to persuade us to accept solutions to exaggerated problems at the cost of our money and our freedom.  Right now, as we enter into the end time, the fear of “what might happen if” seems to be driving our political, economic and many of our personal decisions.

What are some of the fears the media keeps in front of us?  To name a few, global warming, terrorist attacks, economic collapse, rising unemployment, inadequate education, budget problems seemingly everywhere, an power hungry and greedy government leaders.

As we enter the end time, the above is enough to scare the living daylights out of us!

We can not only be prepared as we enter the end time, we can actually thrive.

How can we thrive in difficult times? 

The quick answer is:

1. Be Prepared,
2. Be Proactive,
3. Be Prosperous

Be Prepared

You prepare to thrive in difficult times by staying connected to God.

How? 

You must practice the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, fellowship, service, worship, obedience, contemplation and exercising your faith.

It is through these daily disciplines that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth and guide you in making right decisions.

Faith is trust and confidence that moves us to action.  Faith breeds hope; when we have hope in the future, we have power in the present. 

Right now is the time to get connected and to stay connected with God! Right now is the time to exercise that faith that breeds hope!

Most of us have a strong hunch that things are going to get difficult, especially as it relates to finances and to our religious freedoms.

Now is the time to prepare, now is the time to develop a plan.

We can procrastinate or we can develop our plan – it is our choice.  However, the problems faced because of power grabs, greed and desire for influence are not going away anytime soon.

Here’s some basic wisdom.

          1. Get out of debt.

          2. Downsize your expenses so you can save at least 10% of your income. 

The experts say you need a financial safety net of a minimum of 3 months expenses saved.  Most of us live pay check to pay check so that goal sounds astronomical. But you have to start.

          3. Sell the stuff you don’t need.

          4. Don’t buy at retail prices.

4. Pay off your credit cards at the end of each month. (now it is every three  weeks for most and will soon be every two weeks for some cards – guess why - hint $$$)

Create and work a plan to deal with tough economic times.

Don’t wait!  Don’t wait until fear overcomes you or weakens you.  The end time we are entering into demands a plan.

The hardest time to connect with God is during the good times; because it is then we think we have everything under control ourselves.

The best way to thrive in difficult times is to get connected now to God, to stay connected, and to learn to cultivate a listening ear to how He speaks to you and to cultivate a ready obedience.

When the end time or just plain difficult days get here you will feel confident in your relationship with God, rather than being paralyzes by fear and you will have a hope that empowers you.

Be Proactive

As we enter the end time crazy things are going to happen.  You can be either reactive or proactive to these uncontrolled events.

Reactive means the event determines your behavior.

Proactive means that your behavior is determined before the event.

Since tomorrow is unknown, it is hard to predict what you need to do before something happens or doesn’t happen.

But if difficult days are ahead, you can be proactive by establishing and maintain a right attitude

What is an attitude?

Attitude is created by thoughts that generate an inward feeling, which is expressed by outward behavior.

Some one accuses your of a bad attitude it means that they are suggesting that you change the way you are thinking about the situation you find yourself in.

Sometimes you have no control over what happens to you, but you have control of what happens in you.

Today, be proactive and cultivate the right attitude.

Here’s the right attitude for difficult times:

Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

As we approach the end time, the best way to thrive in difficult times is to be prepared and be proactive.

Develop that “can do” attitude.

The attitude of an overcomer.

The attitude of a warrior.

And then be prosperous.

Be Prosperous

BE PROSPEROUS

Whatever is successful, flourishing, or thriving is prosperous.

Jesus’ idea about prosperity is not the like the worlds idea.

Jesus’ concept is relational.

The world’s concept is material.

As we approach the end time, if you want to thrive during difficult times you need to commit yourself to Jesus’ idea of prosperity.  

Luke 6:38 (MSG)

Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

In difficult times: give yourself away to others.

          Give others your love.

          Give others your mercy

          Give others your compassion

          Give others your commitment.

The tendency in difficult times is to horde.

But the way to prosper through the difficult times is to be generous with what you have.

Generosity is the key to prosperity.

During the time of the Apostles, most believers were not prosperous in a worldly sense.

Most believers were not financially well off.

They were living in difficult times. Yet they prospered relationally.

Those first believers devoted themselves to the Christian lifestyle. Devoted themselves to caring for each other and devoted themselves to prayer.

The result in the early church was celebration, exuberance and joy in the midst of a difficult time with spiritual prosperity and rich in relationships.

Because in the early church relationship was real it was attractive and when others saw it, they wanted to get in on it.

What did others see?

They saw believers generous in Love, mercy, compassion, and commitment, to one another.

They saw people prospering relationally in difficult times.

They saw people pooling their resources

Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

The best way to thrive in difficult times is to

Be prepared,

Be proactive,

And then be prosperous by:

Devoting yourself to living the Christian lifestyle

Devoting yourself to caring for others.

Devoting yourself to prayer.

Devoting yourself to the group.

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