The topic I wanted to touch on today was enduring life's trials. I went to a revival at my church last night, and when I say the preacher was confirming what has been in my spirit all yesterday left and right. I'm telling you God is speaking! The windows of heaven have not shut up, God is still dispensing his word for all who have a HEART to hear!
The Preacher touched on our wilderness experiences and how miracles can be found in our dry places. I don't know about any of you, but I have been through many a dry spells, desserts, valleys, and the list goes on. And to be honest, the very first thing I did was nothing new. The children of Israel specialized in it. COMPLAIN. I didn't necessary complain to to the point i said "Oh God, why me?!?!" "What did I do SOO wrong for me to be in this state". But it was the little things that I did that weren't even vocal! I would probably be a little sluggish, not smiling as much, not wanting to do a lot of things with people, cause of course NO ONE understands MY story(lol). I would be a silent narcissist. My actions depicted my disposition. My expression depicted my mood. And my behavior caused me not to show signs of God's goodness in all the earth. I said in the last post, "...We are seen and read of all men". People can see when you're have a bum day! People know when you are not yourself. If this behavior carries on, again, you proclaiming to be a Christian, now lends itself to characterization and attributes of what a Christian is. Sluggard, hopeless looking, and no Joy in sight. Brothers and sisters, we have to do better.
I was listening to the preacher and him bringing up familiar stories of Job and the three Hebrew boys, and I thought to myself. Man, these people were just servants of God. They were not appointed to any positions Pastor, Prophet, Missionary, etc during there trial. They just were servants. We modern day saints have been taught to "Ask and it shall be given" "God will give you the desires of your heart". We have begun to ask God for things and not realize the cost associated with our request. You asked God for patience, unknowing that that brings tribulation and trial (James 1:3). We asked God I want to be a pastor, unknowing that you will have to give an account of the souls in your watchcare. (Jer 23:1). We are covetous of another's anointing, and ask God to make us to sing like them, make me to preach like her, make me to be as giving as him. Little do we know that the oil (anointing) of the Lord comes through the pressing. In order for oil to permeate through the olive, it has to be squeezed, pressurized, to the point it begins to break open. The oil is so precious that it cant be purchased with monetary things. It must be acquired through blood, tears, brokenness, humility, and finally, allowing God then to remake you into his image.
In closing, I find that "It was good for me that I have been afflicted: that I may learn his statutes."(Psa 119:71). I would have never learned how to have character or integrity if I have never been through anything. If my parents always gave me what I asked for, where would I learn to appreciate the value of something I worked for? If there never been a dry spell, how would I learn not to be so careless with what God has blessed me with in the time of abundance and rain? With this is mind, we should all know that this faith walk is not for the faint of heart. If that was the case, more people would be adhering to it! "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death;" (Phil 3:10). Don't forget to be a CHRISTian, is to be CHRIST like. If he went through it, what makes us any different. Quit complaining! After all...this is what you asked for, right?
Be Blessed...
"If you're living like there's no God... You better be right"
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