I have been discussing with my friends lately how we have a weird feeling about explaining our blessings. Most of the time I do not understand why God allows an opportunity or allows this particular blessing in my life or answers a prayer in my favor or the way I was asking. I just don't get the way He works, after all, "His ways are not my ways" declares the Lord in Isaiah!
We were talking about how we sometimes do not want to talk about our blessings in fear of making others feel like they are losing out or in fear of looking boastful or even in fear of making it appear that God has not been as good to them. I know this may all seem like a very weird conversation, but compared to the rest of the world, any American Christian could have this conversation. We are all so blessed, and why - I don't know!
I think there is a factor that one never wants to admit, but also others don't ever want to hear. There is some connection with obedience and blessings. I know the Lord talks about it in the Word so often. The exact scriptures are not coming to mind right off, but I know He does say, "to obey is better than sacrifice". Many times in the Word God rewards or blesses, whatever word you are more comfortable with, people for their obvious obedience.
I know I am very uncomfortable with saying God gave me this because I had a faithful quiet time or God did this for us because we tithed or whatever the obedience may have been. I am uncomfortable saying that because of all the reason I stated above. I don't want others that are obeying in the same manner to wonder why they are not being blessed. Or I fear it looking like I am just telling about all the things I do. Or I even fear others may not feel like God loves them as much. Do I feel this way - do I think that way in reality - NO Way!!! But I have heard enough comments and my others friends were echoing, it is hard to answer the question - man, how do you do what you do and why does God allow so many things to go right in your life? What could you be doing to get God's favor...
I come all the way to my beginning thought. I do not nor my friends know how to explain the blessings or His favor that rests on us from time to time. All I can say and they were saying as well is that we don't focus on the blessings. We focus on the obedience and His sacrifice. We focus on getting the "job" done and as He blesses it becomes a wonderful and amazing surprise because we were never looking for it! Make sense? We are obeying and doing as He asks - not at all times - because He loved me first! Because of His shedding of blood, because of the ultimate sacrifice He did for me!!
Father may I respond more often to Your calls with obedience. May my focus be on You and Your requests and not what I can get out of it! Keep me humble and before You with open palms. May I seek your ways and not my own. May I live in your presence and realize you are there! May I be your good and faithful servant and seek repentance when I fall away. May I never demand to understand you or Your ways, but be willing to follow even when it doesn't make sense. May You investigate my motives and make them pure and make me Holy in your sight!! May You be proud of me and can I make you smile??
I love you my Savior!
6 comments:
I also think that God has different paths for each of us, and He allows ALL things so that He can use them for good. So, even trials and tragedy are blessings. Not easy, and not as enjoyable, but a blessing none the less, because it is His path for us and what He is allowing. And, if we are faithful in the difficult times, we will see His blessing regardless of what it looks like on the outside.
Oh that is beautiful!! I know that is a word i needed to hear. THank you for giving me that perspective as well.
THanks
:) i can't help but think of some people that i know who have gone through HORRIBLE things, and end up being the only person who can relate or minister to others that they encounter in similar situations. it's like God entrusted them with the "bad" in the same way He entrusts others with money or children or whatever He sees fit.
i've often wondered if living in praise and surrender to Jesus in those "bad" times is another dimension of being a living sacrifice...
Yes, i agree. i could never really relate to one that has never been through a miscarriage if i hadn't been through that myself. And there are things in my life right now - good and bad -i so desire to have someone to relate to. But at this time i have to make my way through the good and bad with only my Jesus, more than enough i might add. But at the same time, i always learned in college that i need not be MPD or schizophrenic to help them. When we are led by the Spirit, just Him spekaing or acting through us can be enough or just the thing to keep this person going or drawing closer to Him. Make sense?
absolutely!!
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