He has done everything possible to prevent it from happening; however, he is drowning in debt and says iit is the worst time of his life.One friend is buying foreclosed homes, flipping them, and making a profit.
He has cleared all his debt and says that it is the best time of his life.Both love God.
One is suffering. One is enjoying life.From the outside it would seem that God has blessed one over the other. What we need to understand, is that circumstances do not delineate if God has blessed us or not. It is important to note, the blessed are those who personally experience and engage with the activity of God. Trust is the key component to engaging with the blessings of God. At the end of the day, each one of us must make the choice whether or not we will trust God in the best and worst of times.
Trust, is at the crux of our relationship with God.We tend to put conditions on God because we lack trust.
Whether we admit it or not, lack of trust usually is centered on a difficult challenge that we have had to face and perhaps blame God for allowing it to occur in our life. One thing I know is that we can trust God to be trustworthy. The thing is . . . trust doesn't always makes sense . . . making it difficult to choose to trust God.
The Exodus people set out on a journey with God that required trust.
Along the way, doubt and trust collided.
Sometimes they chose to trust God to be God.
Other times they felt alone on the pathway to Promise and doubted God.
Even so, God continued to be faithful and rained down bread from heaven:
Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."(Exodus 16:4-5)God promised to rain down bread from heaven, providing for all the people's needs. But, God's provision was not one-sided; God asked the people to obey and follow His instructions. It was their choice to obey or not obey.
Obedience boils down to choosing whether we will or will not trust God. Choice is an amazing gift from God. Choice can be hard; however, we do not need to manage the choice we make in our life alone. The Spirit of God will enable us to choose to obey and empower us to trust when we ask for help.
The result of trust is being blessed . . . experiencing the activity of God . . . the bread from heaven raining down:
You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You're blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That's right—you don't go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;
Then I'd never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I'm going to do what you tell me to do;
don't ever walk off and leave me.(Psalm 119:1-3)
Trust. Be blessed. God has promised: I will rain down bread from heaven for you
Learning to KickStart keeping on course . . . blessed to be in heaven's rain.,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)