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On Saturday, August 29th I was thinking about a situation I’m dealing with and honestly asking God why He hadn’t immediately resolved it. I reconsidered something I wrote earlier this year, Don’t Blow the Blessing, a post on budgeting, being responsible, & preparing for times of trouble. As I was rethinking everything and beginning to question myself, God intervened by redirecting and elevating my thinking…
The Bible teaches us to be good stewards, but STEWARDSHIP IN THE FORM OF SELF RELIANCE IS A CRUTCH. It cancels faith and is contrary to everything God expects from us. HOW SO?
Let’s take notes from The Parable of the Rich Fool, in this story a man acquired enough goods to last a lifetime. So he stored them up and rested with full peace of mind in the security he’d acquired for himself. That’s okay right. WRONG. God said he was a fool. That night he died, leaving this world and his possessions.
When I read this, I was torn…I asked God how could this be…this man was being responsible, which is what You teach Father…yet You called him a fool…
As I continued to read, God responded. Jesus identified the rich fool’s error, pointing out he stored up treasures for himself and not for God. Meaning he took care of his own affairs without regards to God. Symbolically, he built his own house and neglected the house of the Lord (Haggai 1:2-9). By putting himself first and not God, the rich fool lost.
Following this story, Jesus continues to affirm the necessary shift to our priorities to be on the winning team, adding we shouldn’t be anxious for food, clothing or shelter. That if God takes care of the birds of the air and the grass of the field, why wouldn’t He take care of us?
Jesus offered a simpler solution, instead of worrying and working to store up treasures you may not enjoy…put God first in every aspect of your life. (Luke 12:22-31).
THE CRUNCH SOME OF US HAVE BEEN PLACED IN IS FOR A REASON.
So why hadn’t God swooped in to save the day for me? It’s something that He needed to show me. Pressure is good at revealing hidden impurities, character flaws & sleeping giants. So what became visible? I’ve been too reliant on me – my own resources and my own abilities. I’ve been like the rich fool, creating a dependency on my own security and not God. OUCH, BUT WITH CORRECTION THERE IS ALWAYS A PROMISE! As I maturely received my correction, GOD PROMISED THERE WOULD BE A MAJOR RELEASE CLEARLY SHOWING MY HELP IS FROM HIM‼️‼️‼️
STRUGGLES ARE INDICATIVE OF TRANSITIONS.
As this discourse continued, I immediately thought of a convo from earlier in the day, leading to spontaneous prayer for stability in the minds of believers. I CONSIDERED HOW OUR ATTITUDES SOMETIMES WAIVER. One day we are ⬆️⬆️⬆️ waaaaaaay up and the next day we are ⬇️⬇️⬇️. The writing is written all of over the wall – the walls of social media – and to the outsider some look unstable.
IT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO BE STABLE. Not as the rich fool, placing security in our resources, but placing our security in God. HOW? Through an unyielding and unwavering faith.
We’ve heard the righteous will live by faith. Now what does that mean? Who are the righteous? We are. All of us are the righteousness of God! What’s faith? Believing and hoping in something we can’t see. And the only way the righteous [ INSERT YOUR NAME HERE ] will thrive now and in the days ahead is by faith.
IT’S TIME TO GET OFF
This is why it’s important that our faith is tested, sharpened & strengthened. Each of us have been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3), Jesus said faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). So begin to strengthen your faith through exercise…USE IT! Don’t ask for more faith! ASK God to remove any unbelief, which weakens and stops faith’s ability to work (Mark 9:24).
PRAYER
Father, I thank You for revealing every area of instability in my thinking, actions and faith. I renounce any unbelief that may be hiding in me. Having recognized it, I confess it, renounce it and receive a release of Your mercy (Proverbs 28:13)! I pray for the patience to endure all things as a good soldier and to be joyful while I wait on You. I thank You for answers provided, hope fulfilled and provision supplied. I thank You that You don’t forsake the righteous and that there is no lack for those who fear You (Psalm 34:9-10, Psalm 37:25). I call a release of every provision and an overflow to come into my life now! I declare I’m coming off the roller coaster now! I have full stability and security in You!
In Jesus Name, Amen!
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
God’s power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes. That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time. I know the thought of that is exciting, even if you must suffer through different kinds of troubles for a short time now. These troubles test your faith and prove that it is pure. And such faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. When your faith is proven to be pure, the result will be praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ comes.
1 Peter 1:5-7 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Modern English Version (MEV)
