Monday, November 7, 2016

It's Not Odd, It's God - Living Your New Life With Your Spiritual Eyes Open

My Utmost For His Highest
 
We know that all things work together for good to those who love God… —Romans 8:28
 
“The circumstances of a saint’s life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you can’t understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands. God brings you to places, among people, and into certain conditions to accomplish a definite purpose through the intercession of the Spirit in you. […]  All your circumstances are in the hand of God, and therefore you don’t ever have to think they are unnatural or unique. Your part in intercessory prayer is not to agonize over how to intercede, but to use the everyday circumstances and people God puts around you by His providence to bring them before His throne, and to allow the Spirit in you the opportunity to intercede for them. In this way God is going to touch the whole world with His saints.”  CHAMBERS
 
Some years ago, we met a man to discuss an aspect of the ministry we were involved in.  In response to a description and a particular circumstance he said “That’s not odd, that’s God.”  I love the English language because of its versatility in connecting words in a memorable way.  What he said as obviously stuck with me, not just because odd and God rhyme, but because it communicates a truth that I have experienced over and over in life.  It’s hard to imagine a God that is so big, He can influence circumstances the way he does.  I have often commented that what just happened was beyond probability.  And it was.  I could not have orchestrated the circumstances, but God did.  Once you might call it a fluke. Perhaps even two or three times, but improbable, God caused events have been happening in our lives since the day that we said “Yes Lord to Your will and to Your way.”  Obedience opens a door of new experiences and possibilities that remain hidden as long as you choose yourself and not God.
 
It is difficult to describe.  I will meet someone and immediately the thought rises, “God has a reason for this .. but it is not yet revealed.” And then sometime later I discover why we met, it was for kingdom purposes. If you think about it, we should not be surprised.  Every believer has the Spirit of God in them.  The same Spirit.  The Father uses the Holy Spirit combined with the faith of His Children to accomplish His purposes on this earth.   A simple example.  (I have hundreds that I could share) I received an email from a friend asking if I could connect them to a Doctor I know who lives and serves in Jeremie, Haiti.  I told her I would.  The last Saturday we decided to take a drive to see the fall colors in the trees in a State park.  On the way, we stopped at a restaurant to eat lunch.  In the middle of somewhere.  Well, who should walk into the restaurant with a group of her friends but the friend who asked about the Doctor.  Highly improbable.  Spiritually affirming.  But it was not odd, it was God.  (Ephesians 1:18-21)  “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”  Christian, God is at work all around you.  Be on the lookout.  And when you see Him working, join Him.  You will be glad you did. ELGIN

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