Thursday, January 19, 2017

When God Speaks - What Matters Most



When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. —Genesis 15:12

{CHAMBERS} “Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. […] Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. […] Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. […] Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God…”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.”

{ELGIN}  Has God ever spoken to you? Most probably not a burning bush experience, but a still, small voice conversation?  A realization that came upon you.  Something that you were not looking for, but happened all the same.  Something that was entirely out of context of what you thought you should be doing or where you thought you should be going.  Totally inexplicable except that it was God. You know it in your heart.  Perhaps, like Abraham, God spoke and then you waited.  Or perhaps, God spoke and that was not what you wanted.  To follow God.  To be in step with God, you must keep your focus on and trust in God. As soon as you start to question God, you are out of step with Him.

It’s not that you created a problem for God. The point is that you miss the purpose God has planned for you. Can you fathom that the Creator of the universe would choose to use you for His purposes on earth?  And what is our response?  I can’t afford it. I don’t have the time right now. I don’t want to give something up that is in the way of serving God.  You don’t always have to leave your home, or quit your job, or sell all you have to fulfill God’s purpose, but you may.  But if your heart is right, it won’t matter.  What matters most is that you are following God.  (Matthew 16:24) “If anyone comes after Me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Me”

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