The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16:1
It doesn't come overnight, but as we allow Him to mold us and shape us and change our hearts, then what comes out of our mouths will reflect the repentant, kind, wise heart that God has put in us.
As believers, we know God, and that is where our joy comes from—He gives us joy during the ins and outs of daily existence. And joy is one of the fruits of His Spirit in our lives.
Paul mentions joy often in his letter to the churches:
So be joyful today—there is everything to be thankful for.
He said, 'Take now your son…'
Genesis 22:2
God's command is, "Take now," not later. It is incredible how we debate!
We know something is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it immediately. If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later—it must be done now. And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it.
"So Abraham rose early in the morning… and went to the place of which God had told him" (Genesis 22:3). Oh, the wonderful simplicity of Abraham! When God spoke, he did not "confer with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:16). Beware when you want to "confer with flesh and blood" or even your own thoughts, insights, or understandings—anything that is not based on your personal relationship with God. These are all things that compete with and hinder obedience to God.
Abraham did not choose what the sacrifice would be. Always guard against self-chosen service for God. Self-sacrifice may be a disease that impairs your service. If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; or even if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him. If the providential will of God means a hard and difficult time for you, go through it. But never decide the place of your own martyrdom, as if to say, "I will only go to there, but no farther." God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed.
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when God displaces worry at the center of your life.
Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)
We as Christians have the option to trust God or to doubt Him; and Spurgeon exhorts us to do the former:
When the Christian trusts, he is happy; when he doubts, he is miserable. When the believer looks to his Master and relies upon him, he can sing; when he doubts his Master, he can only groan. What miserable wretches the most faithful Christians are when they once begin doubting and fearing! It is a trade I never like to meddle with, because it never pays the expenses, and never brings in any profit—the trade of doubting.
No matter how worrying the circumstances are around us, let us put our complete faith and trust in God to look after us, because He alone is able.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
So, what's in your future? No, this has nothing to do with horoscopes, but many Christians make financial decisions based on fear of the future, instead of trusting that God will provide for them. Fear of the future can cause us to forfeit the blessings of God, because we base decisions on the latest headline or stock market report.
Too often, Christians give little thought to God's ability to take care of them.
This doesn't mean that we shouldn't plan ahead to ensure financial stability; however, when Christians find that attitudes of fear and worry are motivating financial decisions, they need to reevaluate their financial priorities, and recommit to trust in God.
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No Christian can truly serve God and live in fear of financial loss.
Fear of our financial future exhibits a lack of trust in God and in His provision. In other words, when we fear the future, we choose to serve the fear of financial loss, rather than to trust and serve God—Who has conquered all fear and holds the future in His hands. God's plan seems to be that we have some needs so that we can develop our faith in Him. It is vital for us to view potential future financial needs as opportunities to exercise and develop our faith.
It is a matter of who are you going to trust.
There are some important steps we must follow that will help us trust God completely with the present and the future:
Although we are bombarded daily with events that can cause doubt concerning our financial future, we must never doubt that God is in complete control. Refuse to panic, and do not be governed by fear of the future. Keep your commitments and vows to God, pray without ceasing and trust your future to Him without reservation.
Now that the changes of the seasons are upon us (well not really when living in FL) there is distinct difference in the depth of the deep blue sky, the warmth of the sun, and most of all the breeze or wind in the air. Change has taken place over night and it is one that is noticeable enough to be felt.
The wind is that which is most noticeable as it moves the things around us, giving a voice to nature. The weather day or night is enhanced by a wind, either gentle or fierce. The breeze has a way of making its presence known, all while remaining invisible.
Recently the weather was such that brought a rowdy wind that caused trees and plants alike to be easily bent under the wind's power, and creating that mysterious noise that wind often harmonizes under the right circumstances. Looking around, it seems strange that although we can see the trees sway and the leaves shake, we really do not see the "object" that was stirring such activity.
But obviously it was there!
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear it's sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8).
In the Greek, the same word is used for both wind and Spirit—seemingly invisible, but they are very real. Both the wind and the Holy Spirit effect people, but remain unseen. Skeptics have a hard time grasping who God is because He is invisible.
Sometimes we Christians even begin to assume God is absent from our lives because He appears to be hidden, but we need only to open our eyes and look around us. Watch as brothers and sisters in Christ sway under the Holy Spirits power.
Look as souls are redeemed and lives are changed!
