Taking It to Work:
One of the hardest lessons in life is to learn not to worry. As a business owner, I have been brought very close to bankruptcy three times. First through a very dishonest businessman, then a worldwide recession and the last time was by a devastating natural disaster. Each of those threats paralyzed my thinking, caused unbelievable stress to my family, and robbed me of countless hours of sleep and peace. It is very hard to convey the full degree of mental anguish that each of those situations brought, but let it suffice to say, my faith and trust in God was severely tested, for months on end.
I wish I had time to share the details of each incident, and how, incredibly enough, God showed His power and providence over each of those “hopeless” situations, but in a short devotional, I could never do Him justice.
What I can share with you, is what I learned; I learned that we have a GREAT, BIG GOD, who can pull off amazing things for His children.
It is very easy to become anxious when problems mount. Even on a smaller scale, a fine day can go awry with a single call from the boss. One customer issue can put us in turmoil for weeks or years.
What is the correct reaction of the Godly? I can tell you, that if we know who our God really is, and His protection over His children, our reactions should be much different than my reactions were back in those earlier years.
A big God brings big faith and big power to every situation. If our view of God is too small, our problems look way too large. And I am happy to say, and in no small way due to those past trials, I have a much bigger God who I bow to nowadays, and much less of a worldly reaction when the monsters threaten.
What is threatening you right now? Is your default fear, or a deep trusting faith, because you have seen His saving hand before? Make no mistake, we have a great, big God, and He will see you through whatever is standing in your way. It may be a test, but it’s not a threat, not to Him, and not to you, as His Word works in you, today.
Ps 52:9 (ESV) – I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.
Prv 29:25 (ESV) – The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Acts 9 (ESV) – But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
Rev 3:20 (ESV) – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
Above the heavens I Am, streaming always in all directions, without beginning or end. I hear all, and see. No shift of the wind is not fully visible and known. There is a great panic of My people, desperation instead of My peace, for they know not their God. As a child screams for fear of the shadow, or frets in deepest turmoil for loss of a toy, so My people lament, for they know not whom they worship in scale of what they fear. I Am not of slumber, nor of distance. My strength does not wane, and My Word does not fail. He who peers through the keyhole cannot see the home, and he who will not explore, will only know what passes before him. I stand at the door and knock, that I would enter and be known as, I Am. You seek little the Truth, but chase much the wisdom of the world. Fed only with the folly of man, the man of God cannot know the fullness present with him, waiting to be revealed. The entertained receive little of the greatness of their adoption, but those who hunger and thirst shall be filled, their fruit great, and fear relieved. I Am above the threat – greater. Search to know Me that you would walk in power over threat, and lead others also, in My peace.
