|
|
|
|
Recognizing The Blessings Phi 4:4 (KJV) “Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.” Sometimes it is hard to see the full benefits of what God is allowing to happen in our lives while we are in the midst of change, but we must always remember that those who serve the Lord with a whole heart will not be put to shame. All things considered, if God is in control of our lives then we should always rejoice, even if we don’t like what is happening. That is truly much easier to say than it is to do, but so is everything in the word of God. Thanks be unto the Lord for giving us the examples of successes and failures found in the Bible. So many times the people would be faint-hearted and complaining right in the midst of getting blessed. For example, when the Israelites were being freed from the bondage of slavery and paganism in Egypt, they complained every time something happened to change their situation. Even after God did miraculous signs and wonders against their captors, the Israelites were willing to go back into captivity. Here is what they said right before the Lord parted the Red Sea: Exo 14:10-11 (KJV) “And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. (11) And they said unto Moses, Because [there were] no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?” One would think that after seeing plagues, and giant hail, and thick darkness, even death overtake the Egyptians, that the people might have had a clue that God would show up for them at the Red Seas as well. Just think, what if the Israelites would have started shouting: Praise the Lord! The Almighty will deliver us! Our God is about to finish our enemies forever! Well, they didn’t, and too many times we don’t praise the Lord in the midst of our circumstances, causing us not to see the blessings in the midst of the trials. We know that the Israelites did praise and sing to the Lord once they crossed the Red Sea and saw their enemies destroyed, but the blessing they still did not realize was how not to lose heart. We know this because when the people wanted water, they murmured against Moses; then when they wanted meat, they murmured against the Lord until He gave them what they wanted. Eventually, the constant complaining cost them their entrance to the Promised Land. That was such a sad but unnecessary situation. Exo 14:13-14 (KJV) “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. (14) The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” The words of Moses here should remind us of how we should react when we feel like murmuring and complaining because of the circumstances in our lives. We should not wait until after the Lord shows us the victory to praise Him. If we find that situations beyond our control are affecting our peace in the Lord, we should start rejoicing right away because our God can, and will, do the impossible. Rejoice and rest in the Lord your God, and you will begin to recognize the blessings. -Kurt Thurston May Newsletter 2005 | Drawing Water | Recognizing the Blessings Pastor's Journal May 2004 | Growing Up is Hard to Do part 3 of 3 | The Suddenlies of God part 2 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
|
|
Copyright © 1995-2007 Living Word Christian
Fellowship, Inc.
|
