Ok, So I spent 45 minutes yesterday on my “venting” and what do I read in my devotions today?

Proverbs 29:11 -
“A FOOL VENTS all his feelings, but a WISE man (woman) holds them back”

Nice Megan! What a fool and oh how God works! Who says He doesn’t have a sense of humor and doesn’t speak to you daily? I guess the trick is actually looking to Him huh!?

Anyway, I’m not going to delete my “venting” entry only simply because it proves the point. I’m willing to learn, even though I am still so weak. Praise God for His Word, Instructions and Care!
His Grace and Love ARE Abundant!
Working on how to be wise, and holding my peace! Especially with these self absorbed “feelings”!

It’s really great how God places things in your lap at times exactly when you need them.  I’m having a struggle in knowing exactly how to be the parent God wants me to be.  I am sure all parents do, but there are situations going on right now in my life with examples of other “parents” that I just despise. 

It hurts me so deeply and I keep saying to myself, I don’t want to be that kind of parent! I find myself fighting it.  I don’t want my son or daughter to “get away” with things, and I even get very frustrated at my husband when I feel he is making the wrong choice for how he disciplines our children (which I know I can not do), but I do not know what I really need to do to train up a child!  This article touched me, so here it is…

The Following Post I found on Facebook, a friend had commented on it, and I read what followed.  This is written by Mr. Ed Brook.  I do not know him, but I found this very interesting and very much helpful and encouraging right now.

Parental Tyranny: A Mark of Immaturaty.

Growing up in the circle of influence that I did, provided me with the protection of a God given Government called family.

In this family, we had a rule of law, it was called the Bible. In this Bible is a commandment to honor your father and mother.

Now, I mentioned the family as a form of government, and it is. You have the father and mother as the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. And this “government, (at least in my circle of influence) is operated under Biblical mandate. The Bible is the law. It is non-negotiable.

However, just like in our american government, the head of the family too can become too controlling thinking they have God all figured out and that He is a certain way all the time. Granted, he never changes. That’s not what I’m saying. The God that we worship is the God who never changes, but how dare we attempt to put him in a box and think we know all about him just because of what we read in the Bible. The Bible is a very good place to start if you want to get to know God but so many of us read the thing and think we have Him all figured out. They even take the information God revealed to them and say, “well, if he spoke this to me in this situation, it must be the same for every situation and for everyone in our circle of influence.” That’s where we get legalism from.

Regarding honoring the father and mother. Being raised baptist, I and the one’s I grew up with were under strict orders never to disrespect my elders especially not our mothers. And rightly so. But as we grew so did the mandate to “honor” our parents without the balance of Paul’s admonishment for fathers to not provoke their children to wrath. In my case it was just my mother as my father had passed away when I was just 11.
Yes, so, as we were to “honor” our parents, that meant doing whatever they asked or told us to do, when they told us to do it. Again, nothing completely wrong with that. But when it came time for us young men to learn how to run a household so as to be a “Godly” father and husband someday, naturally we were supposed to learn how to follow before we could learn how to lead. The problem was some of us never got out of the “learning how to follow” part for any number of reasons. Was it because we weren’t following perfectly? perhaps. (But does it matter? Not really as we won’t be perfect at leading either.)

Most likely however, it was the fact that our parents hadn’t learned how to trust God completely and therefore didn’t know how to teach us to do so. And that spurred on the feelings of inadequate parenting.
Which in turn the commandment to honor was held over our heads when we became adults and attempted to express our individule opinions or beliefs. Or when we felt God trying to take us in a certain direction that our parents weren’t comfortable with. We were “under their roof and therefore under their authority”. When our parents assumed that position, they put themselves in danger because the real authority is God!

So, where do you draw the line when it comes to honor and worship? When you raise a child to have their own relationship with the God that you serve, is it right to use scripture to keep them at bay when God starts to cultivate that relationship, they are becoming (or have become) an adult and God wants to actually own your adult child? Isn’t that why you were raising them? to get them ready to live for Him?

So the question begs to be asked; As a parent, Do you trust God? Do you trust your young adult? So, many parents of the people I grew up with would answer yes to both these questions. but realistically, their actions showed that they don’t think they raised their child right, or they really don’t trust the God they say they serve!

And that’s why some of them left home with hurt feelings on both sides, or some (not all) of them stayed and lived in lonely resentment. It wasn’t because of rebellion! At least not towards God!
God gave them a thirst and a hunger after Himself and the parents couldn’t see that because they had their god neatly contained in a tiny little box with their preconceived ideas about what He wanted to do in the life of their now half-baked raised adult!

As a parent now myself, I understand the desire to train up a child in the fear and admonition of The Lord. But the first thing I have to realize is my daughter is not MINE. She belongs to God. I do have a responsability however. The epitimy of which consists not of making sure my children do what I say until they get married and move out. My resposability is to make sure they know God’s voice and can operate under His principles with out me having to sway them or say anything. It is up to me to help them come to this realization of a God that loves them and wants His best for their lives. And that they themselves have to seek out what it is. If I fail in this area by the time they reach the age of accountability, then I’ve failed as a parent!

Boys and girls, the object of the game is not to tyrannicly dictate what God’s will is for your child.

He never intended your parents to be your god.
He intended parents to be teammates for their young adults to give counsel to and to aid in any way possible. But when the parents start giving the answers, instead of letting the young adult get with God and having God help them figure it out, then they’ve stepped into an area that God wants for Himself!
When your teammates start to play coach, it’s gonna screw things up!

When they’re being treated like a child when they’re 25, It cheeses me off! If the parents haven’t trained this person to have a relationship with God then it’s a little too late to try to force ‘em into it now! If they DID then they should trust the relationship and understand that their adult child is now under God’s authority and MUST go to God for the answer and come to them for simple counsel. And the parents MUST trust the God they say they serve!

Actually, it is amazing how many adult children are still being controlled by domineering parents.

And finally, as long as the adult children allow themselves to be under the control of anyone else—be it a parent, spouse, or even their children—they have a problem. It is a mark of their immaturity.

Now, by control I mean abuse of God given authority. That occurs when The one with authority get in between God and the one under authority. In this circumstance, I’m talking in regards to Parents and Adult children.

Adults who allow others to control them also do so because of their immaturity and insecurity. They are afraid to stand up for themselves and take control of and responsibility for their own life. As adults we are to be our own person—under our own control and direction.

Furthermore, when adults allow themselves to be controlled by others, they cannot be under God’s control or direction. And when people, including some legalistic pastors, seek to control others, they are playing the role of God in other people’s lives.

As for married couples who allow themselves to be controlled by either of their parents, they are setting themselves up for major marital conflicts. As the Bible teaches, when we marry, we are to leave our parents and depend on each other. That is, we are to cut the emotional umbilical cord that can keep us tied to and controlled by a domineering parent. If our parents don’t cut the cord and let go, we need to cut it ourselves.

The same principle applies to single adults who have a control freak parent(s) whom they are still allowing to control them.

Sure, it isn’t easy to cut the emotional umbilical cord that’s been connecting us since we were in the womb. Try to cut it and the control freak will get mad and try to put us on a guilt trip—but that’s his/her problem and we are not responsible for his/her reaction. Cutting the cord starts by (respectfully) saying, “no,” then “No,” and then “NO!”

You can practice saying “no” to high-pressure sales people such as telemarketers and some (not all) used car sales persons. You don’t have to give a reason why you are saying “no.” In other words, start by saying “no” in the easiest places first. The more you do, the stronger and more confident you will become. It may take a while for you timid ones, but you can do it too. Or take a course in assertiveness training. It will be worth its weight in gold.

Remember, we are only controlled by others when we allow it. Furthermore, and most important of all, if we want our life to be under God’s control and direction, we need to take ourselves out from under the control (or the abusive authority) of anyone else—be it a parent, or anyone else.

Continuing my reading in Luke, another verse that I really found as who I need to be willing to be is Anna. (Luke 2:36-38) One simple verse that struck me about Anna, as a woman, what she did is this…

“And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all who looked for redemption…”

This verse reminded me quite a bit about what Blake Whitcombe was talking about yesterday in church too. His message really encouraged me right now with the thoughts and internal struggle I am having as well. I was reminded of my job to plant seeds continually and to water the believers and to leave the increase completely to God.

Anyway, but really, though this is a short little post here, I’m just encouraged and reminded once again to be willing, to obey, to be faithful, to give thanks, and to be so consumed with God that He is what I speak about!

I know I have not written in a crazy number of days, but I have been reminded of so many things these past few weeks.

Recently I have been taking my time going through the book of Luke. The came out of no where but by God’s guidance. Honestly I was feeling really sorry for myself for several days about my lack of wisdom simply from being young and silly and also that I am a woman. Silly I know, especially that I would even feel sorry for myself about it, but I have been struggling with wanting to make a “difference” to minister, to help and I have been literally keeping myself in a lie that is saying “Megan, no one cares what you have to say! You are young, inexperienced, foolish, equally sinful and on top of that you are just a girl!” I have struggled with some of my past and the thoughts and reminders of when I was a teen, how I really felt like I was seeking God and His truth, and looking back on it, while I was trying to do that, I was TOTALLY wrong in my approach, and honestly I have been scared of doing that again. I don’t want to be wrong, though I know I am imperfect and sinful, I don’t want to look back in 20 years and say, look how dumb I was being and ignorant I was towards God and His children! I don’t know if that is a bad thing, but I suppose it is a part of life to learn from and to grow from, which I do believe God wants us to do. It’s a scary realization to go from feeling like you are figuring things out to realizing you don’t have a clue at all…one of the reasons why now I know we all need to stay in close fellowship with God and not just do the “best we can”, but earnestly ask and seek Him….and learning that when I am ignorant to Him, I can ask forgiveness and He is faithful regardless of my anythings. I have come to realize that even my greatest intentions on things I want from life are so stained with sin and with selfish motives deep down…even wanting to raise a godly child has some level of pride behind it, though it’s my responsibility to do!

Well I “stumbled”upon Luke these past few weeks, and I’m hanging out a lot in the first 3 chapters….

A few things that God has used to really stand out to me is the story of Zacharias and of Mary…one a man, the other a woman. One is older, more mature, wiser, a believer. The other is young, innocent, probably not super experienced in much of anything and yet she is a believer. Now I know I have heard this story a million times before about the angel of God coming to Mary and telling her she is going to be the mother of Jesus though she has never known a man….but I guess what has caught my attention for the first time in this story is that while she was in her young, immature state, she was faithful and she was “regarded in lowly state”. (Luke 1:46) Mary still believed, was faithful and magnified and rejoiced in the Lord. I am sure she didn’t really have the words, and she was never a mother before, how must have she really felt? (Just being a new Mom myself, I never thought too much about that side of the coin. I had always sorta thought, she was the mother of Jesus! Her job was easy! He never sinned, He never disobeyed…etc… but she was still a sinner, still human and I am SURE she had those thoughts now!) Anyway, the point is Mary didn’t question God in disbelief of what He was telling her He was going to do.

Now to go back to the beginning….Zacharias, “righteous before God, walking in all commandments…blameless” (Luke 1:6) what happened when the angel came to him and told him that Elizabeth, his wife that was considered barren, would be with child (John)? That this child would be “filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mothers womb” (1:15)…Zacharias did not believe, and God caused him to become a mute at the time of Elizabeth’s pregnancy because of his disbelief to the Words of Gabriel through God the Father.

Am I crazy or was there a serious lesson for me to learn in there? Of course then the questions and excuses can start in my mind, well I’m no Mary! I mean come on, it’s not like I am going to do anything THAT great for God like Mary did! I mean what on earth am I suppose…. NO MEGAN! The point still is, faithfullness and obedience and belief in the Lord wholly and completely! I am pretty sure Mary was not the perfect woman, having all the answers and wisdom, always having the right way to pursue her daily living…but she was faithful! Even thinking upon all of this and even writing it out, I honestly am still saying to myself “but Megan, even if I’m faithful and I’m trying to be obedient, what if I am still wrong?” (call me crazy, it’s ok! )

All of this is to basically say, no matter what, I am really striving to continue to have a willing and a faithfully obedient heart!  I pray that you may do the same!

I was reading 1 Samuel 1 & 2 today and I started really thinking about Hannah’s prayer for Samuel, and how she dedicated him to God.  She gave him COMPLETELY to the Lord, so far as to not even being able to raise him after practically begging God for a baby.  Hannah came to the point when Samuel was born that she kept him until he was weaned from nursing (1Sam. 1:22 & 1:24) and she gave him unto the Lord forever to be of His service.  (1Sam. 1:28)

I was also thinking about Abraham and Isak too, and how God asked Abraham to surrender Isak to God.

I pray for Ben everyday and I also thank God for him.  I ask God to really help me to be the mother He would want me to be as well as the wife, friend, daughter, etc…. but what has REALLY blown me away now that I am an actual mother, the total submission and surrenderance of life to God by these examples.   I’ve realized how seriously weak in faith and in obedience to God I can be.

I feel as though I love Ben so much, and I want him to live for God and I want to obey God, but…if God ever asked me to give him away…..oh my goodness!!!!  I am really learning or being hit by the lesson of what God really does ask me as a parent to do.  God really does want me to love Him more than my son, who I never thought I could love so very much.  I feel so low because of my unworthiness to my Heavenly Father, yet He has blessed me so richly anyway.  I know that He is teaching me and bringing me closer to Him through Bensen too!

I really just pray that I now can give my life, my heart and my love fully to God in surrendering obedience to His will for my family and my very own life.  Beyond that is the prayer for Ben to come to that same place of obedience and accepting God into his heart and life for eternity.

The really amazing thing about Hannah and Samuel, is that it TRULY was Hannah’s prayer for Samuel to live for and be used by God.  She only had such a short time to be with him, to cuddle-love him, to train and teach him…yet God took that and used Samuel in ministering at a very young age.  And the Lord blessed Hannah for what she had done with Samuel and gave her other children as well.   (1Sam. 2:18-21)

Wow, I read today Deuteronomy 28….

God really spoke to me about His blessings on our lives through obedience to Him.  Reading the whole chapter really is amazing so I would encourage you to do so, but verse 2 says

“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you because you obey the voice of the Lord your God”

What a profound thought to think that if we simply obey God, listen to His voice, we will be overtaken by His blessings!  Sometimes I think and feel I get really caught up in pursuing a life that God will give blessings to, but int he sense of just pursuing the blessings…when you really think about it, God will OVERTAKE you with blessings when you aren’t pursuing them, when you are simply set on Him and not anything else around it.

God is so good to us even when we have not deserved His fullest blessing!  He has given us trials and He has given us abundantly from His riches, and we ask still that He does continue to bless us, spiritually,  physicall, financially, etc… we want God’s fullness of blessings and joys on our lives.  And while God does chasten the child that does not obey Him to bring Him back, God is faithful and just to forgive us and bless us in every stage of life!

His love for us is so great, I can’t comprehend what He was thinking when He chose me and loved me and now calls me His own.

I was just reading Psalms this morning and came across chapter 77 again. It sorta hit me in a different way today and I wanted to share it with you because I think it really does apply and is something to remember constantly as we go about our lives, prayers and praises! I’ll give you the whole chapter here…and I’ll let you know my thoughts at the very end

Psalms 77

1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.

15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.

18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

I think we sometimes really question what God is doing…is He blessing us? Is He punishing us when things aren’t as we picture? Is He just testing? What is God really doing???? Anyway, this Psalm kinda stood out to me as I was reading 5 different chapters and when I read verses 77:3-4 when the psalmist talks about he complained in his spirit and was overwhelmed to the point of not being able to sleep, I was thinking haha, that’s me!!! Then when I continued reading verses 77:6-9 and Asaph started searching in his heart and starting asking a lot of questions that I think we ask ourselves….is the Lord there? Is He done showing us mercy and grace? Have we angered God too much to be blessed??? But then he continues on and he starts to remember God’s works and he commits himself to meditate and talk about God’s workings ALWAYS!!! I love verse 77:13 that says who is so great a God as our God? That’s the question we need to ask ourselves when we feel down or in trouble of sorts! How GREAT is HE!?!? Why would God do little things for us and then let the big things go? He’s NOT going to do that! Our God is a just God who is slow to wrath and quick to bless, (actually let’s go to Psalm 103 next that is one of my favorite if not favorite of all the Psalms) The psalm finishes with a reminder that God does lead His people…that stands just as true today as it will forever! He is going to lead us, He may give us more than we ask for (we still have to ask remember) He may only give us just as He sees we need (not what we think), He may have us struggle day to day to increase our faith and trust to see Him continue to preform miracles constantly, or He may give to us abudantly beyond all we can ask or think right now! It’s all in God’s hands, but one thing is true, as long as we draw near to God He will be near to us…that is a PROMISE no matter how you look at it. So really it just involves humbling ourselves in His arms and mercies everyday. Praying, spending time in fellowship with Him and with each other in Him, doing exactly what He asks us to do even when we don’t have all the details of what does God want me to do? He has given us a “list” so to say of exactly what He wants us to do, He’ll fill in the details later.

Anyway, real quick, here is Psalm 103 - I ABSOLUTELY LOVE VERSES 8-12!!!! This is such a great picture of God’s mercy written by David who experienced SO much more than we have in sin and in blessings!

Psalms 103

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

***

Philippians 4:4-13

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

As I read this passage I get so filled with excitement and conviction all at the same time! This has become one of my favorite passages in scripture simply because Paul is reminding us of the gift we have from God, and to choose the thoughts and the attitudes we are going to take on.

He says to always rejoice in the Lord, and that right there is one basic theme of what “The Secret” talks about, it’s a state, it’s a mindset that you choose, no matter what is, right now in everything Rejoice in the Lord! Paul goes onto say to me in my own words, “Have no worries friend! Anything and EVERYTHING give it over to God in CONSTANT prayer, with THANKSGIVING in YOUR Heart, Mind, Body and Soul!” It gets me excited when I realize that I’ve only been able to experience a little tiny bit of the peace God is providing and promising me!

Paul then goes on to not only tell you to be thankful, he tells you right away what to focus on! How great is that, our God knows we need that direction and nudge to help us out?! He reminds us to monitor our thoughts to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, anything of virtue or praise - these are the thoughts God wants us to focus on because from this place is where we can best be used by Him! God is with you my friend! He is there to bless you and to bring about exactly your hearts desires, but I believe fully that it comes deeply from where you mind is focused. Much like the laws of attraction states what you think about you bring about, and though God is with you, He is asking you to think on the good things to be thankful for to give you more of what it is you are seeking! (My prayer is that we are all seeking Him and not turning from Him)
One of the thing I feel we tend to be missing is what Paul says next in verse 11 when he talks about contentment. It’s a place God needs us to be surrendered to Him, to “give up ourselves” to GAIN His fullest most joyful life He wants to give us! Paul has experienced abundance and he’s also been in low places, he knows what it means to be full and what it means to be wanting, yet learned what it meant to be Thankful and Content in Christ! To simply be thankful and to desire Him is the greatest place to be! Once grasping this in day to day life, I can’t even begin to explain how God works! He brings about the person you need, the desires you ask for, the actions or ideas that have to happen, whatever it is…
And I believe it is shown through this…

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! ALL THINGS!!! Christ is working in and through us to bring about all the things we need in our lives, we can do anything in Him! He is giving us His fullest strength, and we can claim that as His children, but what we can’t forget is all the verses prior that tell us what we need to be doing while He is strengthening us!

There is so many great passages in the book of Philippians and I don’t wish to leave any of them out…however this little section here is something that has been on my heart for a while, especially after researching the Laws of Attraction and how God can use that in our lives. To me, this is the first big thing of how God wants us to think, and that is what we should be after!

My Psalm for the day is found in Psalm 16:11

“You will show me the path of life, In Your presence is fullness of joy.  At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore”

This verse to me, once again goes right back to where our focus is.  Where do we really want to go in life?  What path are we to take?  This Psalm reminds us to trust God for the path of life we are to take.  It comforts us to know that we can have FULLEST Joy in Him!  All the pleasures we could ever want, know or seek are RIGHT there in Christ.

I get so passionate about this!  I’ve been reading a LOT of books recently, everything from Millionaire Thinking books to Doing God’s will…all have been pretty great for me, but what I get all excited about is how some of these books don’t really know how to bring thinking big, setting goals and working into the realm of serving God, seeking Him and living a godly life right now.

I really want to challenge everyone that while God wants to bless us and gives us more than we could ask for, He still wants us to ask Him.  He still wants us to work towards something here on earth.  I don’t believe God wants us to sit as bystanders in life now.  I believe He has called us for a much bigger purpose right now.  Seek His fullest joy and find where you can serve Him now!

Daniel 3:16-18

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

As I was reading through the book of Daniel the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego really stood out to me. They stood up for their faith without wavering at any cost. They affirmed their faith and trust in the One True God alone! They believe and affirmed that God could deliver them from that fiery furnace - God can do anything that He chooses and protecting these men for their faith in Him was nothing too outrageous for God’s strength and capability. God sent protection to these men as a blessing to them when needed most, and I believe that this came directly from these three men affirming and asking without doubt for this deliverance.

There are a few different ways that I see this story in correlation to our lives today.

One these men used a positive affirmation to clearly state their intentions of deliverance by God’s power to Nebuchadnezzar, They said clearly “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand O king” - They believed that clearly and knew that God would take care of them according to His will, grace, power and might.

The second thing I really like to point out is that they also had faith in God’s choice. “But if not,” They gave it over to God, they knew He has the ability to do anything, but they also knew that God knows what is best for His children. Even if they couldn’t see that.

Finally, with these faithful men let it known that they would not serve false gods. “let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods” they remained faithful to God despite what they might get out of it (i.e. saved from burning to death)  They let it completely known that they were faithful to God even to the death and that even if God choose there not to deliver them, eternity with God was still their security.
We have no absolute to what God chooses to do in our lives, but we have the choice to have faith, to set out positive thought process and to act ourselves in the way He would want us to. God can deliver us from any trouble here on earth, the question is will He so choose? He can heal all our sicknesses when we ask in faith, if He will choose. God is able to give us all the money from anywhere we ask for it, if He chooses… the question really is are you choosing Him?

There is one thing that we CAN be sure God chooses, and that is deliverance for Eternity! It’s a very exciting thing, while we don’t know what God’s best for us is here on earth, the best thing we can do is seek Him and serve Him and Ask of Him for this time, we can be sure that God’s will is that none should perish in hell’s fiery furnace.  Once again, by simply choosing, believing with unwavering faith, asking and receiving…God wants to deliver each one of us to Him.  He wants to do that here on earth for our best, but even more importantly is for eternity to come.

If you do not yet know Jesus Christ as your Savior, Deliver and God of all, I really would like to take time to work with you further to know this Awesome God!  Please contact me through our contacts page and we will explore God’s choice!