Do not worry. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt. 6:25-33)
Who provides food for the ravens when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food? (Job 38:41)
Are not two sparrows sold for a penney? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of the father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:29-31)
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field [with lilies], which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothes you, O you of little faith! (Lk. 12:28)
How much does God love us? He knows the number of hairs on our head! He WANTS good things for our life. God not only clothes us with our material needs, he also clothes us through His righteousness. He clothes us with His peace and His strength. He fills us with His love and showers us with His grace and Mercy. And all that is required of us is to "Seek first His Kingdom..."
When you are
brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about
how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.(Lk. 12:11-12)
Whether its facing the court systems, being the recipient of false accusations, or dealing with an unreasonable spouse, we ultimately have no idea what God is doing on the other side. Seek God. That is our answer. HE will fill us with the wisdom we need to endure whatever comes in our path.
We don't have to be eloquent as we Seek God. Take Him with you throughout the day. Talk to Him as you would talk to a trusted friend. Let Him into every area of your life. Seeking God is simply desiring to know His way in our lives and PAYING ATTENTION to keep our thoughts focused on Him.
One of the biggest obstacles in our search for The Kingdom for our lives is our lack of faith. We MUST BELIEVE in The One we profess! We see the circumstances swirling around us and we are caught up in the winds. Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith, " he said. "Why did you doubt?" When did Peter become afraid? When he took his eyes off of Jesus and saw the waves. He began to doubt. We all do it. We take once glance at our impossible situations and all it takes is that glimmer of doubt to creep in. But we can do as Peter did. He cried out to the Lord, "Save me!" And when did the Lord answer? IMMEDIATELY! It is true for us too. There WILL be times of doubt, but that's when we cry out to Jesus, "Save me!" We turn our focus to Him and He will meet us at our greatest place of need.
Martha was distracted. Mary spent time listening to Jesus."Only one thing is needed" Jesus said as he rebuked Martha. Mary was seeking the Kingdom. Martha got caught up in the circumstances.(Lk. 10:38-42)
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is he who was spoken of
through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'' (Matt. 3:2-3)
What could possibly be in the way of the Lord in our lives? OURSELVES! In order for the Lord to make His way into our situation, then WE have to get out of the way. Our "repentance" isn't simply a spiritual change, turning away from our sin, but it also a moral change...it is a change of the heart, a new perspective. When we focus on another person or on a situation instead of focusing on Jesus, then we start thinking in our minds how we can "fix" things, or we try to figure things out, or we try to rationalize things away. Jesus has His hand on our situation. HE knows what needs to be done. If we are trying to work, then why do we need God? We need to get ourselves out of the way so that our Lord has a clear path to work in our circumstances.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. How can we know this is true? (Ps. 37:4)
Because as we "Seek His Kingdom," HE plants the desires in our hearts. They are desires that HE wants to fulfill in our lives. But it is all in HIS timing. We much be in such a relationship with Jesus that our eyes remain on the Giver of the blessing and are not easily diverted onto the gift of the blessing.
And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father
or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times
as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matt. 19:29)
Seek Christ! Some peoples marriages survive, some don't. Seek Christ! Some spouses who are standing will lose their homes. Seek Christ! Each of us is in our own "variety" of trials. And there are some who will receive their answers sooner than others. Seek Christ! Because as we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will receive a HUNDRED TIMES as much! A hundred times as much of what?? OUR HEARTS' DESIRES!!!
Do not worry. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.
***When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.(Lk. 12:11-12)
ReplyDeleteWhether Tt's facing the court systems, being the recipient of false accusations, or dealing with an unreasonable spouse, we ultimately have no idea what God is doing on the other side. Seek God. That is our answer. HE will fill us with the wisdom we need to endure whatever comes in our path.***
After reading this, I recall my difficulties in court with a lawyer and a judge. It is true, I was without words to say when facing a Judicial GIANT!
As promised, God came though with wisdom I could not come up with on my own. God brought VICTORY out of an impossible situation and I learned so much trust and faith in that process. *Very unpleasant, *very weary,(some of that weariness was brought by me worrying and trying to do things in my own strength.
After enduring those hardships, I was taught and trained by God to hear his voice, and ultimately he led me with his eye, much like a parent uses their eyes to approve or disaprove of something as a signal to their child.
After all my trials and tribulalations, I can see and hear the Lord much more cleary! I went into the court case seeking God as my father, I left the court case SEEING God as my SAVIOR! My eyes are on HIM! Not spouse, not Lawyers, Not Judges- JESUS ALONE!
I can relate to this blog entry today! Having many bills to pay today and seeking a job while separated from my spouse it was the very scripture of the birds and the flowers that I thought of this on my way to the bank. God is my provider and He is so faithful He has proved this time and time again.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this I do believe it was God reconfirming and reaffirming this through you blog. To remind me that He is in control of my financial situation and that as 1Peter 5:7 states to cast all my cares on Him and relax in that.