God’s Purpose

The Lord reminds us so often in scripture and in life that He did not just come to take our sins away but also that we should give our lives to Him and walk in His purposes (not ours) and live according to the Spirit (not the flesh)

Source: ChristianQuotes.info

I used to work for a Regional Health Authority and in mid-career the Government decided that they needed to be radically restructured. Out of a Department of 75 staff, 69 lost their jobs, including me. This was a strange experience. I worked in Management Development helping people and organisations change the way that they worked however, all of the knowledge and skills that I had to help people in these situations did not really equip me for the feelings of uncertainty and stress I now experienced. We had a young family and a mortgage and so as in most cases, needed an income to carry on. I remember feeling both calm and fearful. Thinking about the future I was at peace knowing that the Lord would not abandon us and things would work out.

On a day to day basis I was wondering what practical steps I should take next. I started to make plans to start my own business and at about the same time an idea took root in me that perhaps the Lord wanted us to become ‘poor’ and face the challenges posed by this situation. The more that I thought about this the more convinced I was in my own heart that this must be in God’s mind. I started to resist this idea and I did not share it with my wife or anyone really and I did not want to seek the Lord about it in case He confirmed my fears. What I actually did was to work harder at trying to build up my business in preparation for when the redundancy took effect in nine months’ time. Things started to come together but I could not shake off this fear.

Source: YouTube

Everything came to a head one day when I went to a meeting in London. Having caught an unexpectedly early train I found myself with two hours to kill and because it was a nice day I went for a stroll in Regents Park. Suddenly as I walked along I became overwhelmed with what I was trying to do. I realised that I was trying to out-manoeuvre the Lord Himself! I was not taking any account of His purpose in my life - I was taking control for myself and as I thought about this I realised what a foolish path I was on. I realised that no matter what they were, God’s purposes were where I wanted/needed to be and a life outside of this was unthinkable. I found a place behind some shrubs that was fairly private, put my bag on the ground, sat on it and wept. As I confessed my foolishness to the Lord something in me broke and He restored my soul. I went on my way to the meeting with a spring in my step knowing that whatever the future held the best place to be was in God’s purpose.

As I was writing this article I thought about the time that Jesus was tempted by Satan at the end of His fast in Luke 4:9-12 ‘Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you, and, In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.  And Jesus answered and said to him, It has been said, You shall not tempt the Lord your God’. In a way the temptations are all about ‘another way of doing things’ – outside of the Father’s purpose for Jesus’s life. It is interesting that Satan quotes that scripture above, but leaving out one point (To keep you in all your way); Psalm 91:9-12 ‘Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone’.

It is this ‘keeping us IN ALL OUR WAYS’ that it is easy to miss - to claim the promises but only when I/we want or need something. Particularly in Western culture we are seduced into thinking of God’s provision like a corner shop; go buy something when we need it. The whole of bible teaching is not like that though, it is the everyday walk that counts:

Joshua 22:5 ‘But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul’

Romans 8:5-6 ‘Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace’

The Lord reminds us so often in scripture and in life that He did not just come to take our sins away but also that we should give our lives to Him and walk in His purposes (not ours) and live according to the Spirit (not the flesh).

One little addition to the story; three years later when I was in fact working for myself and God had blessed us in unexpected ways for which I had never planned, I went back to one of the meeting rooms in the Regional Health Authority and I entered the room I felt anger and resentment build up inside me for what ‘these people’ had done to me three years ago. However this time I had learned my lesson. I struggled with the feelings for 30 minutes and then brought them before the Lord praying forgiveness for everyone involved and that the Lord would seal it up for me. His peace came and I don’t remember thinking about it again. Take a look at Psalm 91 and Romans 8 - go on do your heart good!!

Author: Chris Pearson

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Is it time for a change of heart?

If we pray every day for a discerning spirit and for an extra portion of grace then this will help us to discern what is happening in the supernatural. This is important so that we don't blunder through situations in the natural that are not a true reflection of what is actually happening.

Source: Pinterest

When we are going through the storms of life does our attitude towards other people and God change? I am sure that most of us would reply ‘I don't think so, I would hope not; my love for God and His people remains steadfast and secure’. The reality however is often very different. Outwardly we may appear to be exactly the same but inwardly we are in such turmoil. Our change of attitude starts with small but very subtle things; ‘I won't bother ringing or texting that person this week, they have lots of friends’, ‘I don't need to give that person a lift to church, someone else can’; ‘that coffee we have arranged to go for can be postponed’ and so on….. As we can see; we can find lots of reasons to break fellowship and friendship, if we are not careful. Proverbs 29:25 ‘Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe’.

With God, it is slightly different. It is us that decide that we don't need to get up early today or indeed any day to pray and to read the Word before our day unfolds. We say to ourselves; ‘maybe I'll read the bible tomorrow or even next week!! I don't need to include God in all my plans just the ones I think are important’. Sometimes we even convince ourselves that we are taking the moral high ground in a given situation, however, have we asked the Author and Perfecter of our faith if our opinions/ thoughts or proposed actions are right/true? He is the only one who can judge. Psalm 62:7 ‘My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge’. I have been a Christian for 35 years and have come to the conclusion that if we pray every day for a discerning spirit and for an extra portion of grace then this will help us to discern what is happening in the supernatural. This is important so that we don't blunder through situations in the natural that are not a true reflection of what is actually happening. Psalm 91:1-2 ‘Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’.

Source: Pinterest

A great example of this for me can be found in the book of Esther, when Haman set up a pole 50 cubits high (Esther 5:14) by his house to impale Mordecai, but despite all of his boasting Haman ended up being impaled on it himself (Esther 7:10). As if that wasn't punishment enough the King gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman and she appointed Mordecai over it! Haman wanted to put to death all of Mordecai's people (the Jews) throughout the whole kingdom of King Xerxes but all he achieved was his own early demise and the loss of his inheritance for his family. What we must remember is that when we encounter people who irritate us (Christian or non-Christian) God does not love them any less or any more than us. When we are lovely to the unlovely God credits it to us as righteousness and I am sure this is because He realises exactly how difficult this can be for us as human beings. So, next time somebody behaves badly towards you, try to approach the situation in the opposite spirit, the spirit of kindness and gentleness, and see what peace floods your soul instead of frustration or bitterness. Psalm 37:5-6 ‘Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun’.

I am certain that if we make ourselves accountable to God and in addition; to one or two people of Godly counsel then this will help us to stay on that narrow path. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us not trust in our own heart as it can be deceptive; ‘The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?’ and in Proverbs 3:5-6 ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight’. I pray that each person reading this blog will allow the Holy Spirit to come into their hearts in such a powerful way that all the things which are troubling will become insignificant. I pray that we remember that absolutely nothing is a surprise to God, it is us in our humanity that gets side swiped and clobbered. 1 John 2:28 ‘And now dear children, continue in Him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at His coming’.

I also pray that each one of us is transformed into the likeness of Jesus more and more every day. God's peace and blessing. Amen.

Author: Lyn Hunt

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Being Victorious

We must never forget that we are in a war and the battle begins from the moment our eyes open each morning. To win the battle we must be strong in the Lord and keep ourselves protected by keeping on the whole armour of God

Source: Seek To Know The Truth

Although the enemy will always have a negative plan for us each day, we can change the course of the day by spending time with the Lord. This is especially important when we sense and discern any attitude or behaviour in ourselves that is not of Christ Jesus said in John 15:5 ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing’. If we can do nothing without God then it seems foolish if we do not to come into His presence and to seek His guidance. Therefore, at the beginning of each day we must first seek God’s plan and purpose and allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit rather than by our own worldly thoughts and motives. Matthew 6:33 ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’.

Negative feelings are like unwelcome house guests and the worst thing we can do is to invite them in. We may not be able to override them in our own strength but the bible tells us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us; Philippians 4:13 ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength’.  We can therefore conquer the feelings of negativity and all the emotions that they bring by seeking God’s guidance. When we do this, He will enable us to walk according to His ways, not by our own negative emotions and perspective. Even when somebody upsets us or offends us the bible tells us that we are not to be oversensitive or easily offended, in fact we are commanded to forgive those who hurt us and not to let things fester; Luke 6:27-28 ‘But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you’ and Matthew 6:14-15 ‘For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins’. Sometimes we want to forgive and to do what is right, but we often find it difficult to do so. Psalm 119:11 ‘I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You’. More often than not doing the right thing is not easy; in fact, it can be the hardest thing to do. This is exactly the moment when we need to pray and to allow God to communicate with us and to direct us through His Word. Only then will we find the strength to do the right thing.

Source: Zedge

We must never forget that we are in a war and the battle begins from the moment our eyes open each morning. To win the battle we must be strong in the Lord and keep ourselves protected by keeping on the whole armour of God, having girded your waist with truth and the breastplate of righteousness, having shod your feet with the gospel of peace, taking the shield of faith and putting on the helmet of salvation, using the sword of the Spirit, praying always in the spirit and speak boldly (Ephesians 6:10-20).

The morning is a critically important time of day, we should never face the day until we have talked with God, and we should never look into the face of others until we have first looked into His. We cannot expect to be victorious if we begin our day in our own strength alone. In Exodus 34:2-3, God told Moses to be ready in the morning and then to come up, present yourself to me; ‘Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain’. God is telling us that He wants us to present ourselves to Him every single day, not through any religious ritual, but borne out of an unconditional love for us by a Father who wants to guide and safeguard His children. Why would we ever want to miss out on this daily blessing?

Author: Herbert Jean

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