I fully believe in having faith that God will grant your needs, but too many times we put stipulations on what we ask for. We want God to grow in our church but we don’t want anything to change. We want God to provide specific things, instead of providing all we need. God doesn’t work that way. God knows, and gives us, what we need and when we need it.
Isaiah 55:8
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
When we go to God and ask for things, we need to make sure we are asking for God’s will. Don’t ask for healing, ask for God’s healing. Don’t ask for a specific job, just ask for a job that you can use to grow in Christ. You see, the difference is that you may be asking for a cancer to be healed, but God may heal the heart instead. You may ask for a management job, but God gives you a receptionist job where you have the time to study and grow in his word. God knows what we need, so if we seek his will, and ask him for guidance, we will grow in him in more ways than we expect.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
So many times I hear people say that they don’t give money to something or some one, because they don’t do things the way they would. Like, not giving money to a homeless man because he might blow it on booze. Although, there has to be a line in which we don’t support certain things, when we give, it should be of complete submission. Whatever God wants to do with it, is his will. If you give money to something and they don’t use it in the right way, it is their sin, not yours. (Note- the right way may not be your way) We are to give freely of our time, money, and effort. No strings attached. Too many times I see this in the church today. People will give for this, because they like it, but the pastor gave a speech that made them feel bad this week, so they don’t give anything. Or, I am not going to teach that Sunday school class, because they didn’t use the format I suggested. Doing this, we are trying to control God. We tell ourselves we are only trying to control people, and we are, but we are also trying to control God.
God can’t be told, I want this, and I want it this way. You have to submit to Gods will, whether you know or even agree with it. You have to have faith that God will work your giving for good, no matter what is done. It is better to not give at all, if you are going to give it with strings attached.
Your Challenge This Week: Be Blind
Don’t just give to things where you can see the results. Give, just to give. Ask God to let you know when to give. You’ll be surprised who you might be giving to.
bound4grace 