When “Helping” is hurting

(Proverbs 24:24 NLT) A judge who says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.

I had this conversation with someone I’m very close to me just last night and as we talked I saw the pain that was involved on both sides but by taking the responsibility from the other person my friend only made this current state last longer. There is a very real feeling of being trapped and worry but this too is just one more opportunity to trust God. Who is the source of all life? Is not God the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega, the Great I Am? Dear loved one the Father’s heart beats inside of you and He desires for you to rest in Him. You know deep inside your Deliverer awaits, it is time to lay this burden down. Do not fear the lessons of the Father, though they may be painful it is but for a season. There is a place He wants to take you but you must trust Him first. Faith in God is the ground upon which we stand!

(Isaiah 7:7 NLT) “But this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "This invasion will never happen; it will never take place; for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus, and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin. As for Israel, within sixty-five years it will be crushed and completely destroyed. Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria, and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah. Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”

God will take care of you

(Psalms 55:22 MKJV) Cast your burden on Jehovah, and He will keep you; He will never allow the righteous to waver.

God’s plan is to teach us to trust Him more if He provided for me years ahead of time, for that matter days would be too long, I would not look to Him but instead I would allow lesser things become the center of my attention and soon I would be utterly lost. You see my provisions are important to God but I’m not sure they are the most important things. He will sustain me that I’m sure of but for what purpose? Is it so that I can gather more stuff? No, the Bible is very clear about that. It’s deeper than that remember God sees all eternity. I believe this life is, at least in part, preparation for a time yet to come. The choices we make in this life will determine parameters in the future. More importantly Heaven is not an end but the beginning of something more wonderful than can be imagined! Those who understand that this life is a wild adventure where we follow Christ through deep forests, dry deserts, and majestic mountain tops have had only a glimpse of the adventure yet to come. The common denominator is Christ Jesus! This life prepares us to trust Him more. The Bible says we must first be faithful in the little things… (Luke 16:10 NLT) "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities." As we trust Him more not only does our territory increase here on earth but that which He is preparing for us is increased as well. So remember God will take care of you now but there is an eternal purpose, it’s a purpose that cannot be seen now but by faith.

Financial planning

(Proverbs 6:6-8 NLT)  Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.

God doesn’t want us to be lazy nor does He want us to put our trust in money. A life well lived is one of balance. I find that the secret to life is total trust and dependence in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! If I trust Him that means I’m listening, if I’m listening and trusting then I must also be obedient. Jesus said this (Matthew 6:24 NLT)  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Jesus told a parable (Matthew 25) where the master referred to his servant as wicked because he was lazy. You see it is not enough for me to say that I love Him. If my love does not move me to action then I know not God and my love is not of Him. Be diligent giving all that you have, in all that you do may it be done as unto the Lord. However, we must always remember who our source is. This is why Jesus said, (Matthew 19:24 NIV) “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The rich man has paid a high price to gain his earthly status and because of this it is difficult for him to let go of what he has worked so hard for. This man’s eyes are not on Jesus but on temporary riches. Again balance is the key – work diligently while trusting in God therefore, live life to the fullest!

(Luke 12:18-21 MSG)  Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!' "Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods--who gets it?' "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."

Lingering anger

(Psalms 37:8 NLT) Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper--it only leads to harm.

Many things we face in this life are unjust, unfair, or just plain hurtful. When we face such a situation we also, many times unnoticed, come face to face with a choice – to be angry or to forgive. On the surface being angry and placing someone on our black list causes them to miss out on our friendship which seems like it would hurt them but instead it destroys us from the inside out, while all along the enemy of God gains pleasure from the choice we made. By harboring anger we set ourselves opposed to God’s Word. If anger is allowed to continue God’s blessings will fade away, which leads to more anger. This emotion acts like a cancer in that it continues to grow suffocating life as it does. The very light of God inside of us grows dim as anger is gripped tighter and tighter. Look at what anger does… (Exodus 4:21 NLT) And the LORD told Moses, "When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.”

Pharaoh was understandably angry, after all he was Pharaoh and he didn’t like someone telling him what to do, not only that but all of Israel was enslaved to the Egyptians and made their lives easier but God had a different plan. Pharaoh made the mistake of thinking he had the power to control the situation. How many times do think the same? Why is it so difficult to give up our right to be right? We know God is trustworthy but yet we choose to do things our way.

(Isaiah 35:8 NLT) And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there.

(James 3:13 NLT) If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

(Lamentations 3:40 MKJV) Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

Take courage traveler God is with you. He takes us by the hand and leads us but it is up to us to step out in faith. We cannot go by feelings for they are based on the carnal but the path before us is of the spirit.