Humble Is Great Medicine

1 Chronicles 12: ¹² Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.

============

Desiring a promotion, I observed how “those on the move” would talk. They would take credit for other folks work and brag about themselves. I thought, “Let me try that.” “I” did this and “I” did that was added to my speech. I wish I could remember who said this to me but someone looked at me disappointed and said “I thought you were different.”

• When I am insecure I point to myself to get praise.
• When I want status I point to myself to get noticed.
• When I desire accolades I ask people to tell me how great I’m doing to grow my ego.

One problem with pointing at me is it takes the eyes off of GOD. Many people begin looking at me and even marveling at my title, status and stuff, meanwhile they are distracted from who really is providing the blessings.

• GOD wants me to humble myself in order to point people to HIM.
• GOD wants me to lower how I think of myself in a healthy way.
• GOD wants me to consider HIS strength in all my plans so that I can never brag or boast.

GOD doesn’t want me to take credit for any accomplishment I have achieved. In fact I am truly supposed to give HIM praise for everything I have. Humbling myself also means I do not “deserve” any blessing I get. I don’t deserve great service but should be thankful when I get it.

Humbleness adds a level of gratitude that enables GOD’s blessings to flow.

• Are you demanding?
• Do you think you “deserve” to be treated better?
• Can you humble yourself and open your eyes to the blessings GOD is pouring out on you already?

In memory of Willie Edwards

True Power

1 Chronicles 11: ⁹ And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him.

============

Frustrated after years of being passed over, I moved on to another company. When I arrived me and another guy received the highest scores on the internal testing and we were soon quite known in the “freshmen” crop of the company. One of the partners picked me to work with him on an assignment. Wow, I’m getting the power I wanted and I did it all by myself!

Thinking more highly of myself messed me up. Yes I understood the material but had no examples or information to back up my knowledge. I crashed and burned!

This kind of thing happened over and over throughout my career.  I would think more highly of myself and felt I “deserved” a raise of promotion because “I” was too valuable to the company. GOD says different.

• GOD says “Do not think more highly of yourself.”
• GOD says “Worship the LORD as your one and only GOD.”
• GOD says “No one can stand against you with MY strength.”

I had to realize that it is GOD who raised me to the heights I was at. It wasn’t my knowledge or quick thinking or self-promotion that got me to where I was, nor was it an eggshell that I stepped on to take me to lows in my life.

GOD cannot be controlled by my acts of faith nor does HE react to every sin I commit, otherwise I could manage GOD to get HIM to do my bidding. GOD wants me to understand HIS vast and marvelous power.

He is supreme which means even when I am doing everything right, HE can tear me down and put me on another course of HIS choosing. HE can also build me up even when I don’t believe in myself or HIS power enough to do HIS plan.

GOD is amazing and unpredictable. HE wants me to rely on HIS power to accomplish HIS plan for me.

• Are you complaining about where you are working?
• Do you think more highly of yourself?
• Do you feel you “deserve” a raise?
• Can you pay attention to where GOD has you and be content?

You just never know

1 Chronicles 10: ¹³ Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, ¹⁴ and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

============

Another mediocre review left me wondering if I would ever advance. It seemed like a mystery I just could not solve. It also seemed like the oppressors had a few of their buddies in mind to keep them in power. I decided to do my work for the LORD instead of working for these guys.

Years passed and it seemed like nothing changed, but one day I was called into the office and they asked me if I would take on more responsibility. I said yes and that led to other promotions. Soon I was over the department where I felt oppression. It wasn’t by my effort.

• Sometimes barriers seem immovable.
• Sometimes difficult people are placed in my path.
• Sometimes I think I have to be the one who works hard to get to where I want to be.

Looking back I see times where I wanted something so bad I could just taste it. That’s when I would buckle down and work harder only to be disappointed and knocked to the ground. I left no room for GOD to say “Yes” or “No”, in fact I wouldn’t consult HIM at all. BUT GOD wants something different from me.

• GOD wants me to have desires but let HIM steer the outcome.
• GOD wants me to have dreams but point my dreams to HIS kingdom.
• GOD wants me to have wishes but include HIM on all phases of accomplishment.

It is GOD who raises me to heights I never knew existed. HE has placed me in front of the kings of this world and opened my eyes to understand JESUS is the KING of kings. When I let go of my desires and allow GOD to steer the outcome, I end up in a much better place. HE grows huge fruit in my life and I am filled with gratitude.

• Are you feeling oppressed?
• Do you feel held back?
• Can you allow GOD to deal with “that” person?
• Can you dream a good dream and allow GOD to handle how the dream comes to fruition?

Ask with sincerity

1 Chronicles 4: ¹⁰ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

============

Getting more stuff seems like such a greedy prayer to me, so I had to look at this prayer again and ponder it. Many people have told me “You have not because you ask not.” Others say “Just name it and claim it.” BUT GOD wants me to focus on HIM.

• GOD was pleased when Solomon asked for wisdom.
• GOD was please when Moses asked for direction.
• GOD was pleased when the widow asked for her son to be brought back to life.

I have to ask myself “Why do I need more of what I’m asking for?” What will I do when I have an excess of whatever I get? I had a frank conversation with GOD to see if I could handle more money and the answer was “No” at the time.

I had a lot of it so I spent an exorbitant amount of time trying to protect it. In fact when someone asked for it I would quickly assess whether they “deserved” it or would they squander it on something pitiful.  My generosity diminished as fewer and fewer would meet my measure. BUT GOD wants something different.

• GOD wants me to be generous before I am wealthy so I can handle it when I am.
• GOD wants me to let HIM discern how someone will spend any money I give away.
• GOD wants me to be generous to those HE sends me and remove my worries about where money will come from.

When money is the focus of the prayer I am blinded to the greatness of GOD, but when GOD is the focus of prayer my eyes are opened to HIS power and wealth. HE is the one who gives in abundance as long as my motives are focused on HIM and my faith is not dependent on cash.

• Are you praying for more money?
• Have you ever wondered why you this prayer has not been answered?
• If you are praying for a larger title or more money, how will this benefit GOD’s kingdom?
• If you know how more stuff will benefit the kingdom can you start acting like it without the title or the cash?