I Stopped Serving GOD

Proverbs 21: ³⁰ There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.

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Frustrated at many situations that were not going well, I chose not to serve GOD. I mean it seems like everyone else was getting “their” way and I was not getting mine. I threw away prayer and did not attend church. I was angry at people who had disappointed me and claimed to be followers of GOD. Stop following GOD was my plan.

• There were times when I rejected GOD’s calling.
• There were times when I did not want to hear about JESUS or the Bible or being good.
• There were times when I felt this “GOD” thing was not working so I should try something else.

I set out on my own and didn’t find many answers. In fact I saw calamity and wound up begging GOD to let me back in the house. Life was falling apart and I was without hope. I did not even have GOD to turn to.

• GOD welcomed me back with open arms.
• GOD forgave me for trying to run away from HIM.
• GOD insisted on blessing me when I stopped blaming HIM for my insecurities.

Looking back on this period I ask myself, “What was my plan?” I mean every movement my body makes cannot be done without GOD. Every breath that I take has to be blessed by GOD and every bite of food I take goes to HIS throne for permission to nourish me or kill me. I took GOD for granted and my immaturity made me think I did not owe HIM a thing rather HE owed me.

My plan to stop following GOD failed miserably. I had to swallow my pride and straighten up my act in order to be used of HIM again.

• Have you given up?
• Do you feel like you deserve to be treated better?
• Will you stop your prideful ways and run back to GOD with a humbled heart?
• Will you serve GOD today?

Who Wants Pain?

Proverbs 20: ³⁰ Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
    and beatings purge the inmost being.

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Sitting by the window was probably the worst thing I could do. I would stare outside, longing to be in the fresh air, then like a clap of thunder, the teacher would inevitably call me back into reality. “Why do I have to go to school anyway?” I said in fourth grade.

• Sometimes I feel like giving up and taking the easy route.
• Sometimes I want vacation instead of work.
• Sometimes I desire resting in a meadow of laziness rather than plowing a field of work.

I decided not to go to attend class when I went to college. My grades suffered and I was told I may not graduate. I had to buckle down and study. It was painful. I decided to start going to school and found it to actually be easier than I thought.

• GOD has shown me that I need to be disciplined in order to stay on HIS path.
• GOD has shown me that I sometimes need a whooping in order to get focused.
• GOD has shown me that nothing in life comes easy and my focus should be HIM.

Bumps and bruises in life teach me that I need GOD every step of the way. HE takes my evil behavior and turns it into righteousness by allowing a little turmoil in my life. My desire gets purged and I can then praise HIM.

• Are you going through a beating in life right now?
• Have you ever done evil in your life?
• Can you change your course and follow GOD the way HE wants you to follow HIM?
• Will you accepts the blows and wounds as a method of purging instead of punishing?

Giving is Living

Proverbs 19: ¹⁷ Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will reward them for what they have done.

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Looking at the time, I realized I was running late. It was cold and I had to park far away. I walked with a bit of a gallop and stopped at a crosswalk of a very busy street. I heard a voice from a person sitting on the ground. “Do you have any spare change” the person asked. I shrugged as the light changed and I crossed the street. I’ll give to them when I return from the gala I was attending. When I got back, the person was nowhere to be found.

• Sometimes I miss the opportunity.
• Sometimes I do not help the poor.
• Sometimes I ignore the needy.

I actually had plenty of time to help the person. I timed how long it would take me to pull my wallet out of my pocket and grab a dollar bill, it was ten seconds.

• GOD wants me to help those HE puts in front of me.
• GOD wants me to give to those who HE prompts me to give.
• GOD wants me to provide for those who HE delivers to me.

GOD said “You will never know if you are entertaining an angel.” Since HE challenges my heart to see if I can handle large sums of money, HE gives me opportunities to see what I will do with small amounts. I can horde it for myself and make excuses for not giving or I can do without for a moment and give. GOD wants me to give and be excited.

Are you a hoarder?

Do you judge the homeless saying they will spend the money on alcohol or drugs?

When is the last time you missed a meal in order to give it to someone?

Will you seek people today to give to?

Watch What I Say

Proverbs 18: ²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death,
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.

²² He who finds a wife finds what is good
    and receives favor from the Lord.

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Words are extremely important I have found over the years. When I say something harsh to my wife it seems like the whole house gets filled with gloom. No matter how simple the word or how complex the thought if the words are negative the whole world will know about it.

• Sometimes I have had words of complaint.
• Sometimes I have had words of disgust.
• Sometimes I have had words of distrust.

The tongue can be filled with poison and tear up my family. I mean I don’t have to be a cream puff if something is going away from GOD rather I have to watch what I say and say it in love.

• GOD wants me to see HIS example when HIS own creation blamed HIM, HE prayed for them.
• GOD wants me to know the power of the tongue can bring life or death.
• GOD wants me to understand that my words will be replayed to me when I am standing in front of HIM one day.

My words have to be chosen carefully so instead of responding quickly, I have to place my words before GOD and ask HIM to modify them before I speak. Only HE can tame my tongue and make it breathe life.

• Are you a harsh speaker?
• Do your words bring life or death?
• How many people have you torn down with your words?
• Can you examine your words and place them before GOD today?
• Will you accept the prayer that any words you say will fall back on you tenfold?

Taking the test

Proverbs 17: ³ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart.

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Looking at the other students take their test was all I could do as I did not know many of the answers. I sat there perplexed, staring at the paper. “LORD, please bring something to mind” I desperately asked. Nothing came. I handed in my test and slumped away from the class. To my surprise I got a “D” instead of failing. The entire situation felt pitiful.

• Sometimes I look at tests wrong.
• Sometimes I think tests are awful.
• Sometimes I feel tests are not my thing.

When I hear the word “test” I still cringe to this day. I mean I do not like tests because they do not seem like they are in my favor. It seems like all the information flies out of my  mind and I can’t recall whatever I need at that time only. Doe GOD treat me that way when HE “tests” my heart? NO!

• GOD’s test for me is refining like silver in a crucible.
• GOD’s test for me is refining like gold in a furnace.
• GOD’s test for me is refining through situations and circumstances.

A heart full of sin is GOD’s specialty. HE takes my heart through the fiery furnace of life, allowing it to feel the heat so the things that don’t belong can melt away. GOD takes away the things that distract me from HIM and leaves me in that furnace until my heart is fully refined. HE burns away fear, doubt, lust, envy, anger and replaces it with love, joy, peace, humility, kindness, grace, mercy and forgiveness.

I have to admit, I don’t like the process of having to go through the fire, but I love the results that only GOD can bring.

• Are you in the fire?
• Do you want to get out of the fire before you are fully refined?
• Will you let GOD take you entirely through the situation?

Plans for Success

Proverbs 16: To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

² All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.

³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

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Seated by last name I would most times end up in the back of the class. I was labeled as “The Professor” and my neighbors spied my tests with gaping eyes. One day, the teacher moved me next to the “smartest” in the class. She naively left her test uncovered. “I wonder if I should copy a few answers from her test” ran through my mind.

• Sometimes my plans were not pure.
• Sometimes my plans were not based with the right motive.
• Sometimes my plans were not innocent as they seemed.

Desire does not provide an excuse for me to do things the wrong way. I mean just because the road is hard doesn’t mean I should cut corners or slack in my plans. What should I do?

• GOD says to me “I want to bless all of your plans so put them in front of ME first.”
• GOD says to me “I can see your motives so I will bless your plans based on them.”
• GOD says to me “Give me your desire and I will make your path straight.”

My plans may not have the right motive. Instead of asking GOD for clear sight to be able to copy from my neighbor’s test, I should ask for a clear mind to prepare me for my own. In my life, GOD has never given me an easy route. It seems like HE won’t allow me to prosper when I think about stealing, cheating, lying or cutting a corner.

GOD wants me to place my plans in front of HIM and no matter how hard the situation, believe HE will guide me through the difficulties. GOD will establish my plans as long as I give them to HIM.

• Are you planning something?
• Do you have a certain picture in your mind of how things should go?
• Can you ask GOD if the way you are going is right?
• Will you ask GOD for direction, resources and fortitude to continue?

Getting What I Ask For

Proverbs 15: ¹⁶ Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.

¹⁷ Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.

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“Meet the new boss” were common words at this particular company. I invited him out to dinner to get to know him so I could find out who I had to become now. Fortunately for me, my previous bosses were avid followers of GOD without distractions from their work, but this one was different. Our first conversation went down the direction of drunkenness and wild parties. Is that what I should become now in order to keep my wealth? I had a choice.

• Sometimes my wealth was the deciding factor of my path.
• Sometimes my wealth was the focus of my protection.
• Sometimes my wealth was the fear that was great to me.

The more wealth I accumulated the more I needed to protect it. This meant becoming the bosses right hand. Sometimes the hand was not as clean as it needed to be. I could feel the HOLY SPIRIT saying something to me. “No, not this time” were the words that started me on the path back to GOD.

• GOD wants me to follow HIM no matter what wealth status I am at.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM for just being with HIM, not for how much HE gives me.
• GOD wants me to know HIS love over wealth and HE will lead me in the way that is right.

It is better to have a little and be with the LORD than to be wealthy and be without HIM. I mean where would I go? HE is everywhere and HIS wrath is at the end to those who choose to not follow HIM. GOD blesses me daily with HIS love and protection.

• Are you seeking wealth?
• Are you trying to manipulate GOD in order to get wealth?
• Have you asked yourself “how did I get where I am” lately?
• Will you get back on HIS path?