Trusting God will bring more and deeper opportunities to grow your faith.
It was very early in the morning and, as usual, I was talking to the Lord about various things. I asked Him to give me a special word. A couple of hours later, while folding my laundry, God dropped something into my head and I loved it.
This is what He said - -
“For the development of the fullness of our faith
The Lord is often last-minute but He is never late.
God never fails to act in the fullness of His time
For the fullness of His will and purpose”.
Such insurance is priceless. It could not be purchased for a king’s ransom. Yet it is offered freely to believers who will simply trust and obey. Are there premiums to be paid for this policy? Yes, (Matthew 9:29) according to your faith because (Hebrews 11:1,6) without faith it is impossible to please Him.
There are over 3,000 promises in the Bible for believers. Do we regularly enrich our souls with those dividends or do we choose convenience over obedience and (Isaiah 31:1) go down to Egypt? If we leave Bethel (Genesis 12:8) we will build no altars in Egypt.
Are you going through a difficult time of pain and confusion? God does not answer your prayers to get you out of the mire. Remember what the Lord said to me that morning. The very mess you are in is the very thing that will strengthen your faith if you will simply trust God and it will bring more and deeper opportunities to grow your faith. Growing faith brings closer intimacy with Jesus.
Oswald Chambers tells us that if we are in a spiritual muddle, we cannot think it clear. We have to ‘obey’ it clear. Immediately we obey, we discern.
Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6) and it was counted to him – credited to his account for righteousness. What about your faith and mine? What does it count for - - does it credit anything to our account? Is it (1 Peter 1:7) more precious than gold – or – is it (James 1:6-7) wavering, shifting and receiving nothing? We can take the advice of the 10 spies (Numbers 13:31-33, Numbers 14:33) and wander in the wilderness for 40 years or until everything worthwhile within us dies. We always have a choice. We can choose to trust God along with Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:38) and get everything God promised.
Try to picture how you would feel if the Lord told you to go downtown and walk along a certain street. As you passed parked cars you would spot one with the key in the ignition. You were to take it and drive it to wherever the Lord had told you. If anyone tried to stop you, you were just to tell them that the Lord needed it!!! O.K. O.K. I hear you - - but listen and ponder. Do you think the disciples had similar feelings when Jesus told them to go – not to a deserted country road – but to a busy village, untie a colt and bring it to Jesus. Just tell the bystanders that Jesus needed it. How about this one – not just a village this time but a city. When you see a man with a pitcher of water follow him. (That in itself was unusual because only female servants carried water.) Follow him into the house. Just walk right in to a stranger’s house.
I’m sure they had some questions and were maybe a little fearful. They couldn’t know what the reaction of people would be. BUT here is the key. They went where He sent and did what He bid and found it just as He said. That’s the key for you and me too, so we better not lose that key. Of course, we know that in our world to-day the Lord would never ask us to purloin a car. BUT - - He might ask us to provide one or help to provide it.
Here’s another insurance dividend. When Jesus didn’t have enough (Mark 6:41) He didn’t stare hopelessly at His meager resources but confidently looked up to Heaven. Let’s get that hard and fast. The resources don’t matter – they are only the props for a test that can wonderfully increase our faith. Can you think of any reason ever not to trust Him for everything? Blessed is the man (Psalms 84:5) in whose heart are the highways to Zion. David took the ark of the covenant to Zion which indicated God’s Presence. Do the highways in our hearts lead us deeper into God’s Presence and communion with Him?
To-day, as I write this, it is exactly one year since my husband’s earth visa expired and God called him to the eternal joy of his eternal citizenship in heaven. All through the year I have been receiving dividends from my insurance/assurance policy – dividends known only to believers. Our departed loved ones are not missing – they just arrived home ahead of us. Soon the longing of our hearts will be realized as we see - - not by faith anymore – but actually see Jesus. I keep trying to imagine what that will be like but it is beyond comprehension. Then the joy-filled, never-ending reunion with our loved ones.
We need the help (Romans 8:26-27) of the Holy Spirit to be (Romans 12:12) constant in prayer and (1 Thessalonians 5:17) pray without ceasing. This speaks more of relationship than of non-stop talking, so that my prayers will echo God’s will and purpose and bring me into definite contact with God about everything and precious intimacy with Jesus. There is no room for doubt there and our faith will mount up on eagle wings.
I had an audience with the Magnificent Owner of our marvelous far-extending policy. He told me something – actually an unbelievably rich dividend – and He told me to tell you. He said (Psalms 84:11) no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
I would like to add one more dividend which covers everything throughout our sojourn on earth and leaves no room for doubt.
Now (2 Thessalonians 3:16) may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways, under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes. The Lord be with you.
There is no victory in doubt but this is the victory (1 John 5:4) that overcomes the world even our faith.