If Only

"If only..." I have thought this often. If only I could have the athleticism as LeBron. If only I had the opportunities like (anyone who has more than me). If only God would use me in the ways that He is using Platt. If only... As I was pondering this thought today I was reminded that God wants to use me right where He has me. While I may never have the influence as the "what ifs" I can, should, am expected to have a huge influence right where God put me. Perhaps if I was faithful to His calling I would not be wondering "what if". I need to remember that Jesus is the author and finisher of my salvation. My job is not to change the race course, but to run the race that has been set before me. What if I did that?

Answered Prayer

"I am no longer sick...God answered my prayer." "I now have a job...God answered my prayer." "I got what I wanted...God answered my prayer." I am continually amazed at how fickle we are with our prayer requests and how we think that somehow God wants to keep us from difficulty, from hurt, from pain and suffering. If we do not go through those things then our prayers must have been answered. Or so we think. James says to consider it pure joy when you encounter trial of various kinds. Why? Because the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Inherently then in this statement is that a life lived without trials is a faith that does not have perseverance. It is through the difficult times in our lives that God uses to strengthen our faith. It is through being unemployed that we learn that God longs to be our Jehovah Jireh - our Lord who provides. It is through the hurt in our lives that we see God as our Healer. It is through difficult roads ahead that we learn that God our Jehovah Nissi - our Banner who goes before us. Is it wrong then to pray for healing? Is it wrong to pray for a job? Is it wrong to pray for an end to the difficulties in life? No, unless your prayer ends there. If an end to difficulty in life are the end goals that we have missed the point of faith. Jesus is not a genie in the bottle ready to grant us deliverance from the earthly struggles that we face. Jesus does free us from the spiritual bondage that we are in. Jesus frees us from being slaves to sin. Yes, our sins are dealt with the moment we repent and believe but the sanctification process is a long and difficult road with an amazing end. Part of that process involves God revealing Himself to us as our All in All. This cannot be done if our goals are a comfortable and easy life. He is my All in All only when things get taken away from us and He is all that we have. Let us seek Him and His glory during our difficulties. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and then all these things will be given to you. In asking for an end to our struggles are we truly seeking His kingdom and His righteousness first? If not then we are missing out on what He wants for us. And in doing so we are missing out knowing God for who He is.