People make the statement, “I’m grown, I do what I want to do”…..ALL the time. The Isley Brothers had a popular song that said, “It’s your thing, do what you want to do.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) says, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. The Message version says, “Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.”
Because we belong to God we are NOT in control of our lives. When we become adults we feel that we have a right to do what we want to do and when we want to do it. When you’re in the Kingdom of God, EVERYTHING that we do should be approved by our heavenly father. God has given us our own free will to do whatever we want, but the best place to be is in GOD’S WILL. There are times when we get frustrated because we feel that God isn’t moving FAST enough on the things that we have been praying for. You might be praying for a new job, a new home, healing in your body, a spouse or salvation for loved ones and sometimes it seems that God is taking FOREVER to answer, doesn’t it?? I know that I’m not the only one who has had days where I sit and ask the question, “God, WHERE ARE YOU?” It is in those moments that the Holy Spirit REMINDS me about who is the parent and who is the child in the relationship. My life is NOT my own. I am not authorized to call the shots and tell God WHAT to do and WHEN to do it. When the enemy sends stress and frustration your way about what’s happening in your life and what hasn’t happened in your life you tell him to SHUT UP. You REMIND the enemy that your heavenly father who CREATED you knows about ALL of your wants and needs and that he has the PERFECT timing for ALL of your desires to be fulfilled.
Sometimes people ask the question, “What happens when God says NO to something that you really desire?” When God says “NO” that means that he has something much BETTER in store for your life. There are other times when God doesn’t say “NO,” but he says, “NOT RIGHT NOW.” You’ve been dying to buy that new house but maybe God knows that you need to take some time and learn more about saving and budgeting before you take on the responsibility of a home and a mortgage. Maybe you’re complaining about the fact that you have friends who are getting married and it seems as if God wants you to be single forever. It might not be time for you to get married because God might want to use you to minister to single women who are in your same position. Maybe you have been DYING to get out of that horrible company and get another job somewhere else but God NEEDS you to stay there a little while longer because there is a co-worker that he wants you to lead to Christ. TRUST God in ALL situations.
Philippians 4:11 (KJV) says, “Not that I speak in respect of want:for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” The Message version (Phil 11-13) says, “I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Brothers and Sisters, in whatever place God has you right now, learn to be HAPPY in spite of it all. Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV) says, “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” If you take a moment out of each day to reflect on how GOOD God has been in your life thus far, it should be IMPOSSIBLE for you to complain. We ALL face tough times, struggles and dry places but learn how to PUSH past the PAIN and PRAISE. Psalms 34:1 (KJV) says, “I will bless the Lord at ALL times: his praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth.” Praising God at ALL times means praising him in the good, bad and ugly. Job 14:1 (KJV) says, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and FULL of trouble.” In your life I PROMISE you that trouble will FIND you. You can do EVERYTHING right but at some point of time you are going to be faced with an uncomfortable situation. In those difficult moments you have a Heavenly father that you can go to who will LOVE you and STRENGTHEN you. When Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace for refusing to worship a golden image, (Daniel 3:24-25), Jesus was in there WITH them. You are NEVER alone. Jesus is ALWAYS with us in difficult times.
You are NOT your own. You have been BOUGHT with a PRICE that Jesus paid on Calvary’s cross. Because of that, you have a RIGHT to salvation and eternal life. In this life there will be confusing moments, hurting times and all types of frustrations….but God is ALWAYS with you. Before many of us came to Christ we were a HOT MESS. We were making all kinds of mistakes and doing the wrong thing at every turn. It is such a BLESSING to have a Heavenly father who LOVES us in spite of our faults and issues; and is always with us AT ALL TIMES, leading and guiding us. Instead of looking at God as a demanding and controlling father, look at Him for who he is….. a LOVING, kind, forgiving, AMAZING father who LOVES us and ALWAYS wants the best for his children.
Love You LIKE CRAZY,
Christian Joy