May 22, 2013

• God's Best

  God's best must be wonderful. Don't you think? Can there be anything better? But, so many times we settle for something easier -- something that feels better to our flesh -- something with a lower price tag. Because God's best does have a high price. Not everyone is willing to pay it. It is so worth it, but often we don't fully understand that til we've made it through to the other side.

  (Prov. 16:25 AMP)  There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

  (Deut 30:19 NLT)  "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

  An old group I used to listen to had some song lyrics that say, "Taking the easy way isn't the easy way." Think about it. Choosing God's best means being willing to be different. Choosing God's best means giving up control, and we SO LOVE to be in control, don't we? Choosing God's best usually means there will be no "instant gratification." There will be hard work. There will be tests. There may even be persecution.

  We like to read stories (testimonies) of men and women of God who have done amazing things. We dream of being "super heroes of the faith" riding beautiful horses, and dressed in immaculate, glowing white, we ride in to save the day. Ta da! We think about doing great things for God. What fun! How rewarding! Yeah..... Moses was called to lead a people who drove him crazy with their complaining. David was anointed to be a king, and spent years running and hiding from Saul. God called Mary to be the mother of His Son, and she was misunderstood and ostracized. She had to give birth to Jesus in a barn. There is a price.

  It's like praying for patience. Do you know the price tag on that one?
  
  (Rom 5:3-4 AMP)  Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

  I have been listening to a great song called Blessings, by Laura Story . The song inspired this post. I have provided the "address" if you want to hear the whole song. It sure touched my heart.
  
  'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears?
  What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
  What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQan9L3yXjc

  When times are rough, we sometimes think we have "missed God." We mistakenly think that if we are in God's will, everything should be peachy keen. Nope. Because God is building us. He is teaching us patience. He is refining us --teaching us what really matters. He is working on our character. He is giving us "the habit of joyful and confident hope..."   The best part is that through all this, HE NEVER LEAVES US! It is hard. Really hard sometimes. (Kinda like having a baby, only it takes longer!) But what you get at the end makes it worth it. I just know it.

  SO --- do we love God enough NOT to be mediocre? Do we love Him enough to pay the price for His BEST?

  • 4:16 am
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