May 21
Four Attributes of a Life God Blesses
From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman
"So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." Isaiah 28:16
Whenever God calls us into a consecrated life, it is made up of four distinct stages. Christ often compared this process to building a house.
First, we must prepare to build by laying a foundation. That foundation is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Any foundation other than Christ will not stand.
Second, as we enter a walk of faith with God, He allows each of us to experience trials, testings, miracles, and challenges in life that are designed to provide faith experiences that demonstrate tangible evidences of His work in our life: Moses' burning-bush experience, Peter's walk on the water, Joshua's parting of the Jordan River.
These experiences built the faith of these people. The depth and width of our calling is directly proportional to the faith experiences He allows in each of our lives.
If God plans an international ministry with you, chances are you will experience a higher degree of faith experiences compared to another. The reason being, you will need to look on these to ensure your calling and provide testimony to His work in your life.
The third stage deals with motives. "All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord," Proverbs 16:2.
What is the motive behind my actions? Is it only financial accumulation? Is it to gain control? Is it to create independence? The primary motive must be that God is leading you to take such an action—it must be obedience. These other factors must be by-products of the decision.
Fourth, we are prepared to take action. Here we must ask, "Do we have the skill, quality, and ability to enter into this activity?" If we have not trained ourselves adequately to be successful in our endeavor the Lord will be restricted in fulfilling His purpose through us.
Before you begin your next project, ask yourself these four questions:
What is the foundation of this project based on?
What experiences has God demonstrated in my life that indicate His involvement?
What is my motive for entering this activity?
Do I have the skill and ability to accomplish the task?
Answering these questions will help you to conclude whether or not God will be able to bless your activity.
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