Good day everyone. First of all let’s give honor to the father for another day. I would also like to wish my brother Paul Carruthers a Happy Birthday. I have been talking to a lot of Christian people in this Christmas season and there has been an underlying spirit of fear that there will be no provision for them and their families. This reminded me of when I used to walk in that same fear. After we pray I will share a meal on that very subject.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, let us indeed commit ourselves to You – as our loving Father, as our provider, as our anchor in times of storms, and as our compass, showing us Your will and leading us to live more worthwhile lives. Help us to remember the commandment that Joshua gave to the Israelites when he said: “… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”* Let us not ask why the world isn’t a better place in which to live, but rather let us ask what we can do to make it better. Oh Lord, You are depending on us to do our part to improve our surroundings, but we must also realize that we are dependent on You! Open our eyes to see this, and our hearts to desire a more meaningful relationship with You. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Let’s eat.
SWEATING OUTCOMES
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those He loves. – Psalm 127:2
Coming into the Promised Land in business/work will change the way you and I view our work. No longer will we see getting up early and staying up late as God’s way. Living in the Promised Land in work means we know that God is the source of our provision and that our work is an act of worship to Him. Provision is a by-product, not an end in itself. Work is no longer something that must be sweated and toiled upon to make ends meet. “Could this really be true?” you might be saying. God has made it clear that obedience is the assurance of provision. Whenever we go beyond the normal workday due to fear of non-provision, we are operating in unbelief. We are saying that it is up to us to make things happen. Sure, there are times when we work longer hours due to a deadline, but we must be sure the motive is not out of fear of loss or fear of non-provision. If we are obedient to what God has called us to, He will provide our every need. This can be a hard lesson for goal-oriented believers.
I remember coming into this understanding in 1991. I had been a workaholic. Long hours were common. Then God shook up my world and I was challenged to examine my motives for working long hours. I realized the source of those long hours was fear. Once I came into this understanding, I refused to work long hours even though the natural man would tell me I’d never make things happen if I worked a normal work week. Again, this reasoning is based on a lack of faith. If we are obedient to what God has called each of us to, we will not lack. At times it may be less than what we might like; at other times it may be more than we deserve. These are God’s ways.
The Bible tells us to come out of Babylon. Babylon is a system of work and philosophy that is contrary to God’s ways. Are you operating in any aspect of work from a Babylonian value system? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you. Begin to walk in the freedom He has given us in our work life.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Never forget what a man says to you when he is angry.” -Henry Ward Beecher
WITH HOPE AND FAITH
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY
We can also be found on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/c/GlennSterrett