Are you praying for God to take you to a new place? By that I don't necessarily mean physically, even though that could be the case. But maybe you are praying for God to take you into a new place in ministry, or a new place in your walk with Him, or maybe in your influence on the lives of others....but you just can't figure out why it's not happening as fast as you would like it to? Well today I hope to just shed a little bit knowledge on this topic based on how God has moved in my own life and through things He has taught me based on His word.
I would like to start by assuring you that God wants to use you to your fullest potential....and only He really knows what your fullest potential is. Psalms 20:4 says "May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose". I see verses like this get misused all the time to say that God will give you whatever you pray for, but this just isn't true. God will give you want you pray for the is completely in alignment with His will for you. And the best way to achieve this is the pray for God's will to be done in your life, not your own, and then accept thing changes that come due to that prayer. When you are living according to God's will then He knows that the desires of your heart will be to have the things that He desires for you. And as He molds you and changes you He will release things to you that He knows you are ready for. Never in our timing, but in His own. Sometimes this can be so hard for us to understand, but that is where our trust in Him is really put to the test. Proverbs 16:2-3 states that "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established". So, not only does God want the best for us, and know what's best for us, but He also can look deep into our heart and see when we really are committing ourselves to Him, or to our own advancement. And even when we can't be 100% honest with ourself, He can still tell the difference. So once again, He will only give you what you are prepared to handle even in the depths of your heart.
Another thing that I have found will prevent you from receiving more from God is a lack of appreciation for what He has already done or provided. Or maybe you feel like you appreciate it, but in His eyes it doesn't look like you have taken very good care of what He has blessed you with. Cherishing the things He has placed into your possession is one of the biggest ways you can show Him your appreciation. Whatever it is, it may not be the best or exactly what you had in mind, but you can't allow the enemy to let you stop seeing it as a blessing. Whether it is a physical blessing like a place to live or a car, or whether it is the start to even the smallest ministry, you have to keep thanking Him for it and treating it like He just gave you His best. Ephesians 5:20 tells us "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ". And I do believe this is one of those verses that you don't have to find the deep meaning behind it...."thanks always for all things" means simply that, be thankful for ALL things. No matter how big, or how small. When God sees the attitude of the heart is joy and thankfulness even when He passes you a small blessing, the He knows how much more you will boast about Him and His goodness when He pours a bigger blessing on you.
When you are praying and asking God for what He has for you next, please ask Him to search your heart and show you any selfishness or ungratefulness that may be within you. Honestly ask Him to help you deal with it appropriately, and then ask Him to bless you with the blessing He has for you in His perfect timing. As it was quoted in our service on Sunday, "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much". (James 5:16) So ask God to do what needs done in you to make your prayers effective, fervent...keeping you righteous in Christ, so the results of your prayers are always the things that line your heart up with God's heart.
God, thank You that you have a bank of blessings waiting for us. Please help us to keep ourselves at a place that is pleasing to you with an attitude of gratefulness so You can bless us. Allow our blessing to always be used to advance Your kingdom, even if it is just by us talking about and showing others how much of a good good Father You are. In Jesus name, Amen
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