So many times circumstances or
situations we face force us to make decisions to save ourselves and our loved
ones from hunger, danger, lack, famine and or hardship. These circumstances
often times ‘lead’ us to alter our position or stand either spiritually and or
physically in search of greener pastures while in reality we are actually
moving from “The Source” or “The Land of Bread” (God’s Presence) into the very
things we fear. When a person moves from the Fountain of Living Waters, such
will go into a land that appears to be watered but in reality is a desert
that devours its inhabitants. The book of Ruth started off by describing a man
named Elimelech and his wife Naomi, both Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah.
He along with his wife and sons left the land of Bethlehem for Moab because of
famine. The Bible says he entered the land of Moab and settled there with his
family. We don’t know for how long he lived there, but it was recorded that
shortly after he died; his sons Mahlon and Chilion on the other hand got wives from the land of
Moab. Like their father, they were short lived; they both died childless leaving Naomi and her
daughters-in-law to bear the loss. This was quite a sad story because the land
that Elimelech thought will bring succour became a grave yard! But thank God
Naomi heard that the Lord had paid attention to His people’s needs in Bethlehem
by providing them food and she responded to the news by making up her mind to
return back to the land of Bethlehem which is the Presence of God. Her decision
to return turned her fortunes around. When faced with such circumstances, what
kind of decisions do we make? Do we allow the circumstances or situations we are
in lead us or we choose to inquire of God if we are to remain or move? When a
man leaves God’s presence, he not only loses himself, even the fruits he gets are short-lived.
So many examples abound in the Scriptures and in our age of people who decided to go on their own without really taking
time to hear from God; they end up making shipwrecks of their lives. The decision of
Abram to go into Egypt without asking God has and is still bringing hardship to the world and the Body of Christ till this day. Friends, it is time we actually inquire from
God the direction to take rather than take a step or move an inch from those unpleasant situations. Romans 8:14 says “All those led
by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to
fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry
out, Abba, Father! Meaning God wants
us to cry out to Him in whatever situation we are in as our Father so He can
help us in our times of need. He is not oblivious to what we are going through
but He knows that which is best for us and we must trust Him in this no matter
what the facts on ground are saying. In Psalm 32:6-7, the Psalmist says “Therefore let everyone who is faithful
pray to You at a time that You may be found. When great floodwaters come, they
will not reach him. You are my hiding place, you protect me from trouble. You
surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance” then in verse 8 God said “I will instruct you and show you the way to
go, with My Eyes on you I will give counsel” Friend, it is very risky to go
on without taking instruction from our Father. No matter what you may be going
through, remain strong and be determined to take instructions from Him and not
from your flesh or one will be in danger of destroying even the little that
remains. The grace to seek His face and await His reply is released to you in
Jesus Christ name. God bless you.
Have you ever visited a quarry site and considered the process the rocks are subjected to before they become dressed stones to be used? If the stones could talk they will have a story to tell about their experiences. As children of God we go through diverse experiences and we wonder if we will indeed survive them. Sometimes we wonder why our gracious and compassionate Father would allow such to befall us considering who we are in Him and what we are doing in His vineyard. The Scripture that should readily come to our minds in such circumstances is God’s assurance when He said: “I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire and the flame will not burn you ” (Isaiah 43:2). This Scripture assures us that through the experiences of flames and waters, God is always by our side to see us through. Thus, it is necessary for us to go through the...
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