Before You Move, Hear This…

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.