Concentrate on God's love for you and His Word, not on your circumstances!
"If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves. But when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed" Proverbs 29:18 -The Message.
Daily life events and circumstances are one of the many ways God uses to speak to us about Himself, His love, and His agenda for us. It took me a long time to genuinely believe that nothing in my life is arbitrary. It took me even longer to believe that I am loved by a perfect Father who is working in me what is pleasing to Him (Hebrews 13:20), and that every detail in my life of love for God is worked into something good (Romans 8:29).
What would a life of love for God look like? Examine John 14:23-25 (The Message)
…If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him – we’ll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving me means not keeping my words...The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you…
What a glorious promise! If I highly respect Jesus’ word and humbly respond to Him, I would live a life of love for God. Then the love and wisdom of the Trinity - Jesus, the Son, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit will clarify my life situations and make every thing work for my ultimate good.
I am convinced that our life circumstances are opportunities to hear God’s voice, to experience His presence, and to allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us (Galatians 5:22).
The following excerpts from "Hearing God’s Voice", Henry and Richard Blackaby give us insights and guidelines to understand our circumstances -
CIRCUMSTANCES: A TIME FOR GOD TO SPEAK (taken from the seventh chapter)
"Life happens whether you are ready for it or not! To many people life is merely a series of random experiences- some good, some not so good…God does things intentionally, not randomly.
Circumstances can take many forms. They might be a job offer, a marriage proposal, a promotion, a natural disaster, a sudden death, a car accident, an unexpected gift, a surprise phone call, a letter of encouragement, an illness, a miraculous recovery, an unusual conversation, a failure or a success. The key is not the occurrence itself but the presence of the Holy Spirit as He communicates through life events. This does not mean that we should seek a hidden meaning behind every traffic jam or thunderstorm. It does mean that we should be sensitive to what God might be saying during the course of events in our day.
Circumstances are events that God uses to speak about Himself and His will. We face circumstances every day. Unless we see God’s activity in the midst of them, we will be unaware of their spiritual significance. They will simply be events in a long succession of confusing occurrences. But if we are sensitive to God’s voice, these same events can hold enormous significance for us… Hudson Taylor described God as "The One Great Circumstance".
Guidelines for Understanding Your Circumstances
Set in your mind that God forever demonstrated his love for you on the cross. That love will never change. Regularly revisit this truth.
Do not try to understand God based on your circumstances. Go to God and ask Him to help you see your situation from His perspective.
Wait on the Holy Spirit. He will take the Word of God and help you understand your circumstances. Learn patience! Patience means trusting God (James 1:2-4). God’s timing is always best.
Adjust your life to God and to what you see Him doing in your circumstances. Let God work in you thoroughly, so He can work through you effectively and completely.
If there is no clear instruction, wait and do the last thing you know God told you to do. Waiting is not inactivity but continuing until God speaks.
Do we live loved? Are we seeking to understand what God's is doing in our life so that we don't stumble all over ourselves?
Colt McCoy did not stumble all over himself. He lives loved! He gave glory to God!
Many of you perhaps already heard Colt McCoy, the Longhorn's quarterback, on his post-game interview. He did not concentrate on his circumstances. Before millions of people he focussed on God's love for him. He spoke words that reflected his knowledge of God's character.
The reporter asked him - How did you feel, watching the game from the sidelines? ..."It was unfortunate that I didn't get to play, would have given everything I had to be out there with my teammates... I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. I know God is in control of my life, and I also know, if nothing else, that I am standing on the rock". McCoy became the game's biggest winner before many people and especially before God!
With God's grace, we too can live loved and allow the Holy Spirit to help us understand the spiritual significance of our life circumstances and give glory to the Lord.
