God Responses

Dan.2:²⁰ “He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. ²¹ He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. ²² He reveals deep and mysterious things…”

What do you think happens to you and the people around you when you persevere through trials? You get promoted and people around you get inspired to fight their own battles, and to have the right responses, the God responses to trials. Imagine a man loses his job during downsizing. His wife and children are watching his responses, and they see that he is always joyful. Heaven acknowledges his right responses and rewards him with a new job and a promotion. What do you think will happen to his wife and children or perhaps even a sibling living with them? They all get inspired and their faith in the Mighty God that he serves will also have an opportunity to grow.

When you refuse to consider difficult challenges as an opportunity for great joy, what happens is that you get a carryover. Then the people around you would not have any opportunity for growth. Their heart towards God becomes wrong because they perceive through your responses that God is not faithful [which is not true]. Sometimes the people around you even begin to curse God because they think He is the one causing problems for you. They lose their zeal for pursuing God and the things of God. They will even question your devotion to God. What they do not know is that it is you that has responded badly. The Name of God comes to disrepute when Christians respond negatively to trials, and it gives unbelievers less reason to seek God. Just because one person refused to count it all joy. The outcome of the trials you face go beyond you. It is not about you!

Assignment: List three reasons for choosing to have joy in the midst of difficult circumstances.

1. __________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________

It is not what happens to us [abused, cheated] or around us [economic crisis, captivity] that determines our greatness. What determines our greatness [our destiny] is what happens in us! If you allow what happened to you damage what is happening in you, if you allow what is happening around you to damage what God is doing in you, that would be a problem. But if you refuse to allow what has happened to you or happening around you get into you; your greatness will be inevitable.

Prayer: Lord, I commit to a deeper walk with You and to grow in the knowledge of God. I commit to only respond to life issues from the depth of my knowledge of God, in Jesus Name. Amen!