Our Father, who art a Magician
Your God has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey, and you are waiting for when that’s gonna happen. Sigh, I may have some good news and a little bit of not-so-good news for you.
I love the book of Exodus. It is the perfect analogy of what Christians go through from the point we are saved, to reaching the promised land [i.e. realising the full potential of our inheritance in Christ].
Every christian should live in plenty. It is unscriptural for Christians to live in poverty and lack. Remember Psalm 23? — The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not lack. And 2 Corinthians 9:8 — God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
But why do I sometimes experience lack? Why isn’t everything always “all good” and rosy? When is my situation going to change?
Dear friend, it is because you are on a journey.
You are never suppose to wake up one morning, and everything has changed; it doesn’t work that way. If you are praying to God to take you to another place or level, then you should know that you are essentially asking God to take you on a Journey.
If you are praying to God to take you to another place or level, then you should know that you are essentially asking God to take you on a Journey.
And that Journey isn’t going to be all fun. You can ask the Israelites. However, unlike the Israelites, we are under a grace that guarantees our success and victory. This is the good news.
When God takes you on a Journey, He hasn’t promised to take you through rosy paths, there are in fact no rosy paths; and some paths may even be covered with shadows of death. What He has promised however, is He will never leave us or abandon us. Which means we will always emerge victorious.
The biggest problem with this Journey isn’t the demons or the obstacles thrown in your path. It is you — Your flesh. And the flesh does not back down easily.
When you are faced with a challenge, is your first impulse to “pick your phone and make a call”, or “think through it and figure it out”, or “speak with a trusted friend or spouse”, or “complain about it”?. Then, you are acting with flesh.
This, I have noticed is the biggest challenge with the Journey — Looking to yourself for a solution. This was also the biggest challenge the Israelites faced, and it was the biggest problem God had with them on that journey.
I am not saying you won’t make that call, or you won’t think through it, or you won’t do the things that needs to be done, but what is your first impulse?
When we get to a point where our first impulse is to talk to God, then our Journey is going to be a lot more awesome. Think David. Dude was a man after God’s own heart, not because he was a saint, but because his first impulse was to always ask God. “Should I pursue?” (1 Samuel 30:8), “Should I attack?” (1 Samuel 23:2), “Will they snitch on me?” (1 Samuel 23:12).
Think about it, David had some serious weaknesses; He murdered a man because he wanted his wife. He was about to murder a man and all his family and servants because the man refused to give him food (1 Samuel 25:22). Yet, He is the greatest King of Israel. Never lost a battle. Acquired so much wealth, His son had plenty to work with, to become the richest King of Israel.
But his journey started with trusting God to defeat lions, bears and other wild animals. Really think about it.
This King’s journey started with him, flock, stones, slings and wild animals. Even more interesting — after he had been anointed to become King, he at one point found himself and his family sleeping in caves and hiding in enemy territory.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Our God is not one to make a shepherd boy the King of Israel overnight, or within a year. That journey took at least 10 years (He became King at 30, he fought Goliath before he was 20. 20 yrs was the minimum military age; so for him to be considered too young to fight, means he was younger than 20 years. Some scholars say he was around 15 when he fought Goliath.)
Our God is not one to make a shepherd boy the King of Israel overnight, or within a year.
Our perspective becomes very different the moment we realise we are on a journey with God. It is this perspective that will make us happy when we experience obstacles (James 1: 2). Because we will begin to see obstacles as milestones, as progress.
It is super critical we approach every obstacle with God. He must be your first point of contact. All it takes is a conversation with him, there are no conversation rules, just talk. I guarantee you, no scratch that, God guarantees you that He will see you through.
One more thing I have learnt is this; every experience is useful. That situation you don’t like? Very useful!. Those things you had to do but really didn’t pay? Very important!.
You just keep being true to your conscience and spirit, submitting yourself to God’s will. And every experience will eventually pay off. Who would have known that the loner who slings stones in the wilderness will be the one to defeat Goliath, and have a song exalting him above the King.
But even defeating Goliath, was just part of the journey.
Please feel free to post questions or observations. For something private, send me an email mayowa[at]seegad[dot]com
