WHY DO EVILDOERS KEEP GETTING BLESSED?

Have you ever asked the Lord, “Why is it that I live holy and sacrifice so much, yet it seems as if those who care nothing for You and plot wicked schemes to get what they want are getting blessed?” I have asked the Lord this many times. You must know one thing. Things are not always what they appear to be.

When it comes to blessings, we must first understand we have no say in how the Lord chooses to bless another person, so we should never become envious or jealous of others who are blessed. In fact, we should rejoice for others who are in their due season of reaping their blessings. Just remember, your due season is also sure to come. I know you are saying, “Okay, that’s good for those who accept Christ and try to live a life pleasing to the Lord, but why are evildoers, those workers of iniquity, reaping blessings?"

It is easy to become angry, bitter, or jealous over those who live a life of sin and have no care for the Lord or what He commands of us. But to answer the question about workers of iniquity reaping blessings, one must ask, "Are they always truly reaping blessings from God?" Evildoers prosper in their own way. I do not know about you, but I desire true blessings from my Father. I have no interest in plotting evil schemes to get what I want in life. I love God and I trust Him. Whenever thoughts flood my mind about what I see happening in the lives of evildoers, I think on the following scripture:
"1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb." Psalm 37:1,2 NKJV

In verse one, we are instructed not to worry ourselves, become discontent, or annoyed because of evildoers, nor become jealous of the workers of iniquity. Many people choose to do wrong to themselves and to the people of God, but we should not be consumed with their works of iniquity. We should not allow them to destroy the joy in our lives. Do not misunderstand me, we are to care for their souls and pray for them, but praying for their souls is different from fretting over them.

In verse two, God’s word tells us the destruction of the workers of iniquity will be fast, sudden, and sure. Just as grass is cut down and withers away, so shall be the fate of evildoers. So you see, death is the result of the workers of iniquity, why should you envy those whose end is death? God’s people are promised an everlasting life. Stop envying the flesh, and keep your faith, trust, and eyes fixed on your heavenly rewards.

Be blessed.

O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?

The Lord guided me to Matthew 14:22-33 to give this timely message. In this scripture, Jesus sent His disciples out on a boat ahead of Him while He sent the multitudes away and later went up to the mountain for alone time. When Jesus made His way back to the boat, which was being tossed back and forth in the middle of the sea, Jesus walked on the water and the disciples thought they were looking at a ghost. After he saw Jesus walking on the water, Peter asked Jesus to command him out of the boat to prove He is the Son of God. Jesus told Peter to come out of the boat. Peter began to walk on the water towards Jesus, but allowed the fierce winds to shake his faith that he could make it to Jesus. He took His focus off of Jesus and focused on the troubled water; therefore, he began to sink. Peter called out to Jesus to save him, so Jesus stretched out His hand to catch him before he sank. Jesus asked Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

I liken this story to the lives of many Christians today. We are told many times throughout the word of God to trust in Him. We have seen the hand of the Lord move in our lives and have called on Him to meet great needs, yet, when we call on Him and are ordered to step out of the boat, some of us take our eyes off of Him and lose trust in Him. You begin to focus on your troubles and then start doubting Him, His word, and what He can do for you. It is easy to trust Jesus when things are going good in your life, but the moment you need His help, you call, but lose trust when He requires you to trust and depend totally upon Him.

During these times in the lives of God's people, Jesus still reaches out His hand and helps us out of mighty storms and troubled waters. I cannot help but think that in these moments, Jesus shakes His head and asks, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

"And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' Matthew 14:31 NKJV

Be blessed.

HE IS SPEAKING, ARE YOU LISTENING?

I can recall days in which I prayed to my Father and asked Him to speak to me. It took time for me to realize He does speak, but I had to surrender my own ideas of how He should speak to me. I missed Him many times because I chose to turn off my ears to anything that was not like my method of choice. I can say that is the problem with most folks today. They pray to Him and He does speak, but they are not listening. In other words, they are placing limits on who God is and how He works.

Praying to God is a way of communicating with Him. Prayer with Him is like any other conversation we have with a friend, family, or anyone else. The normal flow of conversation is one speaks as the other listens. The same formula applies when speaking with God. God is not limited in the way He speaks to and answers us. His response may not be immediate or in the way we choose for Him to communicate. This is where patience and trust must be exercised.

I have experienced many ways in which God has spoken to me. Dreams are a frequent way in which He has chosen to speak to me. He commonly speaks through His word, my thoughts, and sends messages through other people. The methods mentioned are not the only ways He has chosen to speak to me, but I want you to have an idea of some of the ways He chooses to speak to us.

God is speaking to you, are you listening? Let go of any preconceived ideas you have about how He will speak to you. Shut out the busyness and noise around you. Be open to the unlimited ways He chooses to speak.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me."  Revelation 3:20 NKJV

Be blessed.