Don't Mess...

In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? Psalms 56:4

Blackaby today wrote: "Some feel that they demonstrate great faith by continually asking God for miracles. They assume that in every situation God wants to do the spectacular. They presume, for example, that God wants to heal anyone who is sick or provide a miraculous escape from every difficulty."

Whereas Blackaby was writing about faith that doesn't ask, I think God's taking recent events for me a different direction.
But it relates to the verse above.

You see, and I know many won't agree with me on this, God does consider death an answer to prayer.  We don't due to our selfish desire to keep those we care about here. But that too is not where this is going this time. 

I did like where Blackaby later went in today's devotional though.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They merely informed Nebuchadnezzar they would not bow to him. There's no recorded prayer by them to God about this.

In my life, I have seen mountains of evidence to show me that God really does not forsake those whom are His.  I have seen such things happen all because of NOT praying, but trusting, that God would deliver me.

The worst thing that anyone in this world can do to me is to try to paint a bullseye on my back.  Because as long as I am serving my God, they cannot harm me.

Scripture is clear that I am in Jesus's hands. He is in the Father's hands.  Name one entity in this universe who is strong enough to get past either of them. There is none.

Those who have tried, I have seen My God take apart in ways that I never dreamed possible.  I don't gloat over their calamity.  That wouldn't be right either.  It's what they tried that establishes my faith even deeper.  All without asking for a miracle.

I fear no man as long as I am obeying Jesus.  It is no license to be stupid but it's freeing to know that my obedience establishes His divine protection.  It's throughout the Old Testament.  When Israel obeyed, nobody could touch them.
When they did not, their enemies got through.

In recent days I have seen the rumblings of people towards me not being as favorable as they were not so long ago.
My only prayer concerning them is for them to be saved. Not that God would enact any form of revenge.  That would be tantamount to being like James and John asking Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven to destroy some people.

Newsflash people.  You're going to be mistreated by people in this world who are not believers.  There's a time and place for righteous anger.  But be sure of that before you go there.

Like many of those you read about in the Old Testament, the Lord was working and He admonished them to hold their hand else they would be interfering with what He was doing.

I have but one chief calling. To take up my cross and follow Christ. To do that requires Loving the Lord your God with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul and all my spirit.  Then also to love my neighbor as myself. 

There's no where in there does it state that they will get it every time.  Those who are in Christ are in the light. Those who are not are in darkness.  Those still in darkness don't like the light because it exposes their deeds.

Prayer is more than a powerful tool. It's our method of communication with our Savior.  It is the garden implement that tends to the soil of our hearts as much as it communicates to our Lord.

Jacob prayed about his brother who was coming at him.  God changed the hearts of both.

Joseph went through many heavy job changes.  I can relate to that.  But notice that there's no recorded prayer about being thankful for going through each one. In the end, when he is reunited with his family, he tells them at that point he understands.  That although their motives were evil God meant them for good. To bring about the salvation of Israel.  You don't see a prayer of thanks at being thrown in jail. No prayer of thanks at being sold as a slave.

But through it all God was there. The Lord was with him

In my life, if ever I am described, my hope is that would be how people would describe me. 

I undoubtedly will end up with people not looking upon me favorably for whatever their reasons.  But that's not my problem.
Scripture says that the Lord knows the thoughts and intentions of man.  Someone decides to have a beef with me He will know about it long before me.

I am to keep on doing what He has for me to do.  The story's that I could tell of ways He's delivered me would astound many. By no means could they be seen as a coincidence.  It's my Lord's deliverance.

Miracles still happen. Even without a prayer.  God never sleeps.  He is always ever mindful of what's going on in this world.  His Plan will always be successful.
His Words will always come to pass.

I have seen people so bitter that their misery is hidden even from themselves.

Wow. 

Bitterness and rage at what doesn't fit what they think is right.  Snapping off at people rather than a peaceful conversation.  Ironically they claim that people aren't listening to them.  It's they who are driven into such anger and bitterness that they cannot listen.  I do not fear them.  They just need to know that with God there is no separation of Church and State.  No separation between my faith in God and my work.  God is just as much a part of my life at work as He is outside of it.  Mess with me you mess with my Savior.  Simple as that. My job, according to Colossians 3:23-24 is "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

I do not boast in what I can do. I boast in what God had done and is doing. 

I am:
His workmanship: Ephesians 2:10
His Child: 1 John 3:1
Protected by Him: John 10:28-29
To Obey these:  Matthew 22:36-40
Take up my cross: Luke 9:23

Be it at work or home or anywhere, those are important things to me.  Fear no man or woman. 

I am so thankful that my Jesus loves me enough to not leave me as He found me, but is working out His words through me and to me. 

I may not be a Paul, or a John or even a Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But I am David who is loved by my Savior.  He has a plan for me and it's been awesome so far.