Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Ever been in a situation where you were sure that you heard God and you stepped out in faith only to begin doubting yourself? I dare say it has happened to all of us and that’s OK. Doubting yourself is not the same thing as doubting God. I know that if the thing you do in obedience of faith is time consuming, you will want to know that the time isn’t wasted. That’s only natural.
There are times when you act and receive confirmation immediately and that is a faith builder, you know you heard God because of the feedback. It isn’t always that way in the Kingdom. Part of it is because we are dealing with people who like you and I have free will. You put forth the effort so it’s out there. You cannot make people pick it up and use it as it is intended by God’s will.
What if a year goes by and God’s will was enacted finally on one who is ready to receive it. Is it possible they forgot you were involved? Sure. But who is to get the glory, you or God? Why God of course, so why are we worried?
For me nagging doubt was removed when I read one line of scripture. It freed me for the lingering doubt that I heard God at all. It also renewed my efforts to seek to know God’s will all the more. Ready? Here it is.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Since it is God who wills and does because it pleases Him you are relieved of the performance anxiety. Relax. Enjoy the ride.
I can so relate to your post today. My wife and I have been married for 56+ years, so have had many jolts in our lives together. Your reference to Philippians 2:13 is so great–it is so easy to forget that God has the WHOLE picture of our lives in view, while we see only 1 picture frame at a time. We were made freshly aware of that again today by another “jolt”. What a beautiful picture we will see when we get “HOME” how God has worked in the multitudes of lives to bring out everything for HIS glory. On a side-note I will pass on something that has been special to me—“Faith and salvation go together: obedience and happiness go together.”
Thanks Ron, good word. I will shortly be relating the issue of Kingdom living. You obviously have a Kingdom living point of view. It has served you well.