Image: Standing on the Promises of God (L. Kern)
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)
God made a promise to Abraham, the father of faith. God promised him that he would make him the father of a great nation and that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). In order for this promise to be fulfilled, God had to bless Abraham with a son. Abraham was old in age and Sarah, his wife was barren. God still worked in His time to fulfill the promise. Abraham and Sarah began to grow impatient waiting for the manifestation. Abraham reminded God that he was getting old and that his only possible heir would be his servant Eliezer. He thought that maybe God would allow him to make Eliezer the heir since his promised son had not yet come to pass. Fear started to come into play. Maybe Abraham felt that God has forgot about him. God reassured him that His covenant would be fulfilled. his descendants would be so many that he could never count them!
"Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Genesis 15:4-5)
Sarah (then Sarai) grew tired and frustrated when God's promise had not come to pass after a long wait. She told Abraham to go and get Hagar (the maidservant) and bear a child with her. Abraham in his weariness agreed. Their action showed a lack of faith that God would fulfill His promise. Ishmael was born but he was not the promised son from God!
Both Abraham & Sarah acted outside of God's will. A lack of faith creates a series of problems. This happens when we take matters into our own hands instead of waiting on God to do it. We attempt to make his promises come to pass through efforts that are not in line with His specific directions nor His Word. Time may be the greatest test of our willingness to let God work in our lives. Sometimes we must simply wait. When we want something so bad we can become blind and make a trick from Satan (Ishmael) seem like a blessing from God. We can want something (or someone) to be what we have been praying for so bad that we ignore The Holy Spirit whispering "That isn't God's promise for you". Remember that whenever you are outside the will of God, you are outside the best that God has for you!
What are you believing God for? Does it seem like it is taking FOREVER to come to pass? Are others around you being blessed and you feel like God has forgotten about you? He hasn't! Do you feel like some prayers work fast and others take too long? Are you growing weary and ready to take matters into your own hands? I caution you to build up your faith and remain in your season of waiting until God is ready to bring you out of it. When you move out of season, the season will only last longer. Don't delay your blessings any longer. Let God bring upon the manifestation of His promises in His timing. You may not be ready yet. He may be molding you with the ability to handle the blessing. Your blessing may not be at its best or ready for God to present it to you. In this season, give God your best so that He will return His best to you. We should be so into God that he has to interrupt us serving Him just to bless us!
We all make mistakes but "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Don’t want something so bad that you move outside of God’s will. Beware! Satan will send you an Ishmael! Be patient & wait for the Isaac that God promised you!
It will be so much greater than anything that you can go and get on your own. The next time you receive what you think is a blessing, take it to God and ask "Lord, who sent this?" I can tell you from my own experiences that He will show you and it will happen fast! When /if you get the answer that the "blessing" is not from Him, RUN RUN RUN or you will delay the manifestation of His promise. God can't bring you an Isaac when you have an Ishmael in its place!
Until Next Time
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