How Does Being Faithful to God Insure His Blessings?

Is it more difficult today for men to find their place in life than at any other time in history? My father was born in 1907 to a farming family. He saw only one option for himself as a young man, and that was to farm the land where he grew up. He later worked as a craftsman in an aircraft factory.

With so many options available today, it would appear that finding a career could be done with ease. Two generations ago if a man was fortunate enough to find a good job, it meant security until retirement. With mega-mergers and outsourcing, job security diminished for both men and women.

When Abraham was 75 years old, God told him to move to a new place. He, his wife, and nephew went in search of God’s promise. Hebrews 11 tells us Abraham believed God would keep his promise, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Being faithful to God insures his blessings.  

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Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.

~Hebrews 10:23 Good News Bible

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God's Warning Signs

What is the most important change you need to make today in your life to ease some of the stress? What areas of your life would be affected by that change? The Lord God is faithful to warn his people of the dangers of sin and going astray, just as parents will warn their children if they are going down a road that leads to danger. 

In Genesis 6 God warned Noah a great flood would cover all the earth and told him exactly how to prepare so he and his family would be saved. As Noah built God’s ark to specifications, a multitude of observers had to be curious enough to inquire about the purpose of this unusual structure. Apparently, no one listened.

It takes self-discipline to change behaviors, but the consequences for disregarding warning signs can be extremely painful.God's warning signs are given to encourage you to take corrective action. Resolving to pay attention and enact changes confirms you’ve listened in a way that will be blessed by God.            

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God looked at the world and saw that it was evil, for the people were all living evil lives.

~Genesis 6:12 Good News Bible

 

Sin pays its servants: the wage is death. But God gives to those who serve him: his free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

~Romans 6:23 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

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At a Crossroads? Get Out of the Rut and Reach Higher - Part 3

Submission was never intended to be a nasty word, but it's not uncommon for the word to bring up strong opposition in both men and women. Ephesians 5:21 instructs Christians to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Healthy parenting teaches children to be submissive to rules and authority, for failure to do so could result in long-lasting sorrow for both parent and child.

Submission is required for taking advantage of opportunities that come your way. Opposition to submission can become an obstruction to success. Submission reflects obedience, which is another word that’s hard to swallow and digest. Jeremiah 26:13 implores us to "stop sinning and obey the Lord."

Submission is a good, godly word, but it can be abused. It's important to remember that submission is what you do voluntarily, for being forced to submit isn’t submission at all. Submission to God's laws, his love, and his care for you requires your freedom to choose. Christ Jesus would not have it any other way, but doing so guarantees his blessings. 

Stress Management: God's Gift of Insight - Part 1

Surviving from trouble in this world unscathed emotionally or physically is impossible. Yet some people believe they should be exempted from hardships. When the struggles of living surface God's goodness is questioned. Stress overload may cause the toughest personality to react in ways that are contrary to personal values and beliefs.

No matter what your status in life is, stress will seek you out because stress is a natural part of living. How it's managed determines whether it has a positive or negative effect on you as a person. God gives insight plus emotional and physical stamina for coping with stress, regardless of its source.

So how do you cope with unwanted stress? One way is to shift your focus from the source of agitation to whatever God has provided that makes your life worth living. Secondly, give thanks to God with a sincere, appreciative heart. "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what God has done." This will put a productive spin on stress management.