Encouragement
I was on my lunch break talking to a co worker about all of the budget cuts our department will be enduring. Being a part of the cuts myself I didn’t have the most positive attitude, as a matter of fact my attitude was downright negative. But in the midst of the pity party I was having I sat right up and said “But you know something, God will move on your behalf whether our flesh feels like he will or not.”
As soon as I let that escape my mouth I knew the Holy Spirit had stepped in and I knew I needed to guard my words. The months of May and June are the busiest time of year at my job as we prepare to go to battle with the unions in trying to obtain concessions that will somehow save jobs and soften the blow of the deficit. These few months require long days and nights and weekends too…all in hopes of meeting our goal of having a balanced budget by the beginning of the new fiscal year July 1st.
This year like two years prior my job was on the chopping block (and still is) which I found funny and not so funny as I had to sit in negotiations to somehow salvage jobs knowing mine continually sat in the scavenger pile. The funny thing is two years before when I was asked what I would do (because my job was up for lay off) my immediate reply was “I’m going to pray about it.”
Not this year. This year I wallowed in circumstance, became cynical and resented a large portion of my ‘free time’ being spent to salvage something for someone else. How ugly is that? I don’t know what happened this year, perhaps it was the fact that I moved a month prior, perhaps it was the continual cuts in salary, perhaps it was the fact that I get in at 6AM and stay until…well until…perhaps that’s why I decided not to put on the full armor of God.
Whatever the reason I know now that I put up my mightiest weapon which is the Lord Jesus Christ in exchange for my thoughts, feelings, oppinions and resolve on the matter. Once I did that I couldn’t readily find a scripture for myself let alone anyone else. I vaguely heard the encouragement I was receiving and instead of receiving it with welcome open arms I sat intently thinking about being here till midnight and still not reaching agreement with the unions…what was it all for?
But I heard from a friend of mine; let’s call her ‘Isabel.” Isabel shared a story of how someone hurt her, betrayed her and turned their back on her but when that same person was in great need, she went to that person and did all she could to help him taking off work, spending great deals of money, traveling, and staying by his side as he went through a medical emergency. As she told her story she said, “I told him, I do this for you so through me you will see the Glory of God manifest.” My Lord Jesus Wow! I do this for you, so you will see the Glory of God manifest…not because I, me, my…but so you will see the Glory of God manifest…Father…Father…My Lord…My God…give me that kind of mind…Lord Jesus!
Our problems are our problems, so many times we are given ‘living sacrifices’ in this life but they are not burdens as much as they are lights, lighting a path to our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Because had it not been for the sacrifice we carry each day would our relationships be as strong? Would our commitment be as steadfast? Would our prayers be as earnest? Take away the problem that burdens you so…and now ask yourself how many times would you have really been on your knees had that problem not been there?
The budget will be, what the budget will be—but the God I serve is a God of Restoration. If he took me to it, He can bring me through it, and if he took it away, he can also return it…even better than before. Lord Jesus create in me a clean heart and renew in me a right spirit to encourage these your people to give hope to the hopeless and be a friend to the friendless, judging not, lest I be judged, I pray for those who don’t know you and therefore where oh where does their trust lay, I pray for those whose faith have been left by the wayside, for them I pick up the mighty weapon of faith and I call those things that be not as though they are knowing neither height, nor depth, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come NOTHING shall separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Let us step out of circumstance and open our hearts and bend our knees for someone else with earnest expectation of a mighty move of God.
To God be the Glory for the things HE has done.
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