When God says NO!

"Awww man!"  That's my normal whining reaction when I want something and God tells me "NO, not now."  I get afraid at people who always says God told them this and God told them that. Or when they ask God something and He always tells them Yes, sure!  That's not the kind of response I get often from Him concerning things pertaining to this life.

Imagine wanting something for a long time, and the opportunity finally knocks on your door. You ask God, "Can I open it?" And he says, "No." Opportunity knocks again. "Can I open it?" "No."  "What about now?"  "No, actually I want you to do this, this, and this."  This, this, and this happens to be totally different from what you had planned and wanted to do at that time.  Which would you choose?  I think most of us probably go with what we wanted initially...and that's why he so kindly tells us "If you are buffeted about for your own faults, take it patiently."  Because he told us not to go that route in the first place, and when we realize it wasn't the best choice we cry for help.  I know what that's like...Ive been there.

"No" is not a pretty word.  It doesn't feel good and all the time fair.  But that's when your faith has to kick in and believe that it's for your good.  Everything God does involves purpose.  Which means everything he asks of you, he's asking with your purpose in full view.  Let this be your confidence.  If you go out on a limb to do what He told you to do, if you ever get in a jam you'll have complete freedom and access to ask for help and he's going to back you up.  Because HE told you to do it.  If you do what he tells you, he will back you up and you can't lose!  Just ask Moses and the Children of Israel.  He told them to escape Egypt by way of the Red Sea.  When they approached the sea there was no way to get around.  But because they obeyed, God had to back them up.  The result was one of the greatest miracles we refer to in the bible days; he split the sea so they could walk on dry land to the other side.

Choosing his plan is always worth the risk of laying down your own.  But quite a few people tend to only like God when he agrees to follow their plan, instead of them following His.  Well, if that were OK, we'd all be gods and we wouldn't need Him.  But since I know that not to be the case, I have learned in my walk with Him to learn how to keep Him as the center of my life even when what I want is not what He wants for me.  Because, ultimately I realize that He knows what the future holds for me and how my current choice may negatively effect what I don't see in my near or distant future.  At this point, I can't be disappointed anymore because he told me NO.  I'm just grateful I have an ear to hear his voice!

L8r:
~faithful