扭转你的损失Turn Your Losses Around

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扭转你的损失

只是过犯不如恩赐。若因一人的过犯，众人都死了，何况 神的恩典，与那因耶稣基督一人恩典中的赏赐，岂不更加倍的临到众人吗？（罗马书5:15）

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，如果你需要有人告诉你怎样能扭转损失，那就到上帝这里来吧，上帝是这方面的专家，因为祂曾失去的比任何人都多。

想想看，上帝曾失去了路西弗（他悖逆了上帝），就是在众多受膏天使中高居首位的天使长；同时也失去了至少三分之一的天使，因他们追随路西弗一同堕落。后来，上帝又失去了祂所创造的男人和女人（他们背叛了上帝），又因祂曾将管理全地的权柄赐给他们（亚当夏娃），所以当祂失去亚当和夏娃时，也一同失去了这个地球。总之，你能计算出这是多么大的产业损失！

然而，即便如此，上帝也决不是输家，祂在任何时候都是最大的赢家。你知道为什么吗？因为上帝知道如何扭转损失，祂知道怎样用“给予既得”的法则来扭转为赢。

你们要给人，就必有给你们的，并且用十足的升斗、连摇带按、上尖下流地倒在你们怀里（路加福音6:38）   

这难道不令人震惊吗？事实上，上帝拥有能够得回祂所失去的一切方法，并且祂也拥有完全的智慧和大能能够成就祂的旨意，但是上帝却惟独选择用给予之法得回祂所失去的。

上帝给予世人一件无法替代的至宝，就是祂的独生子，并且祂对祂的救赎计划充满了信心。当“给予既得”运作之时，万能的天父上帝不仅得回了祂的独生子，也一同赎回成千上万的儿子。

所以不要认为给予有需要的人帮助会导致你受损失，并为此感到心痛，当你服从上帝的教导而甘心给予时，你会从上帝“给予既得”的法则中得到回报。甘心给予吧，让宇宙中拥有最大力量的法则为你而运作起来。

Turn Your Losses Around

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did GOD’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, JESUS CHRIST, overflow to the many! (Romans 5:15)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

If you ever need someone to tell you how to turn things around, go to GOD. HE's an expert on the subject. HE's suffered more losses than anyone who's ever lived.

Just think about it. HE lost Lucifer, HIS top-ranked, most anointed angel. And HE lost at least a third of HIS other angels as well when Lucifer fell. Then HE lost the man and woman HE had created; and because HE'd given them (Adam and Eve) dominion over the earth, when HE lost them (Adam and Eve), He lost the Earth too. Any way you figure it, that's a lot of real estate down the drain!

Yet, in spite of all that, GOD is no loser. HE's the greatest winner of all time. Do you know why? Because HE knows how to turn the losses around. HE knows how to use the law of giving and receiving to transform losses into gains.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38).

Isn't that staggering? HE had every option that exists to choose from to redeem the things HE'd lost. HE had all wisdom and all power available to HIM. Out of all that, the law of giving is what HE chose to use.

HE gave the most irreplaceable thing HE had: His only Son. Then HE backed that gift with HIS own faith. And when the law of giving and receiving had done its work, the ALMIGHTY FATHER GOD received not only HIS first begotten SON, but millions of other sons as well.

Don't despair over your losses. Redeem them the same way GOD redeemed HIS. Give and put the most powerful principle in the universe to work for you.

sky5107

前所未有的恩惠

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，我们每一个真基督徒都能说：上帝在我们的生命中，将一切益处赐给我们。我们都看到了上帝的恩惠在运作，祂保守我们、培育我们、将门为我们打开，这些都是上帝的恩惠。可是我相信，在这来临的新一年，上帝要向我们显明前所未有的恩惠，是我们未曾见过的。

在今天的章节里，保罗说:

以弗所2:7

•要将祂极丰富的恩典，就是祂在基督耶稣里向我们所施的恩慈，显明给后来的世代看。

我们将会看到，“上帝那无法测度、无限又非凡的浩大恩惠。”

保罗在以前世代所写的启示，是如此地令人瞩目！我相信，我们正生活在保罗所讲“后来的世代”。我相信，你和我都要看到上帝那前所未有的恩惠！“前所未有”的意思是：无与伦比的、史无前例的，首次的。换句话说：可能以前你看到过上帝的恩惠，但是现在你需要做好准备。你现在还未看到，就是上帝要在你的将来让你看到的，更大、更好、更美的恩惠，是前所未有的！上帝要将祂的恩慈显明给你，是你从未见过的。你要坚定谨守上帝的话语、坚持靠着有行动的信心祷告、坚持将上帝放在你行一切事的首位，那么你将会看见，上帝前所未有的恩惠临到你生命的每个领域！

哥林多前书2:9

•如经上所记：“ 神为爱祂的人所预备的，是眼睛未曾看见、耳朵未曾听见、人心也未曾想到的。”

耶利米29:11

•耶和华说，我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。

约翰福音14:23

•耶稣回答说:“人若爱我就必遵守我的道，我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。”（真基督徒会降服他们的生命来跟从主耶稣和天父的教导，以此向主耶稣表明他们是真正地爱祂。所以，他们与主耶稣和天父上帝有一个真正亲密的关系）

罗马书8:28

•我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱 神的人得益处，就是按祂旨意被召的人。

以赛亚40:29-31，上帝告诉我们:

•疲乏的，祂赐能力；软弱的，祂加力量。就是少年人也要疲乏困倦，强壮的也必全然跌倒。但那等候耶和华的必从新得力，他们必如鹰展翅上腾，他们奔跑却不困倦、行走却不疲乏。  

Unprecedented Favour

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Every one of us the true Christians can say that, in our lives, GOD has been good to us. We’ve all seen GOD’s favour at work. HE has protected us, promoted us and opened doors for us. That’s GOD’s favour. But I believe that in the coming Chinese New Year, GOD wants to show us unprecedented favour — that’s favour like we haven’t seen before.

In today’s verses, Paul said that in

Ephesians 2:7

•In order that in the coming ages HE might show the incomparable riches of HIS grace, expressed in HIS kindness to us in CHRIST JESUS.
  
We would see “the immeasurable, unlimited, surpassing greatness of GOD’s favour.”

What’s interesting is that Paul wrote this passage ages ago. I believe that we are now living in the “coming ages” that Paul was talking about. I believe you and I are going to see this unprecedented favour! The word “unprecedented” means; unmatched, unparalleled, for the first time.” In other words, you may have seen GOD’s favour in the past, but you need to get ready. You haven’t seen anything yet. What GOD has in your future is going to be bigger, better, greater — unprecedented! HE is going to show you HIS goodness in ways you’ve never seen before. Keep standing on GOD’s WORD, keep praying in faith, keep putting GOD first in all that you do and watch HIS unprecedented favour come on every area of your life!

1 Corinthians 2:9

•But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love HIM.

Jeremiah 29:11

•I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future.

John 14:23

•JESUS replied, "Anyone who loves ME will obey MY teaching. MY FATHER will love them, and WE will come to them and make OUR home with them. (The true followers will show JESUS their love by committing their lives to following HIS and the FATHER’s teachings. And will have true fellowship with JESUS and GOD the FATHER).

Romans 8:28

•All things work together for the good of those that love the LORD and are called according to HIS purpose.

Isaiah 40:29-31 GOD told us

•HE gives strength to the weary! And increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with the wings as eagles; and they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.

sky5107

训练你的灵

上帝的恩典教训我们除去不敬虔（不信 神）的心和世俗（狂热痴迷）的情欲，在今世自守（节制，控制自我）、公义、敬虔（完全属灵）度日（提多书2:12）

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，之所以运动员要进行训练，是为了提高他的技能。他勤奋刻苦，一遍又一遍地重复同样的动作，直到这些动作对于他来说，变成我们称之的“第二本能”。

我们中大部分人都知道，训练对身体素能是多么地重要。我们也懂得，不经过训练，就无法成为得胜者。可是你是否知道，在灵命方面，我们也能以同样的方式训练自己？

这是千真万确的！希伯来书5:14说，我们可以习练得心窍能辨善恶。当你每天都进行灵上训练或习练时，久而久之你就会练成那样的人（5:14 惟独长大成人的才能吃干粮，他们的心窍习练得通达，就能分辨好歹了）。你要一遍又一遍地坚持习练，直到美善的品性成为你的第二本性。懒于习练的人就会变得懒惰懈怠，勤于训练的人就会变得训练有素。

把时间和心思多用于专注上帝，就是灵的训练。当你殷勤去做时，你的灵就会成长得更强健，所以开始能够战胜肉体的恶习。

例如，在开始一天的忙碌之前，如果你早晨起来祷告非常困难，而你又向肉体妥协而继续赖床，那么你务必要进行起床祷告的训练。因为你越这样训练自己，才能越容易做到。

不要指望自己一开始做就能达到完全的地步。当你跌倒和失败时，不要气馁，要重新站起来，继续再练。

成为一名灵上的运动员，以服从上帝的话语来训练自己，通过与上帝建立亲密关系来练就你灵上的肌肉。那么你将会惊奇地发现，你能够成为一个了不起的得胜者。

研经：彼得后书1:1-11
1:1 作耶稣基督仆人和使徒的西门彼得，写信给那因我们的 神和救主耶稣基督之义、与我们同得一样宝贵信心的人。
1:2 愿恩惠平安，因你们认识 神和我们主耶稣，多多的加给你们。  
1:3  神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。  
1:4 因此祂已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与 神的性情有分。  
1:5 正因这缘故，你们要分外的殷勤。有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知识；  
1:6 有了知识，又要加上节制；有了节制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；  
1:7 有了虔敬，又要加上爱弟兄的心；有了爱弟兄的心，又要加上爱众人的心。  
1:8 你们若充充足足的有这几样，就必使你们在认识我们的主耶稣基督上，不至于闲懒不结果子了。  
1:9 人若没有这几样，就是眼瞎，只看见近处的，忘了他旧日的罪已经得了洁净。  
1:10 所以弟兄们，应当更加殷勤，使你们所蒙的恩召和拣选坚定不移。你们若行这几样，就永不失脚。  
1:11 这样，必叫你们丰丰富富的得以进入我们主救主耶稣基督永远的国。  

Train Your Spirit

"It [grace] has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world."
(Titus 2:12)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

When an athlete goes into training, he practices to improve his skills. He works hard, repeating the same motions over and over until they become what we'd call "second nature" to him.

Most of us understand how crucial that kind of training is in the physical realm. We know that you simply can't be a winner without it. But did you know we can train ourselves that same way where spiritual things are concerned?

That's right! Hebrews 5:14 says we can train our senses to discern between good and evil. When you train, or practice, for something you expose yourself daily to whatever it is you want to become (14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.). You practice it over and over until it becomes second nature to you. People who are lazy have practiced being lazy. People who are disciplined have practiced being disciplined.

Spending time with GOD is "spirit" practice. As you do it diligently, your spirit will grow stronger and will start to overcome the habits of the flesh.

If, for example, you have trouble getting up in the morning to spend time with GOD before the busyness of the day begins, if you've been giving in to your flesh and staying in bed, then you'll have to start practicing getting up. The more you practice it, the easier it will be.

Don't expect yourself to do it perfectly right from the beginning. Don't get discouraged when you stumble and fail. You're just out of practice. Get back on your feet and go at it again!

Become a spiritual athlete. Put yourself in training by practicing the things of GOD. Build your spirit muscles through fellowship with HIM. You will be surprised to find just how much of a winner you can be.


Scripture Study: 2 Peter 1: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of GOD and of JESUS our LORD.

3 HIS divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of HIM who called us by HIS own glory and goodness. 4 Through these HE has given us HIS very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. 9 But whoever does not have them is near-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

sky5107

如何应对失望、痛苦和沮丧的讯息

马太福音1:18 耶稣基督降生的事，记在下面。祂母亲马利亚已经许配了约瑟，还没有迎娶，马利亚就从圣灵怀了孕。  
1:19 他丈夫约瑟是个义人，不愿意明明的羞辱她，想要暗暗的把她休了。  
1:20 正思念这事的时候，有主的使者向他梦中显现，说：“大卫的子孙约瑟，不要怕，只管娶过你的妻子马利亚来。因她所怀的孕，是从圣灵来的。  
1:21 她将要生一个儿子，你要给祂起名叫耶稣，因祂要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。  
1:22 这一切的事成就，是要应验主借先知所说的话说‘必有童女怀孕生子，人要称祂的名为以马内利。’”
1:24 约瑟醒了，起来就遵着主使者的吩咐，把妻子娶过来。  
1:25 只是没有和她同房，等她生了儿子就给他起名叫耶稣。

如果想找一个以智慧和神性来回应失望的例子，那么与马太福音相比，可能查找诗篇更为合适。可是，恰恰在新约的开章就讲到了，一个义人是如何应对痛苦和失望的讯息。

约瑟，主耶稣在地上的父亲，他是一个义人。这个敬虔的男人，想要一个能与他同样渴望荣耀和服从上帝的妻子，而圣经指明，玛利亚正是这样的女人。

（路加福音1:45 这相信的女子是有福的，因为主对她所说的话都要应验。
1:46 马利亚说：“我心尊主为大，  
1:47 我灵以 神我的救主为乐，  
1:48 因为祂顾念祂使女的卑微。从今以后，万代要称我有福。  
1:49 那有权能的为我成就了大事，祂的名为圣。  
1:50 祂怜悯敬畏祂的人，直到世世代代。  
1:51 祂用膀臂施展大能，那狂傲的人正心里妄想，就被祂赶散了。  
1:52 祂叫有权柄的失位、叫卑贱的升高；  
1:53 叫饥饿的得饱美食，叫富足的空手回去。  
1:54 祂扶助了祂的仆人以色列，  
1:55 为要记念亚伯拉罕和他的后裔，施怜悯直到永远，正如从前对我们列祖所说的话。”）

因此可以想象得到，当玛利亚探望亲戚伊丽莎白一段时间，回来后就告诉约瑟自己怀孕了，约瑟当时一定非常震惊，并且玛利亚还声称没有男人亲近她。

约瑟思想眼前的处境，无论怎样看都是严峻的。然而，马太福音1:20说，正思念这事的时候，有主的使者向他梦中显现，说：“大卫的子孙约瑟，不要怕，只管娶过你的妻子马利亚来。因她所怀的孕，是从圣灵来的。”换句话说，约瑟是要寻求一个智慧公义的回应。而上帝以让人惊叹的方式进入约瑟的生命，一方面证实了玛利亚的事件，同时也停止了他“暗地休妻”的计划。

上帝将约瑟的哀痛变为喜乐，而玛利亚道出了实质：如此地奇妙和惊奇。虽然这对夫妻要承受公众对未婚先孕的激烈谴责，但是约瑟不去顾虑别人会讲什么。上帝赐福约瑟所行的，让他在这个忠心的女人身边，一起抚养弥赛亚。

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，面对沮丧，真基督徒应该寻求作出神性的回应。因为上帝一直都有祂的旨意（耶利米29:11 耶和华说：“我知道我向你们所怀的意念，是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望”），所以我们作出最有智慧的回应，就是以有行动的信心来期盼上帝运作的益处，并耐性等候祂的时间表。约瑟情愿“先求上帝的国”，上帝必定祝福他（马太福音6:33 你们要先求祂的国和祂的义，这些东西都要加给你们了）。

你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明。在你一切所行的事上都要认定祂，祂必指引你的路（箴言3:5-6）  

我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们。我所赐的不像世人所赐的，你们心里不要忧愁，也不要胆怯（约翰福音14:27）

上帝要的是我们全心全意地寻求祂。当想到寻求上帝时，你发现自己会为什么事情求告祂？太多时候，我们寻求上帝是为了祂能给我们什么，而不是单纯地为了祂是上帝、为了我们能为祂做些什么而寻求祂！我现在的意思不是说我们不能为需求而求祂，事实上，祂希望供应我们一切所需，祂甚至想要丰盛地祝福我们，只是祂希望我们要以一个正确的出发点来求告祂。

我耶和华是鉴察人心、试验人肺腑的，要照各人所行的和他作事的结果报应他（耶利米17:10）

我们在历代志下注意到，所罗门作王时蒙了多么大的祝福（我鼓励你读历代志下第一章）。所罗门是全心全意地寻求上帝，当上帝问他想求什么时，所罗门的心向着上帝，谦卑地求智慧，好使他作王统治时能按照上帝的心意来带领国民。所罗门没有求财富或名望，而是符合上帝的心意而求。上帝荣耀了所罗门，因为所罗门的谦卑，他不仅得到了上帝的智慧，连他未求的也得到了。当我们以谦卑的心并想上帝所想地来到祂跟前时，即使我们没有求祂，祂的祝福也会自然地倾入我们的生命！

求你赐我智慧聪明，我好在这民前出入。不然，谁能判断这众多的民呢？（历代志下1:10）   

你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐与众人，也不斥责人的 神，主就必赐给他（雅各1:5）

如果你不知道怎样想上帝所想，那么你首先要祈求上帝赐给你一颗渴望懂得祂心意的心。多读上帝的话语、多用时间亲近上帝，这会帮助你长成一颗跟从上帝和祂旨意的心，而不是自己的心。这样去做，我们就会开始遵照圣灵而行，多行上帝的教导、少行属世的欲望；我们不再满足于短暂的事物，我们渴求的都是永恒的事。

你们既然接受了主基督耶稣，就当遵祂而行。在祂里面生根建造、信心坚固，正如你们所领的教训，感谢的心也更增长了（歌罗西2:6 -7）

但愿赐平安的 神，就是那凭永约之血使群羊的大牧人我主耶稣从死里复活的 神，在各样善事上成全你们，叫你们遵行祂的旨意，又借着耶稣基督在你们心里行祂所喜悦的事。愿荣耀归给祂，直到永永远远。阿们（希伯来13:20-21）

上帝深切地照顾着我们，祂知道我们需要什么，祂为我们所预备的，甚至我们可能都不知道。当我们懂得按照上帝的心意来求告祂时，就会发现自己比任何时候都更平安。从我们的品性将反射出上帝的品性，那么别人就会想知道我们为何会与众不同。作为真基督徒，我们是上帝的器皿，能够有助于向别人显明一个喜乐、平安和满足的生命，就是我们用整个生命侍奉和信靠上帝所得到的。上帝是一位美善的上帝！寻求祂，那么任何益处你都不会缺乏！（诗篇34:10）

How to deal with disappointment, painful and disheartening news.

Matthew 1: Joseph Accepts JESUS as His SON

18 This is how the birth of JESUS the MESSIAH came about: HIS mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the HOLY SPIRIT. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the HOLY SPIRIT. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name JESUS, because HE will save HIS people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfil what the LORD had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him IMMANUEL” (which means “GOD with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the LORD had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave HIM the name JESUS.

To find examples of wise, godly reactions to disappointment, you’re more likely to turn to Psalms than to Matthew. But the very first chapter in the New Testament tells the story of an upright man’s reaction to painful and disheartening news.

Joseph—JESUS’ earthly father—was a righteous person. A godly man wants a wife who shares his desire to honour and obey the LORD, and Scripture indicates that Mary was exactly that sort of woman (Luke 1: 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the LORD would fulfil HIS promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the LORD
47 and my spirit rejoices in GOD my SAVIOUR,
48 for HE has been mindful
     of the humble state of HIS servant.
    From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49  for the MIGHTY ONE has done great things for me—
    holy is HIS name.
50 HIS mercy extends to those who fear HIM,
     from generation to generation.
51 HE has performed mighty deeds with HIS arm;
    HE has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 HE has brought down rulers from their thrones
     but has lifted up the humble.
53 HE has filled the hungry with good things
     but has sent the rich away empty.
54 HE has helped HIS servant Israel,
     remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
     just as he promised our ancestors.”)
  
So imagine how stunned Joseph must have been when Mary returned from a long visit with her relative Elizabeth and told him that she was pregnant. Moreover, she was claiming no man had touched her.

Any way Joseph looked at the situation, it appeared grim. And yet Matthew 1: (20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the HOLY SPIRIT.)—in other words, he sought a wise, righteous response. GOD entered Joseph’s life in a dramatic way to confirm Mary’s story and put a stop to his “quiet annulment” plans.

The LORD turned Joseph’s mourning into joy. Mary had told the truth—strange and startling as it was. The couple would bear the intense public censure of an early pregnancy, but Joseph stopped thinking about what others would say. GOD had blessed work for him: to raise the Messiah alongside a faithful woman.


Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Followers of CHRIST should seek a godly response to disappointments we face. Since the LORD always has a plan (Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.), the wisest reaction is to anticipate the good HE can do and await HIS timing. GOD certainly blessed Joseph for his willingness to “seek first HIS kingdom” (Matt. 6: 33 But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.).

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make your paths straight.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” –John 14:27

GOD desires for our hearts to be committed to seeking HIM. But when you think about seeking the LORD, what kinds of things do you find yourself saying to HIM or asking of HIM? Often times, we may seek GOD for what HE can give us instead of simply seeking HIM for being GOD and what we can do for HIM! Now this doesn’t mean we can’t ask HIM for what we need. HE does want to provide for us and HE even longs to bless us abundantly, but HE wants us to have the right motives when we ask of HIM.

“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” –Jeremiah 17:10

In 2 Chronicles, we note how blessed Solomon was as a king. (I encourage you to read all of 2 Chronicles 1) He sought GOD with all of his heart, and when GOD told him to ask whatever he wished, Solomon’s heart was right towards GOD and he humbly asked for GOD’s wisdom, that he would lead the people in the ways of GOD as he reigned as king. Solomon didn’t ask for riches or for fame, but instead asked for the very heart of GOD. GOD honoured him and because of Solomon’s humility, he was not only given GOD’s wisdom, but was also given those things he did not ask for. When we come to GOD with a humble heart and desire the things HE desires, HIS blessings will naturally begin to flow into our lives without us even having to ask HIM!

“Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” -2 Chronicles 1:10

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask GOD, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” –James 1:5

If you have trouble with desiring the things of GOD, the first step is to ask HIM to give you the desire to desire HIS heart. HIS will! Reading HIS WORD and spending time in HIS presence will help us to develop a heart after HIM and HIS desires instead of our own. We will begin to walk in the spirit, going after the things of GOD, and going less after worldly desires. We will no longer be satisfied by temporary things but will desire things that are eternal.

“So then, just as you received CHRIST JESUS as LORD, continues to live in HIM, rooted and built up in HIM, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” –Colossians 2:6-7

“May the GOD of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our LORD JESUS, that great SHEPHERD of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing HIS will, and may HE work in us what is pleasing to HIM, through JESUS CHRIST, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” –Hebrews 13:20-21

GOD cares deeply for us, and HE knows what we need, even if we may not know how HE will provide it. When we learn to ask GOD for the things on HIS heart, we will find ourselves more at peace than we ever were before. Our character will reflect GOD’s character and others will want to know what is different about us. As true Christians, we are carriers of GOD’s presence and we can help show others the joy, peace, and satisfaction there is in serving GOD and trusting HIM with our lives. HE is a good GOD! Seek HIM and you will lack no good thing!