Oct 30 2008
Prosperity in the Midst of Famine - part 3
It’s not difficult to feel hopeless about the world’s economic state. Especially since the media is always there, just like a faithful friend (or perhaps more like an unwanted enemy) to remind you of the decay and destruction and death that will soon be poured onto your finances. That is why, in times like these, I strongly encourage use of the OFF and MUTE buttons. But shouldn’t I be aware of everything that’s going on right now? You ask. No. Don’t fool yourself. Just as I said on Monday: The righteous walk by faith, NOT by sight (2 Cor 5:7, Hebrews 10:38). That’s not a call to deny reality. It’s a call to a greater reality — God’s Word, because it doesn’t return void.
God said that He’s set before us LIFE and DEATH, BLESSINGS and CURSES. Then He says this: Choose LIFE (Deuteronomy 30:19). He also tells us that there is LIFE and DEATH in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Don’t declare over your finances and over your life the destruction that you hear radiating from the speakers on your TV (or the internet or the newspaper). No. How we fight this financial crisis we’re in is not be talking about it or reading about it or studying how much worse so-and-so says it’s going to get. You want a real weapon? A weapon that cuts through decay and destruction and death and lies? A weapon that’s stronger than any two-edged sword? Good. Let me pull it out for you to examine.
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) Wait, you say, the media’s been telling me that we’re dead meat if we don’t get a President who’s going to provide for us. Don’t look to man. Look to God. He is your source. Use His Word, your weapon, to defeat what’s trying to defeat you. Regardless of who or who doesn’t become President, God is the One who is going to provide for you. LIFT YOUR EYES TO HIM.
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these [stars]?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of His great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:26)
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment
and its inhabitants die like flies.
But My salvation will last forever,
My righteousness will never fail. (Isaiah 51:6)
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121)
All I want to say in response to this is AMEN!
I have a cool story about Psalm 121 too, actually.
Really? Well I’m ready for Psalm 121 Story Time
)
Shall I email you it? You can say no!
Absolutely! I’d love to read it.