Thoughts that have come from various quotes taken from the book, "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim Based Society" by John H. Hovis. Click here to link directly to the audio file.
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“Why don’t we trust Him enough to give us the best instead of killing ourselves to try and storehouse more in case God doesn’t come through?”
As quoted from the book "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim-Based Society" by John H. Hovis Page 96.
“What if…” are such powerful words. They get our souls geared up for survival. “What if…” takes us to a place where we feel we can only rely on our own abilities to provide. These two little words make it so hard to trust in God.
It is when it looks as though the things that we have in our life that we look to for feeling OK are running thin that “What if…” really comes into play. What if God doesn’t come through? What if the thing I hold so dear in my life doesn’t look like it will be around for long. “What if…” questions quickly takes us to “I will…” statements.
It is when we are firmly in the grips of “I will…” that victim thinking can happen in ways that creates victims all around us. I will make this happen no matter what it takes. That’s the mantra of those of us looking to ourselves for provision when “What if…” has found its way into our lives.
It all boils down to trust. When we are in a place where our ability to trust God with provision is compromised by the challenging circumstances that come against us, that the “What if...” way of living is so easy to justify. Trust is such an elusive characteristic when the very things we see as necessary in this life look to be wanting.
Look, I totally get it. Trusting this God who doesn’t always come through in the way we want is not an easy thing to do. I’ve been there many times in the past and know I’ll be there in the future as well. Just like any relationship, trust is a thing that takes time. It is when we know the object of our trust so well that trust can do its magic when it comes to the “What if…” times of life.
Here’s what the Bible says on the subject.
Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;
collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.
And here’s why: God gives out Wisdom free,
is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones. Proverbs 2:1-8 (MSG)
Getting to know God is what I believe is the "Fear of the Lord" mentioned so many times in the Bible. It is when we know Him that our reverence, awe and respect of this God works in our lives to overwhelm the "What if..." times in ways that make trust something we can apply over and over again.
Listen to the action words in today's reading; tune your ears, search, believe. That's what it takes to come to that wonderful and freeing place of knowing God. By the way, this isn't an overnight thing. It isn't a once and done prospect. This is a life long adventure. Getting to know God is both the most rewarding and the most challenging thing you will ever do.
Not so excited about that? I totally understand, but what's the alternative? Living in the place of taking on a demanding "I will..." life due to the "What if..." prospects of life isn't a way of living that can easily be supported.
As you go about your day today, listen, look and know. Listen for God's Wisdom. Look for His insight and know that He is there for you. That's the benefit you have being His child - He wants the best for you. It is God's best that makes you the victor you want in this world. Let your growing knowledge of God be what squashes the "What if..." challenges in all that you do today.
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