Success!

"free of conflict"

GOD DOESN'T open a church to close it. He doesn't begin a ministry to end it, even with the founder's death. What God begins, He will sustain. He will prepare future generations to continue. They are the overflow of Psalm 23:5. The mistakes are ours, not His. A major gospel ministry disappears from the map only because we messed up. He never turns loose. He guides us forward into success. Into peace, free of conflict.

We are way too prepared for conflict. We’ve taken a handful of Jesus' words and made them into everyone's battle. They were not meant that way but were specific to a time, an era of history, and certain people. The Word of God also speaks of having favor with God and man (Proverbs 3:4). So which is it? Which do we believe? Is God willing to make the path smooth, or must our walk through the valley always be us facing defeat? The same psalm which promises our children are the overflow promises the Shepherd is WITH US in those moments (Psalm 23:4). And as I recall, the three Hebrew boys emerged from the furnace not even smelling like smoke (Daniel 3:27).

I believe in God’s security. He is forever eternal. And longsuffering. That is His nature.

Look to the Jews as our example in these thoughts. They speak the same language as their ancestors, one thousands-of-years old. Our Savior, Jesus, in fact, spoke Aramaic, which is known to only a few today. But Hebrew continues because God sustains it. The land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob holds their descendants because God promised it would. He said no one would ever take it from them.

“Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,” (2 Samuel 7:8-10)

We hold promises loosely and let them go too easily. We miss that God’s honor is at stake. He puts us on the path of righteousness for the sake of His own reputation (Psalm 23:3 BSB). What He says He will do, He will do, no matter the obstacles in our way. Problem is, His timetable isn't ours, and there, we falter. God said to King David that his heir would forever be on the throne (2 Samuel 7:16), and He is. His name is Jesus Christ. But Jesus had to be born in a specific time, so that He could fulfill all prophecy. “What the Old Testament says had to happen (John 17:12, EasyEnglish). Our words must match God’s, our trust be entirely in His hands, our perspective, what we focus on, only on Him. We should always assume our frustration comes from a lack of knowledge and understanding and seek God for it. We should know our anger is always misplaced.

Because God isn't angry or judgmental. Ever. God’s ending is peace.

He is mercy. He is continual. When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, He will always show us the way and never leave us guessing. His goodness and mercy will follow us every day for the rest of our lives (Psalm 23:6), so that in old age, we rejoice in what is unfolding in our children and go home to heaven, knowing God is faithful still.

“Bless the LORD, My soul, and never forget any of his benefits: He continues to forgive all your sins, he continues to heal all your diseases, he continues to redeem your life from the Pit, and he continually surrounds you with gracious love and compassion. He keeps satisfying you with good things, and he keeps renewing your youth like the eagle's.” (Psalms 103:2-5 ISV)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com