Risk and Reward

Does God have an assignment for me in 2012? How does He plan to use me? I do not want to be in the same spiritual place next year or in subsequent years than I am now. We all have goals, visions, and dreams. God has a more excellent way than I can even envision today. I have to be willing to step out and receive my dreams. When I pray for my future, and my plans line up with God’s will for my life, I will experience His blessings and provision. How do I know this you might ask? Am I being presumptive? It is because I have made God the Lord of my life and I believe the promises which He gives all of us in His word. He is who He says He is, and He does what He says He will do! I received His gift of faith so many years ago. I have matured in my faith. When one chooses not to believe, or not to mature in that little faith which has been given, one chooses to stay in the same place year after year. Not maturing in your faith limits every aspect of your life. God’s resources and power are released in my life as I stand out in faith. I remember what He has done before; in my own life, and in the lives of others.

Abraham had great faith. He believed God’s promises to him. He was told that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the sky and that he would be the father of many nations. In Genesis 22, Abraham’s obedience and faith were tested. In obedience to God he brought Isaac, his promised descendent, to the sacrificial alter. He said to those traveling with them, “Stay here…..The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will return”. He didn’t know how, but he had faith to believe that the boy would return with him. Abraham, in obedience, put Isaac on the altar but at the last minute was stopped by the Angel of the Lord who said, “Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me”. Would my faith have been that great? No, I don’t think so!

We do know that God gave His only beloved son for us on the Cross of Calvary (John3:16). His plan of redemption is seen throughout the scriptures, Genesis through Revelation. I think back and remember my time of trial and grief when Elisa and Carrie died over 30 years ago. I did not choose to give them back to God. On this side of eternity, I will never understand God’s plan. The one thing which I do know is that I would not have searched for God and for my life’s meaning in the earnest way which I have if He had not allowed me to go through this pain. Only those who have experienced similar times of suffering will understand what I am trying to say. Throughout the past 30 years, my faith has grown from baby faith to mature faith because I have continuously sought a deeper relationship with the Lord. As I seek, I find. As I take spiritual risks, I grow in my faith. As I study His word and am obedient, I experience the rewards of His blessings and favor in my life. I know where two of my treasures are; Elisa and Carrie are with the Lord in Heaven. When my physical journey on earth is over I will be with my Lord and my girls continuing my spiritual journey throughout eternity. I have come to this conclusion because of scripture promises which I have been given. 1John 2:1 7 says, “And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever”. John, in 1John 4:13,14 writes, “I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you MAY KNOW you have eternal life. And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will”.

Each of us is at a different stage in our spiritual journey; in our faith walk. I want to hear God when He tells me to move; not to stay in the same place. I get very comfortable where I am and hesitate to step out of my comfort zone. Growth takes faith and trust. Increased faith and trust come when I Read the Word of God, Absorb the Word of God, Trust the Word of God, and Obey the Word of God. I see evidence of God’s power, provision, and presence when I keep renewing my mind in Christ and in His Word.

We have to be willing to step out of the boat like Peter did when Christ said, “Come”. He believed that he could walk on the water and was willing to take the risk. He could walk on the water just as long as he believed he could (Matthew 14:22-34). I don’t want to miss what God has planned for me because I am afraid to take the risk. The greater the risk, the greater is the reward. The greater the faith, the greater is the victory. God will prove Himself. When we remember God’s past victories in our life and are faced again with a challenge requiring risk we will approach it with even greater faith. Little faith will keep growing into mountain moving faith.

Worry and fear are what prevent us from accomplishing that which God has planned for us. When we step out in faith we worry about what others will say. We need to know that we are to be concerned about God’s approval, not the approval of our peers, family, and friends. That can be very hard. The biggest risk we can take is not doing God’s word; not listening to His will, not trusting His requests, and not obeying His commands. We must not fear obstacles as we step out in faith. We must focus on our Heavenly Father and our vision, not the obstacles. We must live in the victory which we have in Christ by constantly being in prayer and in touch with God through The Holy Spirit who is within us. We are to pray without ceasing; to be in constant communion with God. Big prayer (Faith Filled Prayer) to a Big God (Our Mighty Father) results in Big victories (Powerful Answers and Miraculous Results).

I pray that when God opens up a door for me, I will have enough faith to walk through into the experience or adventure which He has planned. By worrying, or by being too afraid to step out of my comfort zone, I rob myself of the blessing and favor I will find on the other side of the door. Lord, empower me to take spiritual risks for you so that I will continue to grow my faith and reap your rewards.