Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, tells the story of a time early on in their church history where he was under a lot of financial pressures. The church was small, the building needed repairs and he was exhausted trying to make everything work. To solve the issues, he stepped into a business venture. He admits that he didn’t pray about it first, he assumed it was from God because it looked good, and then the venture collapsed. He said that he rushed ahead of God and thought the opportunity was the answer he was looking for. God used failure and conflict to return him to where he was supposed to be. He warns believers to follow where God leads and not where opportunity leads. It’s something a lot of us face. We see a golden opportunity and assume God is in it, but He’s actually trying to lead us somewhere else. It’s important to seek Him first and plant roots where He tells us to.
In Genesis 26, Isaac had left the land God had promised to his father Abraham because of a famine. While away, he increased in wealth and possessions to the point the king was intimidated by him and asked him to leave. He left and camped in a place that looked like it had provision for him, but conflict followed. He moved again and faced more conflict. He went to Beersheba where God had met Abraham, and God met him there too. God made the same covenant with him that He did with his father. Then verse 25 says, “So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord [in prayer]. He pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well” (AMP). He realized he had been chasing what the land offered and not where God was leading. When he found the place of presence and God’s provision, he pitched his tent permanently and dug a well to set up future generations in that place. The closed doors he faced led him to the place God wanted him.
Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness.” Like Abraham, Isaac and so many others, our first step is to trust the Lord and not our circumstances. He is our source and our provider. Next we are to do good where he plants us. Isaac built and altar and dug a well. He pointed others to the Lord and provided blessings to others through the well. When we follow God’s presence instead of earthly provisions, we can dwell where He plants us securely. That doesn’t mean we won’t face conflicts or problems. It means we can have peace in them knowing that He’s working things out for our good and fighting battles for us. He will be faithful to His promise no matter what comes our way. We must rely on Him though. Look for where He is leading you rather than certain opportunities. Ask Him if He is in those opportunities or not. If He is, then follow them. If not, keep moving. When you follow His presence, He will provide what you need.
Photo by Lucas Cullen on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 