Image from: www.lightstock.com Following God in the Good Times
Reflecting on Where We Are Image from: www.lightstock.com Different places in life bring different spiritual challenges. We need to think intentionally about those!
Following God in the Hard Times Image from: www.lightstock.com
Image from: www.lightstock.com Following God in the Good Times
A Passage about Faith in the Good Times Image from: www.lightstock.com Deuteronomy 6:10-12, 8:11-18
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 10 Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build,
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 11 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied,
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 12 then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 11 Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 12 otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies,
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 15 He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint.
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 16 In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 17 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 18 But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Image from: www.lightstock.com 3 Things to Recognize in the Good Times
Image from: www.lightstock.com 1) Recognize our Blessings.
Deuteronomy 6:10-11 10 Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build,
Deuteronomy 6:10-11 11 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied,
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 17 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 18 But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
1) Recognize our Blessings. Image from: www.lightstock.com Too often, we allow discontent to dominate our thinking.
Romans 1:21 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Image from: www.lightstock.com 2) Recognize our Dangers.
Deuteronomy 6:12 12 then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Deuteronomy 8:11 11 Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;
2) Recognize our Dangers. Image from: www.lightstock.com The danger of materialism.
Matthew 19:24 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Luke 12:15 15 Then He said to them, Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.
2) Recognize our Dangers. Image from: www.lightstock.com The danger of pride.
Deuteronomy 8:14 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Deuteronomy 8:17 17 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.
Proverbs 30:8-9 8 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9 That I not be full and deny You and say, Who is the LORD? Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.
2) Recognize our Dangers. Image from: www.lightstock.com The danger of falling in love with the world.
1 John 2:15-17 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15-17 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
1 John 2:15-17 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Hebrews 11:13 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Image from: www.lightstock.com 3) Recognize our Opportunities.
Deuteronomy 8:18 18 But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
3) Recognize our Opportunities. Image from: www.lightstock.com Opportunities to see God s love.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
Acts 14:17 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
3) Recognize our Opportunities. Image from: www.lightstock.com Opportunities to serve God.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Following God in the Good Times Image from: www.lightstock.com If we can align these in our hearts, we can make our good times times of growth!
James 5:16 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.