Todays Prayer Dear God, Thank you for the people you have placed in my life as mentors to look up to as examples. I pray that you would help me to live life in such a way, and to grow stronger in faith and more spiritually mature, so that I may be a godly example to others. Show me if there is someone who needs for me to be a mentor. Minister through me to guide and instruct that person, to offer spiritual nurture and encouragement. Please forgive me for my sins and shortcomings; for the times I did not use the opportunities you gave me to the fullest and best. Thank you for allowing me to start afresh today. In Jesus name, amen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Passing The Test TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman 01-26-2014 The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors - to David. - 1 Samuel 28:17b When God anoints a person, a pattern of testing appears to take place at specific times in the leaders life. God often takes each leader through four major tests to determine if that person will achieve Gods ultimate call on his or her life. The persons response to these tests is the deciding factor in whether they can advance to the next level of responsibility in Gods Kingdom. Control - Control is one of the first tests. Saul spent most of his time as king trying to prevent others from getting what he had. Saul never got to the place with God in which he was a grateful recipient of Gods goodness to him. Saul was a religious controller. This control led to disobedience and ultimately being rejected by God because Saul no longer was a vessel God could use. Bitterness - Every major character in the Bible was hurt by another person at one time or another. Jesus was hurt deeply when Judas, a trusted follower, betrayed Him. Despite knowing this was going to happen, Jesus responded by washing Judas feet. Every anointed leader will have a Judas experience at one time or another. God watches us to see how we will respond to this test. Will we take up an offense? Will we retaliate? It is one of the most difficult tests to pass. Power - Power is the opposite of servanthood. Jesus had all authority in Heaven and earth, so satan tempted Jesus at the top of the mountain to use His power to remove Himself from a difficult circumstance. How will we use the power and influence God has entrusted to us? Do we seek to gain more power? There is a common phrase in the investment community, He who has the gold rules. Jesus modeled the opposite. He was the ultimate servant leader. Greed - This is a difficult one. Money has the ability to have great influence for either good or bad. When it is a focus in our life, it becomes a tool of destruction. When it is a by-product, it can become a great blessing. Many leaders started out well - only to be derailed once prosperity became a part of their life. There are thousands who can blossom spiritually in adversity; only a few can thrive spiritually under prosperity. As leaders, we must be aware when we are being tested. You can be confident that each one of these tests will be thrown your way if God calls you for His purposes. Will you pass these tests? Ask for Gods grace today to walk through these tests victoriously. Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 14:47:03 +0000
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