Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 WEB.God rewards those who diligently seek Him. The writer of Hebrews wrote these words and then spoke of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Moses, Joseph, and many more. These were people of faith, and the blessing of God followed them. They each suffered many trials and faced fearful circumstances. Yet, they all overcame because God rewards those who seek Him.
The good seeds that you plant will always come up. Today, we live what we sowed years before, both the good and the bad. Paul wrote, "Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap." (Galatians 6:7). There always comes a harvest.
In my own life, I spent years seriously seeking God, attending Bible College, studying and listening to the Bible 24/7, fasting for weeks, and giving above my 10% tithe. I was very zealous for the Lord. Jesus was my passion and the most important Person in my life. Then suddenly, in one year, my business burned to the ground, my Dad passed away, and I went through a long, messy divorce. Much like Job, the life I had known disintegrated.
I had to start my life over with nothing. I was worn out, depressed, and tired. I quit going to church and stopped praying at all for the first time in my life. Yet, the blessings of God continued in my life. The seeds that I had planted long ago were still coming up. I could share testimony after testimony where the Lord turned a total mess into a great blessing in disguise, but I will just share one.
The day came when I needed a truck to haul things in. I had recently met Sylvia, and she had a 1996 Chevrolet Impala, white with a red pinstripe, tinted windows, 5.7L V8, 4L60E transmission, 373 differential, and dual exhaust. There is a reason for all the details:
1) For a season in my life, I was a mechanic.
2) I want you to know how detailed God is in His blessings. He goes above and beyond. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
3) I didn't pray over any of this or at all during this time. And I hadn't attended church in several years.
I thought it would be great to have a matching car and truck under the carport, sort of his and hers. I daydreamed that the truck would have a short wheelbase with an extended cab. It would have an aluminum toolbox, rails, bed liner, and a frame hitch to pull heavy things with. I had about 6k to spend on it. In short, it would take a miracle, but a man can dream. All of these were just desires, and I was prepared to take whatever I could get.
The first car dealer we stopped at had a gray Chevy pickup about that year without the extended cab. It was a pretty plain work truck, but they wanted 11k for it, which was way out of my range. It looked like I would have to lower my expectations by a good bit.
The next lot I went to had a fully loaded 1997 Chevy Silverado with the gauge package, electric seats, windows, and doors. It had an extended cab, short wheelbase, white with a red pinstripe, tinted windows, 5.7L V8, 4L60E transmission, 373 differential, dual exhaust, aluminum toolbox, chrome rails, bed liner, and a frame hitch with the towing package. They were asking $6,900. I offered them $5,900, but they refused, so I left them my number if they changed their minds. They called me the following morning and accepted my offer.
As I write this, that truck still sits under our carport. We have had it nearly twenty years now, and the Lord blessed me with it even when I wasn't actively seeking Him. The good seeds you have planted will continue to come up in your life. The kingdom of God is a rock-solid investment. Also, when God blesses us, He will go above and beyond our expectations. He does reward those who diligently seek Him.
You may face trials in your life, but they will soon pass, and you will overcome them. So stay the course, keep the faith. When you fall, get back up and take another step, for it's not over yet. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep sowing those good seeds. The end of a thing can be better than the beginning. What you have lost can be replaced with better, and your best days are still in front of you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me this day. Please help me see through Your eyes and give me the grace to accomplish the task you set before me. Help me make the right decisions. Fill my life with Your presence. I seek to know You more today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!Note: For those following the Creation Photography weekly challenges, group leader, Dianna Wyles: Psalm 143:5 "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done." ~ 'Reminiscing Days Gone By' will be our next fun-inspired theme choice and as always is open wide for creative fun so step out of the box to show us your masterworks. I love that we all have different levels of mastery in photography and I, for one, enjoy EVERY post. I really appreciate this group. Enjoy your week and try to stay warm ~ God bless! Here is the link:
Creation Photographers > You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <
Yes Lord Jesus, amen.
Amen
Amen
Yes Amen!
Amen!
Amen
Awesome real life testimony pastor Dion thank you for your honesty and love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I have learned so much from you and Sylvia over the years it's almost hard to believe that Jesus found me, he came in some of the darkness bars in Yamhill county just to be close to me, thank you Jesus for meeting us right where we are in life and for the gentle way you cleaned me up, your my best friend my strong tower and the ROCK I raised my boys on and I'm really really seeing the fruits of my labor, I can't ever thank you enough for all you have given me and my son's Joshua, Jeremy and Justin Riegelmann
Thank you Pastor Dion, I really needed to hear this today.
Amen Good Morning Everyone
Good morning
Thank you, Pastor Dion, for the encouraging reminder of God's everpresent, loving care. Lord, please help me see through Your eyes and give me the grace to accomplish the tasks You set before me today. Amen
Amen. Above all Lord. Fill me with Your presence and let me feel Your love again. Give me a new loving heart. Take away all anger and resentment and show me everything that is not like You Jesus, so I can repent. Father my life circumstances are not good right now... but God......I will praise Your Holy Name. I will sing unto You. I declare the goodness of the Lord in my life. Your grace is sufficient for me. Teach me of Your grace what that really means so I can share that with people. Open doors so I can be a good witness to for you. Forgive my sins and I praise You for what You have shown me this far. Help me draw closer to You. Bless my family. Restore my relationship with my girls. I bind up every wicked scheme from Satan. I pray the Whole Armor of God over my life, my family. This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. In Jesus Christ Name.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me this day. Please help me see through Your eyes and give me the grace to accomplish the task you set before me. Help me make the right decisions. Fill my life with Your presence. I seek to know You more today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Amen dear Lord ❣️
Amen and Amen!!
Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me this day. Please help me see through Your eyes and give me the grace to accomplish the task you set before me. Help me make the right decisions. Fill my life with Your presence. I seek to know You more today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! Amen!! Great word today, thank you Pastor Dion!!!
Awesome! Our God is an AWESOME GOD!!! Thank you for another wonderful devotional. It is true, we reap what we sow, good or bad as I have discovered, and I thank God we have a merciful God! Thank you for showing how much God cares about every detail of our lives, and how even what we have lost He can turn into silver and gold! Sometimes when I've thought the worst was happening God turned it into even better than I could imagine!
Amen!
God I need your help. Thank you for hope. Amen.
Amen!!
Amen!