I'll begin by first reminding about the story of the creation in the beginning when God created man...
Asides creating man in His own likeness to have dominion over all the Earth just as He is having dominion over all the Heavens; a key point of note was that God would often come by Himself to talk and discuss with the man He created (Adam)...
Also, recall that when Adam disobeyed and fell, and God came around as usual, His question was "Adam, where are you?"... In other words, "We usually meet here, who changed the venue?"...
Next, God asked, "Who told you you are naked?".... In other words, "Which third-party interrupted the flow of our discussions, or who injected that strange information into you?"...
And the point I am trying to drive there is that, even from the beginning, it was evident that God's deep desire was to spend time and talk with His children, in fellowship and intimacy void of third party interruptions or misinformation... Not forgetting that God Himself says He is a jealous God, and His jealousy is indeed a Holy One...
So even after Man fell, all the efforts God made to fix man, including sending Jesus His only Son to die, was basically to again restore His communion and fellowship with man, such that the man could again draw near to God without any feelings of guilt nor shame...
Now, Do you know that not all "open doors" are opened by God?
Do you know that the Enemy can also open "counterfeit" doors?
Do you know that some "seeming miracle" or "answer to prayer" can actually be a distraction to something greater, that is much more valuable to you and to God?
So let me share a personal experience/testimony related to this, and its not to build a doctrine, but to buttress on the vital need for the believer to be sensitive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit especially in times of deep personal material/physical need...
Now, while I was still on job search which lasted a period of up to 7 years, eventually getting a good job in 2015... I invested much time between 2012 and 2014 to my spiritual self-development...
In April of 2014, I got an impression to go on a personal spiritual retreat to a different town outside where I lived then with my parents... So I woke up that morning, packed a few things and told everyone I was traveling, to their surprise...
I then traveled to a friend's place and informed him of my aim for the visit, which he understood... So while he went to work, for those 2 days, I stayed indoors studying spiritual materials, listening to worship songs, praying and reading the Bible... For that period of time, I did not step out of the house, and funny enough I did not go for the retreat to pray over my job situation, but simply to spend time alone with God...
But something surprising happened:
While I broke my fast around the evening time for each of those 2 days, switching on my mobile phone, I "miraculously" got 2 separate job interview invitations which if I must attend required that I needed to end my retreat and travel back home to plan to make the interview... Something that had never happened in such a manner during that period of close to 6 years while I was seeking a good job sending out countless job applications and attending few job interviews without success...
But somehow, I felt in my spirit that those particular interview invites were distractions, so I did not respond and I did not attend any of both... (could you imagine that!)... And please do not misunderstand, this was not because I was "too spiritual", in fact, I gave it some serious thought if I should end my retreat abruptly to attend the interviews; Also while I was seeking a better job, I was not idle at any point because I kept myself busy with the small jobs I got and I also preparing myself qualification-wise for the job I wanted...
Well, fast forward to 2019, in a space of around 4 years, I had changed jobs progressively 4 times, and I had turned down more job interviews than I had taken, and I had attained to a level that would've probably taken me at least 7 years to reach... Recalling a certain time I got 3 job interviews in one week, and I had to choose which to attend...
So inadvertently, it seemed I hadn't lost as much time in those past years when I didn't have a good job, because God restored them somehow... While on the other hand, those seemingly short periods of time which I spent alone with God years ago, I rarely now find such opportunities, but then, the deep impact those seasons made on me remained the strong foundation for my personal spiritual growth till this day...
And the overall point I am trying to make is:
Sometimes we think that God just wants our money or our resources, or to make us live such boring life; but in reality, God simply wants us, to talk and share with us about His plans and purposes for our lives and the part He needs us to play in His ultimate plan for this Earth...
So, even Jesus during His brief ministry on Earth, had occasions where He needed to spend time often alone to pray and fellowship with His Father, notwithstanding that there were many followers scrambling to see Him and hear His Words, and to receive their miracles...
Jesus was also able to easily discern when the Enemy tried to tempt Him by offering to give Him all the glories and powers of the World if He would only bow to him (a shortcut to the same thing which God was going to give Jesus, but through the longer and more painful process of suffering and death on the cross)...
In summary, I am saying that your time alone with God in certain seasons of your life would prove to be more priceless much more above a miracle you may have been seeking from God... And except God Himself helps you to be sensitive by His Holy Spirit, it can be very easy to miss out on something greater which He has ahead for you...
He said in His Word:
Jeremiah 24:7 (NLT)
"I will give them hearts that recognize Me as the Lord. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me wholeheartedly."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."
More than your resources, God wants a relationship with you... Until and even after He shows you what to do to receive your miracle please linger on with Him... And may He continually grant you the grace of faith and obedience, in Jesus name...Amen!
#JesusChristIsLORD
#GODisStillinCharge
