Receiving God's Best

Here are a few gems I collected from a man I have a high regard for. You'll have to read to the end to see the credit. It's about receiving God's best. As I am transitioning to a new season and then soon after to another new season and then another... the words of encouragement in these passages from Scriptures light a fire to my feet and kindle the spark to fuel me onward with hope, joy, and love.

"Does not the ear taste words as the tongue tastes food? If we put something unpleasant in our mouth, we spit it out. Likewise, if we hear something bitter, negative or destructive, we should reject it. 

The ear should test words, like eating fish. You swallow the meat but you spit out the bones. Take heed how you hear. 

Consider this...

Both faith AND unbelief come by hearing." Which do you want?

Avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it become more and more ungodly. Their teaching is cancerous and destroys the faith of others. 2 Tim 2:16-18.  Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness, but, rather, expose them. Eph 5:11-12.  Flee evil desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on The Lord with a pure heart. 2 Tim 2:22

We know from Scriptures that God promises to give us all the (temporal) things that we need after we seek His (eternal) Kingdom and His Righteousness.

A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. Despite what you may think, even your paycheck is not yours, but God's. He gave you the job. He gave you the ability to work that job. He gave you your life. These things are temporal. He knows your need, and He provides good things to His children.

However, sometimes His kids get a little grabby, feeling impatient, feeling entitled. 

**There is a difference between grabbing and receiving.** Do not labour and take and grab and get stuff that you won't be allowed to keep. Instead, why not rest, turn your face toward God, and say, "God, show me what it is Your good pleasure to give me."

The Lord says, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to GIVE YOU the Kingdom."

Don't grab. Learn to rest a little while from grabbing. Be willing to see what God wants to give. Many times when we grab and have that grabbing attitude, we aren't in a condition to be able to receive what God is freely offering to us.

So ask Him,

"God, what is it Your good pleasure to give me?"

"God chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves." Psalm 47:2-4

Here's something to think about...

God didn't tell Israel to find the best piece of land and grab it. He would give them a place that HE had chosen. And He gave them the best! Israel's land is the glory of all lands... The beautiful land, the desirable land. God chose much better for them than they would ever have chosen for themselves. When it was a question of their getting their inheritance, God fought for them and He subdued the nations under their feet. 

If we go out and grab, we don't have God fighting for us. Wow.

If we go out and grab, we'll probably get in a war we're going to lose. Ouch.

There's no need to grab. For God will do everything that is needed to bring us into our inheritance. Our inheritance is the only place we can know true rest. (Deut 12:9). Restless Christians have never come into their true inheritance because they've never allowed God to give it to them. Because they thought they had to grab it for themselves. 

In John 10:29, Jesus is quoted saying, "What Abba's given me is greater than all."

Don't get nervous or uptight about the opposition. The very fact that you get uptight is evidence that you're not really moving into what God has given to you; otherwise you could smile at the opposition. God's inheritance for you is absolutely guaranteed.

So, to receive God's best,

1- want God's best; don't settle for less.

2- focus on Jesus

3- meditate on God's word.

4- make friends with the Holy Spirit.

5- hear and promptly obey God's voice.

6- be careful how and what you hear.

7- be more concerned with the eternal than the temporary.

8- let God choose for you.

Abraham obeyed quickly with Isaac.

Lot's wife delayed. See Luke 17:32- Do not delay or it'll be too late. 1 Corinth 1:25 

Be prepared to seem foolish. The foolishness of God is wiser than men.

Noah built a boat. Foolish?

Namaan dipped seven times. Odd?

Jesus put clay on blind eyes. Weird?

Check out 1 Corinth 3:18.

God, I want Your best, and I want only the inheritance that YOU have already established for me before any of my days came to be (Psalm 139). Amen, Lord Jesus!

(Check out the book, "Receiving God's Best, by Derek Prince.)

I hope this message blesses and encourages you. Shalom!