Mal 3:13 - 18 says:
"You have said terrible things about me," says the Lord. "But you say, `What do you mean? How have we spoken against you?'
"You have said, `What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord Almighty that we are sorry for our sins?
From now on we will say, "Blessed are the arrogant." For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them go free of harm.' "
Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.
"They will be my people," says the Lord Almighty. "On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.
Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."
This is also true when we say that something can't happen, like God can't save my marriage or can save a person that is lost, no matter how much of a heathen they may be. Our God is able to do anything we ask him for. But why do we get complacent and give up? Because we pray selfishly and expecting it to happen 2 minutes after we pray. If we trust the Lord, we need to be strong and have the patiences to know it will happen in his timing. I have said this to people before and they say well, if you wait long enough anything can happen. I like it... that's a good faith statement. And I am sure they mean happen on its own. But to God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. God will do what needs to be done in his timing. Some people say well why pray then, if the Lord already knows what you need then why should we have to ask. Well first because he wants us to trust him like the ultimate father. Second, he wants us to speak out what we need, many times the stuff we ask for isn't really what we need and if we are speaking it outloud maybe we will realize how rediculous it is. If what we need is for real, he knows and he will help us.... Trust him!
Well why does God let bad things happen. God does not stop life from happening, the world is set in motion, not to say he couldn't intervene but that's another reason why we should pray. We don't know what all he intends for us and what we think is right may not be. I am going through a situation with my job that I know I am not the best fit for this position. But I keep doing my very best and if it is not enough, God will help me. In due time he will get me into the right position. But I have to be flexable and willing to change... God help me!!
I keep seeing people around me that have nothing to do with God and the keep prospering. Yet why do God's people struggle and have to suffer with so much stuff? I believe the struggle is helping us grow and learn and be strong. And our reward is not here on this earth, our reward is not temperal... it is eternal!!
Plus Psalm 73 says :
A psalm of Asaph.
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. (Amen brother!)
For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
They seem to live such a painless life; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
They aren't troubled like other people or plagued with problems like everyone else.
They wear pride like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty.
These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!
They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.
They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
"Does God realize what is going on?" they ask. "Is the Most High even aware of what is happening?"
Look at these arrogant people- enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong?
All I get is trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
If I had really spoken this way, I would have been a traitor to your people.
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I thought about the destiny of the wicked.
Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
In an instant they are destroyed, swept away by terrors.
Their present life is only a dream that is gone when they awake. When you arise, O Lord, you will make them vanish from this life.
Then I realized how bitter I had become, how pained I had been by all I had seen.
I was so foolish and ignorant- I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand.
You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
But those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.
But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Psalm 91: 1 - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Mat 6: 6 - But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
Seek his face and not his hand! Who he is and not what he can do for you....... He will reveal himself to you!
"You have said terrible things about me," says the Lord. "But you say, `What do you mean? How have we spoken against you?'
"You have said, `What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord Almighty that we are sorry for our sins?
From now on we will say, "Blessed are the arrogant." For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them go free of harm.' "
Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.
"They will be my people," says the Lord Almighty. "On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.
Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."
This is also true when we say that something can't happen, like God can't save my marriage or can save a person that is lost, no matter how much of a heathen they may be. Our God is able to do anything we ask him for. But why do we get complacent and give up? Because we pray selfishly and expecting it to happen 2 minutes after we pray. If we trust the Lord, we need to be strong and have the patiences to know it will happen in his timing. I have said this to people before and they say well, if you wait long enough anything can happen. I like it... that's a good faith statement. And I am sure they mean happen on its own. But to God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. God will do what needs to be done in his timing. Some people say well why pray then, if the Lord already knows what you need then why should we have to ask. Well first because he wants us to trust him like the ultimate father. Second, he wants us to speak out what we need, many times the stuff we ask for isn't really what we need and if we are speaking it outloud maybe we will realize how rediculous it is. If what we need is for real, he knows and he will help us.... Trust him!
Well why does God let bad things happen. God does not stop life from happening, the world is set in motion, not to say he couldn't intervene but that's another reason why we should pray. We don't know what all he intends for us and what we think is right may not be. I am going through a situation with my job that I know I am not the best fit for this position. But I keep doing my very best and if it is not enough, God will help me. In due time he will get me into the right position. But I have to be flexable and willing to change... God help me!!
I keep seeing people around me that have nothing to do with God and the keep prospering. Yet why do God's people struggle and have to suffer with so much stuff? I believe the struggle is helping us grow and learn and be strong. And our reward is not here on this earth, our reward is not temperal... it is eternal!!
Plus Psalm 73 says :
A psalm of Asaph.
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. (Amen brother!)
For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
They seem to live such a painless life; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
They aren't troubled like other people or plagued with problems like everyone else.
They wear pride like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty.
These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!
They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.
They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
"Does God realize what is going on?" they ask. "Is the Most High even aware of what is happening?"
Look at these arrogant people- enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong?
All I get is trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
If I had really spoken this way, I would have been a traitor to your people.
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I thought about the destiny of the wicked.
Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
In an instant they are destroyed, swept away by terrors.
Their present life is only a dream that is gone when they awake. When you arise, O Lord, you will make them vanish from this life.
Then I realized how bitter I had become, how pained I had been by all I had seen.
I was so foolish and ignorant- I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand.
You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
But those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.
But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Psalm 91: 1 - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Mat 6: 6 - But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
Seek his face and not his hand! Who he is and not what he can do for you....... He will reveal himself to you!
