Make Hay While The Sun Shines

Over the years, I’ve noticed when times are good, that is, when—I have plenty of money, no major health issues, no big relationship struggles—that my service to God tends to slack off. It’s like I’m beguiled by the original lie told to Eve in the Garden; that is, I don’t need God because I’m comfortable and I’m fine without Him. His presence does not seem intensely necessary. But then, when circumstances arise that I can’t handle—I suddenly intensely need God and become serious about my dedication to serve Him. This phenomenon makes me wonder, if at times, God thinks that I’m only interested in Him when I’m desperate; but otherwise, His friendship means very little to me. 

I certainly don’t want to be that kind of friend to God; He is certainly NOT that kind of friend to me!

One day my office manager and I were discussing this phenomena in the context of our office finances. During lean financial times, we seem to be more acutely tuned into God’s direction and then, when cash rolls in—we seem to be much less so. But in the lean times, we’ve seen God do more than just financial miracles. His Spirit has been so intense that clients have been born again right in an office chair! What we realized is that if financial difficulty is keeping us close to God–then perhaps, we should rethink our relationship with Him (and our relationship with money!)

I want to intensely experience God’s presence ALL of the time—don’t you???

In order to desire God‘s presence continuously, we need to develop the mind of Christ. We need to desire Him more than we desire money—or anything else. We need to find our satisfaction and security in Him more than we find it in anything else; or, anyONE else for that matter! You all probably know by now that my favorite inspiration about the transformed mind is Romans 12:1-2:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” ‭‭

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ 

When we discipline our MIND to present our BODIES as holy and different from the world by conforming our actions and thoughts to God’s Word, our life is enlightened by the wisdom of God and we are empowered with HIS strength. There, in His wisdom, we realize we are nothing without Him. In his presence, we realize our weakness, and we KNOW we need His strength. This mentality of total and complete dependence upon God is radically life-changing. Our life joins with creation in proving the powerful, loving, and wise presence of God.

God’s presence inspires Divine passion to glorify Him–irrespective of our circumstances. 

Paul the Apostle wrote these amazing words: 

“And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do NOT account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if ONLY I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Acts‬ ‭20:22-24‬

Paul got it right.

Paul’s physical well-being was unimportant to him when compared to the great mission of salvation for people facing eternal separation in hell. Is there any worse fate than being separated from the enduring love of God’s presence? Paul lived in true reality. As a result, God gave Paul a life filled with extraordinary opportunity!

Each day when we intentionally draw closer to God, we realize more and more—just how much we NEED God. Then, our “good times” become an opportunity to make hay while the sun shines—not to slack-off and gather more of the things that we can’t take with us. We find our greatest joy in HIM—not the distractions of our enemies which constantly tempt us away from Him.

God is the only one who can make something out of nothing; but to be something—we must be emptied of everything—except Him. 

We are nothing without HIM, but—WITH HIM—we become His masterpiece! My friend, don’t wait around for the storms to be awakened to the best relationship of your lifetime! God gave us today–and WITH Him–we have the opportunity to live with more meaning and purpose than we’ve EVER known!

We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.

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