Live Without Offence at God – Day 29

Truth:

“But forget all that–
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

As we choose to live un-offended at God, we need to make a choice as to what we will focus on. Will our focus be on what He is doing or will it be on what hasn’t been done?

This isn’t simply a case of being an optimist, a pessimist or a realist. It’s a spiritual choice we make to fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. And to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation)

We can’t do that when all we see is what God hasn’t done.

A tool to help us focus on the positive is testimony. Testimony is telling the truth about God to others. It is talking about His goodness and sharing about His greatness. It is reminding ourselves of the good things He’s given us and done for us.

Look how powerful testimony is. In Revelation 12:11 it talks about the saints overcoming satan:

They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11 (New International Version)

Testimony is supernatural. Further on in Revelations chapter 19 verse ten it says:

..the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10

Remind yourself about the good things of God. Tell others about the good things of God. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. And to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Focus on what God is doing and what He has done. Don’t be fixated on what He hasn’t done.

Did you know someone else’s testimony could open the door for us to be offended at God? It easily can if our hearts aren’t right.

Bill Johnson gives an example of a group of Christians who were taken away, lined up and shot. The firing squad left and the ones on the ground got up and found holes in the shirts where the bullets entered and exited, but they had no wounds.

Incredible, right? Praise God. Amen. Send around the offering plate.

How about if your loved one was in another group of Christians who were shot and they didn’t avoid being killed? How easy would it be to ask God – why them and not my loved one? How easy would it be for a testimony to be twisted by the enemy into a weapon that opens a fresh wound?

The condition of our heart is so critical. The focus of our eyes is so essential.

Focus on what God has done and what He is doing. Take what He hasn’t done to Him in prayer. He’s there to comfort, but I’ve learned He really doesn’t seem to respond well to whining.

Prayer:

Lord forgive me for focusing on things You haven’t done for me, instead of remembering every good and perfect gift that has come from You. Holy Spirit, help me to testify the God things of God. I agree with the word that says, “I am still confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I’ll be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Challenge:

Once again, instead of waiting for your situation to change, why not wait on God? Wait with expectation, knowing He is the giver of good gifts. Wait being ready to respond to the love He shows you.

Declaration:

I choose to live un-offended at God. I agree with the Bible that God is Good and God is Great. Even though I don’t understand my circumstance, I give up my right to understand so that I can have the peace that passes understanding.