In a recent blog by Steve Backlund (Igniting Hope Ministries) he focuses on an important aspect of God’s methods for achieving His purposes that resonates with me, that is, that God is always partnering with people to accomplish His will. I’ve included excerpts of the blog for you to consider in todays pastoral letter.
- Steve goes on to say …… While in some instances God specifically directs a person’s course of action, many times a believer’s own ideas and initiative actually spark a move of God. Consider these two stories:
Jonathan and his armor-bearer in 1 Samuel 14:6
“Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few’”.
Jonathan said, “It may be that the Lord will work for us.” He had no direct word from God at the beginning, but his actions led to a powerful conquest.
- The four lepers in 2 Kings 7:3 – “Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, ‘Why are we sitting here until we die?’”. This conversation led to their plan to visit the Syrian camp which catalysed a massive victory for God’s people.
Stories like these demonstrate the power of hope—an overall optimistic attitude for the future based on the goodness and promises of God. People of hope give God a LOT to work with because they believe the future will be better than the present and they have the power to help make it so. This “power to help” enables us to join with God and take risks to try new things. People who do not have hope will tend toward passivity and fatalism, believing they are victims of God’s inactivity.
God partners with what we give Him to work with through things like:
Our prayers “You have not because you ask not” (James 4:3)
Our declarations “But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed” (Mt 8:8)
Our skills – “(David’s) sling was in his hand” (1 Samuel 17:4)
Our encouragement – “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear!” (Isaiah 35:4)
Our faith – “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you’” (Mark 2:5)
We not only need faith in God, but also in what He has given us.
When we activate our faith by taking steps into the unknown, we keep our angels busy with kingdom-advancing work..
People whose hope is being ignited believe: there is always a solution (1 Cor 10:13), they will thrive no matter what happens (Philippians 4:11-13), they will see the goodness of God in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13), and even the little things they do make a huge difference (Zechariah 4:10). These beliefs will dramatically increase the likelihood of giving God great things to work with.
What can you do to give God more to work with?
God’s faithfulness will be powerfully displayed in our lives. As He partners with our faith-filled steps forward, we will see breakthrough, salvation, provision, healing, and victory for many as the fruit of our efforts.
We can and will make a difference!