Four qualities of life that God blesses
“Therefore this is what the Lord Jehovah says: Behold, I am laying in Zion a tried stone, a precious corner stone for a sure foundation; he who trusts will never be disappointed.'” – Isaiah 28:16
Whenever God calls us to a consecrated life, it is made up of four distinct stages. Jesus Christ often compared this process to building a house. First of all, we must prepare for construction by laying the foundation. That foundation is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Apart from Christ no foundation can stand.
Second, as we enter into a journey of faith with God, He allows each of us to experience trials, tests, miracles, and challenges in life that are designed to provide “faith experiences” that demonstrate concrete evidence of His work in our lives: Moses’ experience of burning the bush, Peter’s walking on water, Joshua’s parting of the Jordan River. These experiences built the faith of these people. The depth and breadth of our vocation is directly proportional to the experiences of faith it allows in each of our lives. If God plans an international ministry with you, chances are you will experience a higher level of faith than others. This is because, you will need to pay attention to these to ensure your calling and to bear witness to His work in your life.
The third step deals with objectives. “All the ways of a man seem innocent to him, but his intentions are weighed by the Lord” (Proverbs 16:2). What is the purpose behind my actions? Is it just economic accumulation? Is it to gain control? Is it to create freedom? The primary motive should be that God is prompting you to take such action – it should be obedience. These other factors should be by-products of the decision.
Finally, we are ready to take action. Here we must ask, “Do we have the skills, quality, and capacity to enter into this activity?” Often we have not trained ourselves adequately to succeed in our endeavor. You never want someone who is not trained and certified as a dentist to work on your teeth.
Before starting your next project, ask yourself these four questions. On what foundation is this project based? What experiences has God demonstrated in my life that indicate His involvement? What is my purpose in entering into this activity? Do I have the skills, quality and ability to complete the task? The answers to these questions will tell you whether God will bless your activity.
