So many people today seem to want to put God in a box, carry Him around with them still in a box, never let Him out of the box while things are going their way, and just as soon as something goes wrong,…a crisis arises,…trouble and misery enters their lives…BAM!! they open the box, scream to God for help and then if things don’t go their way, openly complain that God was at fault or more sadly was the cause of the problem that is now plaguing them. Some of you readers are already experiencing a little anger at my words. You don’t care for my statements or my “drift.” Could it possibly be that I am getting too close to the “quick” as relates to your own life?

Have you ever doubted that there really is a God? Think back…think hard…Have you ever failed to trust God,…to rely on Him and His Promises to you? Have you ever failed or even overlooked a great event, either good or bad, that happened in your life for which you did not give the honor and glory to God…but rather claimed it all for yourself?

All too many people, all too often, even if they call themselves believers, don’t really keep God Almighty in His proper first place position in their hearts, minds, and lives. He is a jealous God and wants to occupy first position in the priorities of your life at all times! He does not like it at all whenever He is dropped to any kind of a lower position either on purpose or by accident. If the truth be known, people are just like that themselves. It seems that we all want to be first in our own lives. Oh, but that is not what God wants us to do. God wants to be first, He wants you to put Others second, and You are to occupy third and last position. Is it any wonder why there are so many unhappy stressed out people in the world today?

The simple truth of the matter is that you cannot do and be obedient to God’s instruction for the living of your life if you (1) first do not personally know God, i.e. become “Born Again” and then if you (2) do not know what God’s Instructions are for the living of your own life. It is for these two biggest reasons that the majority of people today are stressed out, full of worry, doubts, and fears, and have such little faith, belief, and trust in their Almighty Creator. For these reasons and actions, no small wonder they lack the blessings of peace, joy, and happiness in their lives.

In order for you to first receive the direction from God, you must be able to receive the correction from God.

Suffering, pain, and misery are all things allowed by God to come into your life in order to get your attention and to get you to change direction….Pain is, in fact, your friend….if, and only if, you learn from it and change your course of thoughts, deeds, and actions from what they are,…to what God wants you to do.

Oh now comes the tough spiritual word…do you trust God? Because not until you trust God will you ever be obedient to His corrections and directions.

This instruction is clearly given to us in the Holy Bible, in The Book of Hebrews, Chapter 12, verses 5-7 NKJV:

(5) “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you. as to sons:
‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

(6) For whom the Lord loves, he chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.’

(7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons;
for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

There is one other important topic that requires some thought and discussion. Here it is….Your real, true, and honest beliefs about the truth, about God and His presence and power in your life, and about your deepest thoughts and convictions are always on showcase display to those people around you through the actions you take and the words that you use. In other words, your example is always showing!

If you desire to be blessed by God, if you want to receive His benefits and rewards, and if you need the joy and happiness in your life that only He can provide, then,…you must have God inside your heart and mind and life. You must have a spiritual root to your life. God has to be invited into your life as its Lord, Master, and Savior…You need to be “Born Again.”

You cannot desire the rewards and blessings of God while simultaneously living your life in violation of what God directs you to do,…exhorts you how to live,…and demands you be the example He wants you to set for other people to observe and hopefully follow.

Permit me to give you a bit of truth that exists in your life whether you like it or not. The person that you will become depends upon the books you read and the people with whom you associate. You see, those two things become your mental environment and you as a human being will always become a product of your mental environment.

A short story may help to better make my point…..

Darrell Waltrip, a professional stock-car racer, was known to the crowd as a risk-taker, as an agitator, as a trouble maker with an attitude. He was once proud of his “image” as “the guy folks loved to hate.” Whenever the crowds of spectators booed him, he would just kick the dirt and scowl back at them. Then things began to change. He miraculously survived a Daytona 500 crash. He began going to church with his wife, Stevie. He began to learn more about God, His Laws, and His desires for those who believe in Him and love Him. He and Stevie began to try to have a family. Stevie, however, suffered four miscarriages.

One day their pastor came to their home to visit. He asked, “Your car is sponsored by a beer company. Is that the image you want to display and be associated with? Darrell had never thought about it. He had always loved watching kids admire his car, but the more he thought about it, he discovered that he did care about his image. He thought, “If Stevie’s and my prayers were answered for a child, what kind of dad would I be?” He remembered his pastor’s admonition to “walk the walk, not just talk the talk.”

He didn’t know what to do to convince the car owner to change sponsors, but amazingly, an opportunity opened for him to sign with a new racing team sponsored by a laundry detergent company! After much thought and more prayer, he switched teams. Two years later, daughter Jessica was born, and a few years later,. daughter Sarah. Oh, and by the way, in 1989, Darrell Waltrip won the Daytona 500. God truly does answer prayer!

Peace and Love to All of You……….Poppa Bear.