I was asked the other day if I claimed Psalm 91 for protection over my family. You see, God has seen fit to put my family through the wringer more than once and it seems the pressure over us is increasing. I suppose one could say I have had many opportunities to trust in God and have faith that He will provide.
I do not believe in quoting scripture to force an effect or to force God to do something on my behalf. I believe this is occultic and disrespectful in His eyes.
I told the person that I proclaim the sovereignty of God over my family and trust He knows what He’s doing.
I think this sort of mentality comes from the thought process that anything bad comes from the devil and anything good comes from God. This is so not scriptural. God rains on the just and the unjust. God brings sickness and disease upon His saints and has never promised we would have an easy ride with life. Quite the contrary.
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14. 22
It is our destiny to endure tribulation in order to be conformed into the image of our Savior. We are also told that we are to count it all joy when we experience trials and tests (James 1.2). Why because in enduring trials, we learn to act and respond and to live like Christ. We all lack patience. We all need more patience. How does one develop patience? Through being patient. That comes through enduring trials and tests. A sailor will not become better at his trade unless he gets his boat out on the sea and endures some rough sailing. An athlete won’t develop himself unless he continually tests his ability and trains his muscles. A Christian will not become more like Christ unless he is put to the test, hammered on the anvil of life, and purified of his sinful nature.
Or do we claim protection and success over our lives by taking scripture out of context and demanding God do something to fix our circumstances?
One respects God and gives Him the glory He deserves the other reduces Him to a cosmic bellhop placed in our lives to do our bidding.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Good post. Far too many saints fall into the pit of thinking God does our bidding. This is a horrible misunderstanding of how He cares for us.
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Here are the lyrics:
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He.
Lord Sabboth, his name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure.
One little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers
Not thanks to them, abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill,
God’s truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever…
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Amen Manfred. God has our best at heart, and that rarely means what we want.
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Awesome song dear brother. I have heard that song for years. I haven’t heard it in years, but it’s a good one for sure.
I am saddened sometimes though that singers have to resort to breathiness in order to express emotion.
This is the song I grew up with.
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This is an amazing read. All glory and honor belongs to God. I am really inspired by what you do here. I am a new blogger at https://dailycrosswalk.com and I must say that I am learning a lot.
Keep on doing the great work of our Lord Jesus and remain lifted forever. Amen.
Blessings…
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Job light? ive heard sermons from prominent pastors of sound repute who reject the W O F publicly.
Pastors with loving supportive intact families unto the 3rd and 4th generation. Who in sermons praise God for blessing THIER faithfulness.
Because of their disciplined faithfulness to God all is well with them. Having this mindset makes them lousy councilors. They dont claim the family sufferings of others come from some unconfessed sin. They still pile blame upon them. If their walk was more sanctified, like theirs, then they would not be having these problems.
They refuse to believe that some relatives enjoy being mean in part because you are growing in grace and trurh. In the end these pastors are as helpful as Jobs friends.
It is in the end, Word Of Faith, disguised as sanctified humble council.
I know christian fakes mere cultural christians with charmed lives. They assume their goodness caused God to bless them. Knowing their erroneous doctrinal beliefs they in truth aren’t born from above. They are Matthew 7:21 folks if they don’t repent.
The rain falls on the just and unjust alike. Some people get rained on more than others.
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God never promised an easy ride in this life. Jesus’s words in John 16:33 comes to mind:
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Ecclesiastes and Job are useful to review as well. Nonetheless, the Sermon on the Mount has many passages of comfort in dealing with life issues (Matthew 5-7).
And think of all the Christian martyrs throughout history right up to this minute. We should all be thankful that we haven’t had to give up everything including our very lives…although God makes clear that if we are so called, then that is the price we might yet have to pay for our faith.
Let’s continue to pray for the saints who have been so called and those who may yet be so called. We are living in Tribulous times where anything is possible, even in countries with so-called “Religious Freedom”.
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