Years ago our pastor from a former church shared in a message, “Don’t be casual with God, those who are casual with God tend to be careless with life!”
There are moments in our daily walk when we forget our purpose of walking moment by moment in the presence of His power. Our walk can get out of step with His purpose by the least of distractions.
There are ‘obstacles’, or casual moments when our Lord might be asking, “Are your ambitions more important than what I want you to be doing?” If we fail to look upward, and view His leading, it can be much like the Angel of God who stood in the way of Balaam.
Recalling the incident, Balaam was asked by Balak, king of Moab, to put a curse on the people of Israel. In the course of events Balaam was riding his donkey when the Angel of the Lord stopped them in their track.
‘Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. Balaam said to the angel of the Lord I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me.’ [Numbers22:31,34a NASB]
How often I wonder, does God put roadblocks before us in order to get our attention, when we’re too determined, as Balaam was, to continue on. Better to lay things out to the Lord in prayer before acting. A listening ear toward the Spirit’s prompting, would help us view His hand with a better perspective.
. We’ve only to look to Nehemiah as example, who went from being a ‘cup bearer’ in a Kings court as it were, to rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, and appointed as the new governor. How did all this come about?
‘Let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.’ [Nehemiah 1:6 NASB]
Day and night it says. He had a determination to listen, to hear God’s prompting. Not a casual thought that it would be nice to see the city walls re-built. He sought the Lord day and night, and I’m sure for many days and many nights.
So too, is our Lord waiting from us, with a listening ear. Not with a casual gesture, but with a surrendered heart determined to seek Him. Let’s purpose to rest in God as we make our appeal before the Creator of the universe.
Not to allow our casualness to be a stumbling block toward embracing more intimacy in following His prompting. The blessing He brings our way will only expand our faith walk in Christ with a deeper passion for Him to increase.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
