"And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)
God allows us to suffer difficulties and hardships for a purpose. God led the children of Israel to wander through the wilderness for forty years in order to humble them and test them. When they refused to obey Him and enter the Promised Land, the Israelites revealed that they did not really know Him. If they had, they would have had more faith. God spent the next forty years testing the hearts of His people to see if they were prepared for His next assignment.
Testing reveals what is in your heart and produces a robust faith (James 1:3, 12). God allowed His people to hunger so they could experience His provision and develop a deeper level of trust in Him. As the people walked with God they came to understand that their lives depended upon His Word. They learned that God’s Word was the most important thing they had. After depending on God for forty years while living in the desert, the people listened when God spoke, and they believed. When they finally entered the Promised Land and waged war against their enemies, the Israelites knew that God’s word meant life and death. They were prepared to listen to Him, and as a result He led them to an astounding victory.
Is God presently testing you in some area of your life? What has His testing revealed? Have you become bitter toward God because of where He has led you? Or have you come to trust Him more as a result of what you have gone through?
by Dwight Short (The Christian Post Blog)
The February mountain top experience known as the Kingdom Advisors Annual Conference just finished in Atlanta and this year's version was no exception. Present at the conference were outstanding speakers; advisors with incredible testimonies; and investment professionals who offer services geared to anyone with faith based objectives. Among the great speakers were Ron Blue; Bob Shank; Anne Graham Lotz; Al Weiss; Richard Blackaby; Patrick Morley; Bob Doll; Ken Boa; and Bob Coy. So why did I zero in on the preachers' kids for today's MMM?
I kept thinking about how it must have been growing up being Billy Graham's daughter or Henry Blackaby's son! Despite all of the unreasonable expectations that must have been layered on both of them, they have carved out a ministry that reflects how God has brought them thru life. Anne reminded us that if we wish to raise up God to the world we first must get down on our knees ourselves! She tried to impress us with the truth that every situation God brings to our lives is an attempt to teach us something about His character. Richard was able to communicate that our lives are the sum of all of our decisions. "You cannot give to others what you do not have yourself. God wants us to take the higher ground but it will never happen if we don't take the next step to find such higher ground."
It was so great to see and hear from both Anne and Richard in this setting as I was able to appreciate each of them for their ministry. Their heritage may get them some recognition, but their work was not compared to their famous fathers. Just as I know that my son is the best financial advisor our family has ever produced, I would guess that both Billy Graham and Henry Blackaby believe the best teachers in their families are their own children. I highly recommend recent books from each of them: Unlimiting God, by Richard Blackaby and The Magnificent Obsession: Embracing the God-Filled Life, by Anne Graham Lotz.
