Four Attributes of a Life God Blesses

A few years ago a pastor friend of mine made a statement that caught my ear, “Prosperity is the fruit of a disciplined life.” Even though it makes perfect sense all on it’s own, it is supported by scripture, Deut 5:33 ‘Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.’

When we start on a new venture with our business, my first thought is, “Does the Lord want us to do this?” Before I do anything that costs money, I wait for clear guidance from Him. Confirmation is always through an open door of opportunity, one He has provided not one we opened, or the correct circumstances or the right people or equipment. We know it’s an absolute when ALL of those items happen simultaneously.

That is exactly what transpired with our recent expansion. The right people, equipment and contracts came together in perfect timing. For a company that does no long range planning, the only viable explanation is the Lord’s hand.

How do you make significant decisions in your life or business? Do you run it by the Boss first? It will make all the difference in the world if you do and will keep you from heading down the wrong path.

Blessings

Four Attributes of a Life God Blesses
by Os Hillman

“So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.’” – Isaiah 28:16

Whenever God calls us into a consecrated life, it is made up of four distinct stages. Christ often compared this process to building a house. First, we must prepare to build by laying a foundation. That foundation is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Any foundation other than Christ will not stand.

Second, as we enter a walk of faith with God, He allows each of us to experience trials, testings, miracles, and challenges in life that are designed to provide “faith experiences” that demonstrate tangible evidences of His work in our life: Moses’ burning-bush experience, Peter’s walk on the water, Joshua’s parting of the Jordan River. These experiences built the faith of these people. The depth and width of our calling is directly proportional to the faith experiences He allows in each of our lives. If God plans an international ministry with you, chances are you will experience a higher degree of faith experiences compared to another. The reason being, you will need to look on these to ensure your calling and provide testimony to His work in your life.

The third stage deals with motives. “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord” (Prov. 16:2). What is the motive behind my actions? Is it only financial accumulation? Is it to gain control? Is it to create independence? The primary motive must be God’s leading you to take such an action – it must be obedience. These other factors must be by-products of the decision.

Finally, we are prepared to take action. Here we must ask, “Do we have the skill, quality, and ability to enter into this activity?” So often we have not trained ourselves adequately to be successful in our endeavor. You would never want someone working on your teeth who had not been trained and certified as a dentist.

Before you begin your next project, ask yourself these four questions. What is the foundation this project is based on? What experiences has God demonstrated in my life that indicate His involvement? What is my motive for entering this activity? Do I have the skill, quality, and ability to accomplish the task? Answering these questions will tell you whether God will bless your activity.