Moving on

I thank God every morning,  before I start my prayers, for everything he has provided for us. 

It's nice to start the day off grateful, gives me a sense of perspective to build my day on. 

And it helps with my prayers too, keeps me mindful and humble. Serving the Lord and serving our fellow man go hand in hand, it requires us to be humble and thoughtful.  

We've been thinking a lot recently about helping others, what it means. 

You tend to assume it means providing for ones needs....

But what are those needs?

And are you actually helping, or are you aiding in their problems? 

For instance,  someone with an addiction. They're broke, they're about to be homeless,  you give them money. They take the money and blow it on their addiction,  they come back for more help....and suddenly you're funding their habit. 

In a situation like this, you'd be giving the wrong help. And if you do help someone and they end up in the same boat, don't help them that way again. Face the fact that you can encourage them but they may have to hit bottom before they're ready to change.  

And that's the key to helping anyone. 

Helping is awesome,  in the right way at the right time. 

So I'm learning to pray, to listen.  

I'm also understanding that sometimes we're allowed to go through a period where we need help. 

Maybe we have to learn to be humble, or be good receivers, to have our faith in humanity supported. 

Maybe the person helping us needs to do good for someone,  maybe they need to feel useful, or are just being called on by God.  

Sometimes God asks us to do things just to see if we're willing to obey him, and the reward for obeying God,  it's a feeling I can't explain.  

Our pastor said in his online service the other day.....sometimes we don't get a blessing or an answered prayer,  on time or at all, because the people he's called on to help give that blessing or answer that prayer aren't cooperative.  

God uses others who are willing to obey, and those decisions or acts of kindness have consequences. So if you refuse, someone isn't going to get their blessing,  or God has to try to use someone else....and that takes time and timing. 

God can just snap his fingers and make things happen....and sometimes he does as with healing,  but often he wants us to help each other. He wants us to do good for the sake of doing good. 

And in every situation,  God takes care of us as best as he can without interfering in choice. 

We tend to forget that we have free will. 

God never, ever, interferes with free will. 

So when you're given a chance, or feel a burden on your heart for someone....take the opportunity to do good and spread a potential blessing.  

Ya'll take care, have a wonderful weekend,  and God bless.