“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isa. 43:2).
The biggest deterrent to dreams is when our dreams become self-serving. That is when we lose confidence in God helping us. Dreams to serve our own lust aren’t dreams that God will help fulfill.
James 4:3 says it like this: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures?” Dreams that God gives us to live out are for the establishing of His covenant in this earth. They are dreams He will help us to fulfill despite a lack of ability or resources we may see on our part. God is the creator of all things including resources and help.”
Far too many people buy into the lie that God is against them or God is “allowing” bad things to happen to them. God will allow what you will allow. He has given you the promise of His Spirit to help you change and authority in His name to take authority over and resist the devil.
Between the lust of our flesh and the attacks of the devil, we are looking at the reasons bad things happen. Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus came to give life and give it more abundantly (John 10:10).
When you can sort out these two things, you will be ahead of the many Christians in this world who have bought into the lie that God is bringing them through the fire to teach them and mold them into a perfect vessel.
No, God isn’t bringing you through the fire. God will help you go through the devil’s fire and like Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego, come out without the smell of smoke on you.
Yes, you will learn much. You will learn that only when you trust God do you come out of these attacks strengthen by God. You will learn the devil plays for keeps and you better learn to stand against him resisting him with the promise of God’s Word. This is how Jesus lived out His life!
I work with a couple at church who at one time had four children. Many years ago, two of them died in a carbon monoxide poisoning accident and another of their children died in another accident. For years religious people told them it was “God’s will to take them home—that He needed them in Heaven.”
That may sound religious but it’s stupid. God is the author of the commandment “thou shalt not murder.” Do you think He is above his own law and snuffs out life to His whim? Of course not! His Word is His will and He lives up to it! The devil is the thief.
For years, as you can imagine, they felt devastated and confused. They really became quite afraid of God. What if He was going to take their last child? Why did He have to take them? Then, through the Word of God, they finally saw who the real thief was.
They were liberated to know that God is good and Satan is the thief. Their intimate relationship and trust in God’s love and goodness was restored. Consequently, they have now ministered to thousands of people who have lost a loved one through death.
God will bring you through the hard places on top if you stay close to and trust in Him.
Deut. 8:15-16 says: “He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, so that in humility you would grow to trust the Lord and through your growing faith receive good at the hand of the Lord.”
As our opening scripture says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”
For today, know that these kinds of tests manifest in our life because we have an enemy that hates us and because we have to constantly contend with our own flesh. At the same time, know that you have a Heavenly Father who wants to bless you, help you, and raise you to be a mighty vessel for Him.
He is the hope-giver and dream-filler!
Psa 34:6-7 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Timothy Burt is a pastor, author, and writer. He is best known as the author of Fresh Manna, a daily devotional and online Bible study.
Pastor Tim became a part of the leadership team at Living Word Christian Center in 1984 and was an Associate Pastor from 1989 until May 31st, 2017. He and His wife Renee, also a Pastor at Living Word, resigned after being a part of Living Word for 33 years on May 31, 2017. They felt impressed by God to pursue the tremendous growth of their ministry "Fresh Manna," as well as teaching conferences and seminars and increasing their involvement in the mission field through Tim and Renee Burt Ministries. Tim has a Bachelor of Theology degree and is a Christian blogger who has been writing a daily inspirational and teaching devotion three days a week called "Fresh Manna" for the past 22 years. It has been read in over 227 countries (official countries and territories). Tim was named one of the top 55 blogging Pastors. He is one of the top Social Media influencers in Minnesota with a strong presence on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TimBurt with over 187,000 followers. Between Tim's Fresh Manna Devotional and Twitter influence, he virally averages reaching over 4 million people daily with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the love of God.
Prior to working at LWCC, he worked at Northwest Airlines for 13 years. In 1985 he founded and was President of American Infant Care Products which marketed his patented invention, the first fold-down commercial infant changing table now used worldwide in public restrooms.
In their tenure at Living Word, Timothy Burt and his wife Renee created a Small Group Ministry when the church was about 800 people in size. Under the leadership of Sr. Pastors Mac and Lynne Hammond, the church grew to over 10,000 people. Pastor Tim and Renee led a diverse Small Group Ministry of over 200 groups. Tim also led weekly men's groups and a monthly Men's Breakfast of 250 plus men called Manhood for 27 years. Tim's responsibilities also included oversight over the Visitor and Member Relations Department, Leadership and Volunteer Development, and the Pastoral Care Department. Pastor Tim was also the Minnesota State Director of Christians United for Israel from 2006 thru 2017.
Tim and Renee are the parents of four children and have seven grandchildren. Tim loves to write, golf, run, and walk, and is a master gardener. He is a five-time marathon finisher. He is also a three-time award-winning gardener winning the Grand Prize in his city for his beautiful home garden and is a Master Gardener for the University of Minnesota's Master Gardener Extension Program.