Problems with Ford’s in-car systems, especially as the company introduced versions that came with dashboard touch screens, hurt the company’s customer satisfaction ratings in recent years. Ford was Microsoft’s most prominent partner in the automotive business for its software." - Wingfield, Nick and Trop, Jaclyn "Ford to Drop Microsoft From Car Systems." The New York Times Feb. 24, 2014: Bits
Partnerships, or relationships are very important in business. As a matter of fact, they play a big part in our personal lives, as well. Speaking of relationships, how is your relationship with God? The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Knowing God is the source of our joy and the joy produced from our relationship with Him is our strength. Many people who begin in the faith will fade along the way. Many who listen to or read these messages will get excited about the hope of change, but will turn back when their desires become their most important treasure.
Of course, this isn't exclusive to the time in which we live. Those around him abandoned Paul when the ministry became a sacrifice. In one of his letters to Timothy, Paul said, "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world". 1 John 2:19 addresses the same problem, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us."
When someone’s focus is not on God and a relationship with Him, they will turn back when their fleshly (worldly) desires are not fulfilled. Right up front, I think it's vitally important to realize that God doesn't promise instant gratification! God calls us to die to ourselves and trust Him for the promises He has given (Psalm 36:7-10).
If you take a closer look at Psalm 36:7-10, you'll notice a couple of things: trusting and knowing God is the key. All pleasure was created by God and is good as long as it is within His design. Those who know God are made upright in heart and they will trust and submit first and believe in the promise that God will be their fulfillment. After submission and trust, the promises are fulfilled. God often tests our faith before He fulfills any promise.
Therefore, if we can’t trust, we will never inherit what He has for us. God calls for faith. Look at Luke 9:23-24. From the human perspective, dying to self is foolishness. That's because it is an act of faith. Like all acts of faith, I am trusting in God as my only hope of benefit. I am dying to myself because I am no use to God as long as I am walking in my own flesh and by my own strength.
When I die, then God raises me up in His strength. I die; I deny myself - He gives me life; He gives me fulfillment in abundance. Those who can’t die to themselves and trust God, will never fully experience God. They may become like Demas and countless others who began with a religious experience, but turned back when personal cost was at stake.
"God does not expect us to submit our faith to him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity." -Augustine.
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11; John 6:40; 1 John 1:9; Romans 5:8; Acts 3:19; John 14:6; Ecclesiastes 9:5-6
Prayer: Dear Father, please help me to find inner peace. Help me understand that no matter what may come my way you are always with me. Amen
God bless you!
Merilyn
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