Adeline’s Weblog

One day, I was driving in a crowded parking lot looking for a place to park. It seemed I had been driving around forever when I saw a couple coming out of the building walking towards their car. I turned down the closest aisle to follow them to their car and it just so happened they were parked at the spot closest to the door, right up front. Well you know me, I was just thanking God for His favor as I waited for them to back out. As they were leaving, another car came from the main road and turned down the wrong direction on that aisle, cutting me off and beating me to that spot! My first inclination was to honk my horn and give him a piece of my mind but then I remembered that I’m a pastor and I can’t do that. At that moment, I had to make a decision: I am not going to let this upset me. I thought to myself, “I’ll give him that parking spot but I will not give him my joy.” I just went on past that parking spot and didn’t make a big deal about it. A few minutes later, I found another place to park.

As I started to enter the building, a young couple walked out and stopped me. They told me they had a son who was in the hospital. It turns out they had been reading my book, and the wife began to weep and weep as she told me how it was a source of hope and encouragement to them. She said, “Joel, I know that just seeing you here today is God letting us know that everything is going to be okay.” After we talked a moment and prayed together, I thought to myself, “I didn’t get the parking spot that I wanted, but I got the spot that God wanted me to have.”

I knew God was directing my steps that day. He had me in the right place at the right time. I can’t help but think if I had gotten upset with that other guy, and argued and tried to set him straight, I probably wouldn’t have been where I was supposed to be. I would have lost my joy and lost the opportunity to be a blessing to somebody else.

Friend, remember, when your plans don’t work out and things don’t go the way you plan, it doesn’t mean that you’re not in the right spot. If somebody is rude to you, if you’re tempted to get upset, just take the high road and stay in peace. God is a God of justice. He sees every wrong that’s ever been done. If you’ll keep your peace, He’ll make your wrongs right. He’ll take what you thought was a setback, what you thought was a disadvantage, and He’ll turn it around and use it to your advantage. Let’s learn to pass the tests and learn to hold on to joy because it is the strength you need to live in victory in every area of your life.

The Scripture tells us about a man who was paralyzed and couldn´t walk at all. One day, he heard that Jesus was in town teaching in a nearby house. This man knew that if he could just get to Jesus, he would be made whole. So the man convinced four of his friends to carry him on his bed over to that house. The only problem was that when they arrived, it was so crowded that they couldn´t even get in the door.

What a disappointment. What a letdown. I´m sure those men were tired by this time. They could have easily gotten discouraged and thought, “Too bad. It´s not going to happen.” But not the paralyzed man, he was determined! He wasn´t going to let anything stop him from getting to Jesus. I can just imagine his four friends turning around to take him back home when he says, “No, no. We´re not going home just yet. There has to be a way! I´m not leaving until I get my miracle!” This man understood that you are closest to your victory when you face the greatest opposition. He wasn´t about to give up. He said to his friends, “I´ve got an idea—take me up on the roof, cut a hole in it, and lower me down so I can have a front row seat right in front of Jesus.” Those four men hoisted him up on the roof and did exactly that. And do you know how Jesus responded? He wasn´t upset because they made a mess. He wasn´t frustrated because they interrupted His message. No, it says that He saw their faith and instantly healed the man!

You know, a lot of people give up when they face opposition. They see the “crowds” and turn around and go home. “Oh, I tried but they told me no.” “I tried to get my degree, but the college was full.” “I tried to get that new home, but they wouldn´t give me a loan.” “I tried to quit this addiction, but it´s just too hard.” No, you´ve got to be more determined than that. You have to have a “never say die” attitude. Don´t stop trying. Keep pressing through because just like this paralyzed man, you are close to your miracle!

Friend, no matter what you may be going through today, no matter how you may be feeling or what you may be facing, remember there is victory in store for you. Maybe the door has been closed, maybe it seems like there are crowds of people in the way, but if you can´t get through the door, why don´t you try the window? Better yet, why don´t you be bold like this man, and just go through the roof? Keep trying, keep believing, keep hoping, keep pressing into Jesus because you are closer than you think to the miracles He has in store for you!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much”
(Luke 16:10, AMP)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Many people today are not experiencing God’s favor like they should simply because they’re not passing what I call, the small test. We have to be faithful with the little things in our lives before God will entrust us with bigger things. For example, being excellent in the workplace for you may not mean some huge adjustment. It may just mean leaving ten minutes earlier so you can get to work on time. It may mean not complaining when your supervisor asks you to do something. It may mean not making personal phone calls on company time. You might think, “It’s just a small thing. Nobody knows. It’s not hurting anything.” But the Scripture says, “It’s the little foxes that spoil the vines.” Don’t let the seemingly small things keep you from the big things God has in store. No, it’s time to come up higher. It’s time to be faithful, even when nobody’s looking
I encourage you today to make the decision to come up higher. Choose to be faithful with the little things so that God can bless you and make you ruler over much!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, I choose to be faithful in all things. I repent right now for anything that I’ve done that has been displeasing to You. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to rise up higher so that I can be ready to embrace all You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.