Conclusion

Last week we were discussing the story of the prodigal son. How his impatience for his inheritance, when given to him led him into ruin because he was not mature enough to handle such a responsibility — his spirit was not settled enough to handle the weight of such an extraordinary financial blessing. And now because of riotous spending of that inheritance, he finds himself broke, homeless and to make matters worse in the middle of a famine. So he joined himself to a citizen of that country who sent him into the fields to feed the swine. No one would give him anything. (Luke 15:15-16 NKJV) He found himself in a place of humility and hunger that what the swine were eating was looking more appealing by the minute…

Sometimes when we go through certain trials in life we are a lot like that prodigal son. At least I will confess—I am. Impatience will cause you to fall into booby traps you never thought possible. Because some trials; if you allow them, take your focus off Jesus which opens doors for the enemy to play with your mind to almost the point of insanity. Where you find yourself lying on your face crying out to God looking for a miraculous answer with no reply. And the people you thought closest to or cared about you are suddenly ghosting you or trying to harm you in some way when you never lifted a finger or said a word to harm them. — Go figure.

And since God didn’t move fast enough in answering your prayer request you took matters into your own hands because now you are in panic mode. Your mind is now at war and all those scriptures you’ve memorized for such a time as this seem to have fallen out of your head into this panic abyss. (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV) Here is where the enemy moves in for the kill and has you thinking thoughts like, “What’s the use? The more I try doing what’s right the worse things seem to get!” or “I’ve always been a loser no matter how hard I try nothing seems to change for the better and I’m still in last place,” You feel like an extra puzzle piece, you just don’t fit anywhere; even in the House of the God. The enemy will have you in a place where you feel so far from God that you can’t find your way back.

Some of us when faced with this dilemma will go on shopping sprees, eat at expensive restaurants, take trips we can’t afford, or party just to numb the pain not realizing that when all those sales receipts start piling up your condition is much worse. Bills become due that you can’t pay and you find yourself in more darkness than light. A sinful state you’re in.

“I allowed the enemy to infiltrate my mind with foolishness and if the Lord…”

Yet during this trial, you receive breadcrumbs and tiny morsels of meat of encouragement from the strangest places (I Kings 17:6 NKJV) that keep stoking that little fire inside you until you come to your senses and realize “I allowed the enemy to infiltrate my mind with foolishness and if the Lord had not been on my side, I’d really be a lost puppy. For is it written, You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:” (Isaiah 41:9 NKJV) And no matter how things turn out He is still God and is with me through it all. Because He is my all and has it all. Which is what the prodigal learned. (Luke 15:17-31 NKJV) I’d rather be with God as a servant than be without Him in opposition with myself and lost in this cold cruel world.

Yes, we must repent, but the beauty of this story is…When we’ve strayed away and recognized we can come to Jesus just as we are when we are weary, wounded, and sad. We can find in Him a resting place and he will make us glad. It’s good to know Jesus! (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV)

Thank you so much for your continued readership and support. Until next week…Blessings and Peace!

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