In three weeks my wife and I need to move house. So in the next three weeks the right house needs to open up to us and we need some miraculous provision. The last time we were in this boat God provided at the very last minute. I mean we had all our stuff going into a truck the next day and no home to go to, and in the eleventh hour the Lord provided a house!
Not just a house but free rent for 8 months to help us out of severe financial hardship after a season of trying to step out for him and learning all the hard lessons at once. It’s never easy facing the unknown but when you know you are following the promptings of God, I find a peace in knowing that he is with me and he is faithful.
Learning to trust
If you read my prayer journal lately there is a constant theme of trusting God. I am trying to learn what it is to trust no matter what and learn to trust in God alone, not in prophesies, hopes, expectations, or even provisions.
Like Elijah who was fed by ravens and drank from the brook, his brook eventually dried up, showing us how God does not want us to trust in the provision and rely on it but rather He wants us to rely completely on Him alone. For circumstances change regularly but God is never changing (James Chapter 1 verse 17 and Hebrews Chapter 13 verses 7-8) and His character is steadfast and trustworthy.
I heard it said once by Patricia King that ‘increase comes one bit at a time, as we are ready for it.’ God matures us and prepares us for the next season, strengthening our character and our faith-muscles so we can handle what he has for us. Joseph knew this well and I know for myself I am certainly allowing God’s tests to shape my character and to prepare me well for this exciting season ahead despite not knowing the finer details.
‘until the time came for Joseph to fulfill his destiny, the Lord tested his character’. (Psalm Chapter 105 verse 19)
Not only trust but declare
The biggest test has to been to wake each day and to not only believe, but also to declare His faithfulness despite the circumstances showing otherwise. This has been particularly important as my trust in God and the steadfastness that I demonstrate has direct impact on not only my wife, but the three other people that are journeying with us in this next season of Jesus centred Kingdom community living.
In this test God has been showing me that through learning to trust him more despite being in the midst of the storm , we can actually live in a freedom of the mind, and place of the heart where there is no burden. Through a life of trust I can actually live out my days in a place of peace.
I have certainly learnt that your resolve and your trust in our Great God only grows stronger and stronger each day that you live out this level of trust in Him.
We need to display this kind of resolve and trust in God as there are a lot of Christians who believe something one day then doubt the next. God is calling for his people to arise and become all that we are meant to be. To display to a heartbroken world that there is a God and he is faithful. We then become like the mountains that rise up in the sky, the mountains that cannot be moved or shaken but are steadfast in trusting God.
‘Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.’ (Psalm Chapter 125 verse 1)
Justin Monaghan is currently launching as a professional prophetic artist under the label JR Faith Creations and works as corporate team builder all over Australia. He is married to Liana and lives at the beautiful beach of Port Willunga. They journey with the creatives in their lives to see them rise up to their full potential for the Kingdom of God.
Check out JR Faith Creations to see some of his art at www.jrfaithcreations.com