Negotiating Your Walk

   Do you feel like your Christian walk has been one big negotiation? You know, always finding ways to get the next blessing? Do you look for the five steps to get what you want from God? It seems many have some sort of formula to acquire things “by faith.”

   In some instances, a crisis will illuminate people’s commitment level to the Lord. Meaning, when they stand a chance of either losing something or someone, their commitment depends on Him coming through for them. Do you make promises to serve Him if He delivers, or are you in a place where circumstances are a non-issue. That is to say, you made the decision to love and serve Him regardless of what comes your way. In short, you never negotiate with God.

   Should you find yourself negotiating with God, maybe ask yourself why. For those who do negotiate, are you dealing with a trust issue? Perhaps, it’s a lust or some sort of emotional deficiency. What’s your joy-level?

What Jesus Says About Negotiation

   Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

   Negotiation is the antithesis to this passage of Scripture. When coming to Jesus, we gave up our rights to negotiate with God. That doesn’t mean we can’t make requests; it simply means we leave the answers up to Him. Our days of imposing our will is over. Of course, we never could impose our wills on God, in spite of what some may believe.

When Negotiations Cease, Joy Begins

   John 15:10-11 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

   Do you know what happens when individuals stop pleading and insisting on their own way? They position themselves to experience joy. When they surrender their will, and come into obedience, joy awaits them. Full, complete joy!

   Yes, life has many trials. Every day, people lose people and possessions. Walking by faith is simple, but not always easy. It involves a process called the saving of the soul, in which there is healing and removing those things that hinder our relationship with God. There is one thing that makes that process easier to endure: the decision to love and serve God regardless of outcome.

   Negotiation may be a sign that one’s love is misplaced. Meaning, God is not his or her First Love. When you place a person or thing ahead of God, you have a god or an idol. When you chase the blessing instead of Him, joy will elude you. People have their ideas as to what constitutes a blessing. Some blessings are not blessings at all, though many may well be; however, God knows exactly what embodies a blessing. Leave it to Him.

   Jesus going to the Cross did not appear to be a blessing, but it was. When He died, it did not look like a blessing, but it was. His Resurrection made it obvious that God knows exactly what is a Blessing, regardless of how things may look. Sometimes the very things for which we fight to keep, are not always beneficial to cling so tightly. You may be surprised what happens when you let go, and allow God to move as He pleases. Remember what Jesus said at Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

   When you face trials of many kinds, you’ll find it far easier to endure them by keeping your First Love first. Beware of saying, “I will love and obey You no matter what,” in order to get what you want. That’s a slippery slope that can move God out of first place in your life. Besides, that’s a form of manipulation, which He sees through. Everything on earth as we know it is temporary. We are exhorted to keep our eyes on things above, not beneath.

   1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible (unspeakable) and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

www.perfectfaith.org