Retargeting Our Lives
by Otto Bixler
24 November 2009
Next Day »We are meant to step out of worry, by giving God our issues, concerns and the feelings we have about them. In Philippians 4: 6-8 we are given the commandment of God to be anxious for nothing, but through prayer, supplication and thanksgiving to make our request to God so that the peace that surpasses all our comprehension will come upon us. Neglecting God’s commandments keeps God from bathing us in His love and stops His disclosure of Himself to us. If we can’t hear Him, how will we know what to do in the face of our problems?
We are to seek first the kingdom of God. Perhaps this commandment is more difficult since it seems a more supernatural requirement. You may argue that God’s kingdom is invisible, elusive or only at the end of the age. So, how can we seek or target God’s kingdom? Or, what in God’s kingdom can we target?
The answer is quite simple. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are created for God’s good works which He prepared for us to walk through.
As God’s sons and daughters, following Jesus, we need to be doing what the Father is doing. Seeking the kingdom of God is something that we ask of the Father. We need to ask for Him to bring into our lives daily the supernatural intervention of His presence. We need for Him to open our eyes so that we can see what the Father is doing. Then when we see what He’s doing, we need to enter into these good works. He made us for good works. This is one of our purposes!
To be doing His good works is to be on His pathway. If we are on His pathway, operating in His ways and supernatural gifts, then we could expect to be or end up in His kingdom. His ways, pathways, always lead to Him.
The command is to seek first His kingdom. What is your priority in life? Is it that, if all your other needs are met, then you have time for God and His kingdom, or are you willing to step into His works, even before your own perceived needs are met? There is a difference in perception here. You see, He commands us to seek first His kingdom, and then promises that if we obey that He will take care of all our needs.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for neglecting Your commands. I now choose to seek first Your kingdom. Please break through from heaven into this world. Please do this in my presence in such a way that I may see it and enter into what You are doing. Lord, I am desperate to operate in Your love and power to reach those that You wish to touch: in my workplace, in the stores and shops, in church settings, on the street or wherever You wish. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Otto Bixler and his wife Sharon joined the full-time team in 1990 and began the work of Ellel East (covering Eastern Europe and Russia) in 1992. He is Regional Director of Ellel East, a member of the Executive Leadership, an ordained Vineyard pastor, and teaches worldwide for Ellel. He has recently authored a book “Widows, Orphans, and Prisoners” which has come out of his 18 years of ministry in the Ellel East region. Otto has one married son and two grandchildren who live in the USA. His heart is to establish the Kingdom of God in churches wherever he goes through the equipping of the saints and helping in their restoration process.
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