Two-minute read.
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
Proverbs 16:20
God blesses faithfulness, trusting in the Lord, and obeying His instructions, leads to earthly prosperity and heavenly bliss. Right living means doing the next right thing. Elisabeth Elliot, an inspirational heroine in my life, lost two husbands. Jim Elliott, an infamous missionary, lost his life in the forests of Ecuador at the hands of the Huaorani tribe while attempting to share Christ’s love with the unsaved people group. Her second husband, Addison Leitch, died five years after their marriage from cancer. Elisabeth found a poem that helped her continue her journey through her devasting losses:
Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt will be quieted here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King.
Trust them with Jesus. DO THE NEXT THING.
Anonymous
And so, Elisabeth continually did the next right thing. After Jim’s death, she took her two-year-old daughter into the jungle and continued her husband’s mission. Forgiving the man who killed her husband, Elisabeth helped him come to a saving faith in Jesus. Becoming a writer, the missionary shared her faith with others, eventually speaking about her experiences and leaving a lasting imprint on the world for Jesus.
Doing the next thing, following Jesus’s instructions, will take you on a path you never imagined. Pain and heartache will walk with you, but glory awaits those who trust Jesus. Christ suffered most to give us life in abundance, freeing us from sin and giving us eternal life with Him. Our life on Earth comes with challenges but doesn’t last long. We will spend much more time basking in the Lord’s glory than we will endure the troubles of this world.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your instructions that lead us on the journey of a lifetime. Please help us continually do the next right thing, one step at a time, fulfilling our destiny as we trust in You. Let us become more like Jesus with every day that passes.
IJNIP. Amen
