If He Had Not…
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23, NASU)
One of my recent Now Think On This messages was entitled The What Ifs. It has been one of my most read and shared ones. It is because we often find ourselves thinking about the “what ifs” in life, don’t we? But then, on the other hand, how often do we consider the “if He had nots” that I believe are just as important, if not more so.
As you look back on the road you have taken in life thus far, where would you be if the Lord Himself had not intervened in your life? What would have happened if His Almighty hand had not guided you to take that one specific step, or prevent you from taking one that would have had serious consequences?
During my first and only year of college (no degree here), I had become engaged to a sophomore who wanted to be an English teacher in Iowa. I wanted to be a missionary in Africa. As you guessed, the engagement did not last long. She wasn’t going the way I felt led to go. But two years later, I met the one who would be my life mate, and take the road the Lord had planned for the two of us, and yes, the kids and grandkids that followed. If He had not intervened…
I think back on that decision He led us to make when I left a well-paying, next rung-on-the-ladder VP job in Michigan in 1987. Moving our family then to the southern end of Florida, accepting a financial position with an international Christian ministry, was not the typical way to go for a 33 year-old with wife and four kids. Following that path had me help lead three ministries over the next 24 years with the administration and financial skills He has gifted me with. If He had not directed…
Where would you be today if you had married that one whom you knew deep down was not His choice? What would have happened if He had not sent you the wisdom of another, to give you scriptural advice in your decision?
If He had not closed that door to the one job you thought you desperately needed, because He knew you were to be at another, to bring His light into a dark place? Where would you be now?
If the Lord had not enabled you to escape that addiction gripping your life, whether it be drugs, alcohol, pornography, anger? What sorry state would you still be in?
If Jesus had not saved you from hell, your eternal life would end up there.
There are many situations that the Lord has not only protected us from, but even more so are the several times He has led us down the path of the narrow one. Those paths we have taken, knowingly and unknowingly.
For all those times when He intervened, He is worthy of our thankfulness and eternal love.
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in Israel, Hungary, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.
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Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 02.20.17 - #276 – “If He Had Not…” – Monday 9:30 am
All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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