Have you been depending on God and thanking him for everything? It’s a moment-by-moment choice. When we go to God with all our concerns, He promises to help us by directing our path. But when we choose to not include Him, we often suffer more negative than positive consequences.
This is especially true when we look at our communities. We are surrounded by voices… politicians, developers, and leaders all making big promises. How do we know who to trust?
The Bible tells us: “Prove all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, NKJV).
We can’t do this on our own. We must take this concern to God. We must start with a request, a desire for discernment, and nourish it every day with thanks. We must have positive confessions, saying, “Lord, I want you with me as I try to understand my community. Thank you for giving me Your wisdom.”
When we depend on Him, He gives us the benchmark. Christ Himself told us how to “prove” the things we hear:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16, NKJV)
God directs our path by telling us to be “fruit inspectors.” We must look past the empty promises and see the real fruit.
- When a leader promises “prosperity,” is the fruit that local families can afford to live here? Or is the fruit displacement?
- When they promise “community,” is the fruit that all people are welcomed and cared for?
When we use God’s discernment, we can see the difference between man’s promises, which often lead to sorrow, and the blessings of God. Because as the scripture says, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22, KJV).
This is a journey. Start today. Go to God with your concerns about your town. Ask Him for wisdom, thank Him for His direction, and He will show you the truth.