How do we receive the promotion that comes from God?

In life, we have many obligations and commitments. Each of us play multiple roles. One needs to be a parent, a son, an employee and the roles increase as you are actively involved in more things. Often Christians have no qualms to take on these roles and more activities. Yet, sometimes we may struggle to commit more to God and to His kingdom. For it is easier to commit to things which we can see and things which will directly benefit us.

But we are called to a life of eternity. We are not meant to build just treasures on this earth, but to build our treasures in heaven and for the eternity life that God has prepared us for. (Matt 6:19-21) The bible reminds us in Col 3:2 to set our minds on things above and not on things on the earth.

It is not wrong to be busy with work and family and things are on earth.
But let it not be the only things that you go after. While we think that promotion will come from our hard work and personal achievements, do not forget that the sovereignty of God is also at work. All positions are given by the Lord. God is the One who removes kings and raises kings. (Dan 2:21)

As you get busy with your daily life, don't lose sight of the spiritual aspects of our life that God wants us to build. Invest time to grow your relationship with God. Invest time to build up your spirit man . When you are renewed on the inside by God, your life will transform on the outside where people can see the evident of God's work in you and through you.

Just like Daniel, Shadrah and Abednego. Although they were trained in the culture and ways of the Babylonians and they excelled in the place that God has positioned them in, they continue to live a life in consecration, fasting and praying to the Lord.

Even when they were faced with impending danger, risk of losing their lives and even thrown into the fiery furnace, they stood firm in their faith in God and refused to worship the pagan gods.

As a result, they received a supernatural, miraculous deliverance. Right in the midst of the furnace, Jesus was walking through the fire with them and protecting them. Therefore they came out of the furnace completely unharmed. That became a powerful testimony of God's greatness and power before King Nebuchadnezzar, and the satraps, administrators, governors and the king's counselors.

King Nebuchadnezzar was so amazed by the miraculous deliverance that he immediately made a decree, that no one can speak against the God whom Daniel and his friends worshipped and acknowledged that there was no other god who can deliver like this. Not only that, he promoted the three of them. (Dan 3:27-30)

Our God is the All-Powerful God. There is truly none who can deliver like Him. When you stay committed to Him, when you fervently seek Him and consecrate your life to Him, He will never shortchange you. When you walk through the fiery trials of persecution for your uncomprising faith, you can be sure that Jesus is walking with you. He will protect you and will not let anything or anyone harm you.

At the end when you passed through the test of fire, you will come forth as gold (Job 23:10) and like Daniel and his friends, you will receive your promotion in God. As you humble yourself before God, God will exalt you in due time! (1 Pet 5:6)

Daniel 3:24-30
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here. ” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank You that You are God Almighty, the All-Powerful God. I thank You that You are more than able to deliver me from any trial and any situation. I acknowledge Your sovereignty and allow You to rule and reign in every area of my life. I pray that I will not be so preoccupied on things on earth, that I may lose my consecration in You. Let my first love, my priority and focus to be constantly on heavenly things. Give me the grace and strength to stand on Your word so that I will not compromise my faith in You. I trust in You that as I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, all things that including my promotion shall be added to me. I believe and thank You that as I humble myself before You, You will exalt me in due time.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

God bless,
Hazel Ashley