May 2022 - Overflow Ministries Intl

It doesn’t matter whether you are being chased by Egyptians, hounded by creditors, or believing God for the biggest step you have ever taken in ministry. His response in the hard place is still, “Stand still.”

On February 7, 1986, I found myself in a new city with a new life and old financial problems. I had two months’ rent due in three days and nowhere to go but to God. As I sat on the floor of my empty living room to spend some quality time with the Lord, the Holy Spirit prompted me to read the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the book of Exodus. I celebrated with the Israelites there as God led these formerly enslaved people out of bondage and into freedom. Just when things started looking good for them—the presence of God manifested in pillars of cloud and fire—here comes the enemy again. Pharoah has changed his mind about letting them go, and now he’s coming after them. With a sea in front of them and the enemy behind them, God’s man, Moses, says to the people, “Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you today….” Just then, the ringing of my telephone jolted me back to 1986.

The caller was a friend who lived several miles away. He asked how I was, and I answered with the courteous, “Fine, and you?” Not put off by that contrived answer, he probed, “No really, how are you?” Something in the restated question caused my pride to break, and I exhaled one long sentence about how I had three days to pay two months’ rent. As though he never heard my words, my friend began telling me how he was driving his car and suddenly envisioned my face in his windshield. He was calling from his car, sure that something urgent was going on. He then asked how much I needed to make my rent current. When I told him, he said, “Call the rental office and tell them that they will have their money tomorrow. I will wire enough to cover the rent and give you some extra to carry you until your next pay period.” As I hung up the telephone, my eyes fell on page eighty-eight of my Bible: “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you today.”

It doesn’t matter what you are facing in your life. There is nothing that can try to overtake you that is a match for the power of God. If you can resist the temptation to make things happen in your own strength and instead find the courage to stand still, God can work a miracle for you. Your experience may not be as radical as drowned Egyptians or even a last-minute eviction rescue. But, regardless of what form the enemy is taking, God’s deliverance is powerful and life-changing. Just stand still and see His salvation.

Have you ever heard it said, “When I get a house, I’m going to make it beautiful.”? The statement sounds good until it comes out of the mouth of someone who has an entirely disheveled and unclean apartment. Why? Because the principle is true. Unless we can be faithful in what belongs to another, God will not give us our own.

I borrowed a friend’s mink coat several years ago to attend a special event. Having relocated from the north, she announced that she could not foresee having many opportunities to enjoy her beautiful fur. Therefore, she encouraged me to keep the coat as long as I wanted and to wear it as frequently as I desired. My husband was immensely uncomfortable with this arrangement, keenly aware of its value and the consequences of any damage to it. I, on the other hand, was perfectly content with the agreement. My ease stemmed partly from the fact that I enjoyed the luxurious feel of that exquisite garment on my body, but mainly because I was confident of one thing. I knew that I would treat that coat as though it was my own. And I did.

While in my possession, I was careful to guard that mink coat against damage and theft. I found the best storage source I could and paid to have it cleaned, repaired, and properly stored during the warm months. I was always mindful that I had stewardship over what belonged to someone else. When I returned the coat to my friend, I gave it to her in as good or better condition as I received it. Unknown to me, my husband was watching how I was handling what belonged to my friend, and shortly after I returned it, he decided to buy me a mink coat of my very own.

This event in my life taught me a great lesson. Faithfulness in what belongs to someone else is the cornerstone of stewardship. The truth is that each of us has a daily opportunity to demonstrate how trustworthy we can be as we handle what belongs to another. Every day, we are holding and overseeing something that belongs to God. How are you using God’s time? How are you managing the talents and abilities He has entrusted to you? How are you using the financial resources He has afforded you through salary, bonuses, gifts, and the like? How are you treating the things that belong to other people that are only available for your use because of God’s grace and favor?

Take an honest assessment and ask the question, “Am I being faithful in what belongs to someone else?” Whether what you have in your possession belongs to a family member, a friend, or a business associate, today is a good day to begin the journey of faithful stewardship.

Stand Still – Read Ex. 14:13

Treat It Like It’s Yours – Read Luke 16:12