Take a one dollar bill and look at the back of it. Do you see the pyramid on the left, with the eye above it? Look at the Latin words bove that eye – “Annuit Coeptis.” Do you know what those words mean? “Our endeavors are favored.” That’s the meaning – our endeavors are favored! Favored by whom? You know who – God, of course!The word favor is a synonym for the word “grace.” There, right on the back of every dollar bill you handle every day of your life is a message reminding you that your endeavors are favored by God. What could possibly be a more appropriate symbol for our daily lifestyle than a one dollar bill? A day hardly passes that we don’t handle one. Every time you do, your Father is saying to you, “My grace is upon you.” Every time you touch a dollar bill, why not affirm the truth, “My Father’s favor is on me.”"
It's amazing how many ways our Father will speak to us when we get out of the religious box that most of us have lived in for so long. He really does speak in a multitude of ways, and often not with a churchy dialect.
The enemy wants us to think that the only way we can hear the voice of God is when it comes to us through a religious means. How sad when we fall for that lie. Our Father uses the whole world as His pulpit. He declares His love for us in many ways every day, even through a simple dollar bill.
Do you want to expand your capacity to hear the voice of God? Ask Him to make you aware of the ways He whispers His love to you in the routine circumstances and events of your day. Then don’t be surprised when you hear Him in ways you’ve never even thought of hearing Him before – through music, movies, art, nature, hobbies, sports – you name it.
One person wrote me and asked, “Are you saying that God speaks to us outside the Bible?” My answer is, “yes.” He will never speak to us in a way that contradicts the Bible, but He certainly speaks at times other than we are reading Scripture. How many times have you heard the Lord speak through a sermon, a choir anthem, a book written by a Christian? Many times, of course.
What I’m challenging you to do is realize that our Father’s voice extends beyond the religious and into your regular daily lifestyle. Listen for His voice assuring you, “Your efforts are blessed. Your lifestyle is favored.” That’s what He wants us to know and He is willing to tell us that truth a thousand times a day if need be.
He doesn't speak to me through many dollar bills for I do not have many of these. LOL ! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve. Or should I say "O Favored One". What a powerful way to remember what i tend to forget so much
ReplyDeleteNehemiah says, "I worked (rebuilding) because the 'good Hand of the Lord' was with me." God's Favor upon our efforts and works and a blessing on our lifestyles. Amen. So often taking for granted Lord that which only comes from You and I so lean heavilly on You for!
ReplyDeletethankyou ,for those words!
ReplyDeleteGod has even spoken to me through a Blues Traveler song but that's probably because I'm an artist, I don't see many dollar bills.
ReplyDeleteI love this. I've learned that the Holy Spirit lives in me and can speak to me at any moment, even in just random thoughts. I remember when I was single, I was driving down the road thinking about work and "heard" God say, "I'm sending you your husband." I immediately dismissed it and said, "I just made that up." Then just as immediately I heard God say, "WHY would you just make that up and say it to yourself? YOU - who are so cynical about ever getting married! That's ridiculous!" That made sense to me and I realized it really was God. All the same I knew just as that thought was totally God's doing, so would be the actually BRINGING ABOUT of what it said. So I sad, "Um, okay then," and went on with my life.
ReplyDeleteOh, I was married a year later. :)
Yup We make it so complicated there are only 2 voices God's and the Devil's. If the Holy Spirit doesn't check you move with it. If you try to reason the enemy will talk you out of your blessing.
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