Stewardship Devotional Day 4
Experiencing God Reality #4 – God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.

                A good steward is one who has such a close relationship with God that he is able to discern the voice of God by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” You cannot be a good steward without being a student of the Bible. The Holy Spirit living within you guides you in the Word. As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit is activated to work in you. He works in you to mold and shape you to be like Jesus and to be equipped to serve Him faithfully; to be a good steward.

                It is also through a consistent prayer life that God, by the Holy Spirit, reveals Himself to you. It is impossible to know what God wants you to do apart from prayer. To pray is to have a conversation with God. It involves both speaking and listening. In prayer, we bring our cares and concerns to God and He puts His desires for us within our hearts. Every good steward is one who has a strong prayer life. A consistent and fervent prayer life is key to living a life of stewardship.

                God also speaks to us by the Holy Spirit through the circumstances of our lives. It must be understood, however, you cannot act on circumstance alone. As you are in the Word and in prayer daily, the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to how God is working in the circumstances of your life. We cannot escape the great doctrine of the sovereignty of God. He is in control and He uses the circumstances of our lives (both good and bad) to bring us to a place where we can experience more of Him. Seeing how God is working in your life is necessary to being a good steward. Where are you in your life right now? How are you spiritually? How are you physically? How are you financially? What has God entrusted to your care in this specific season of your life? The answer to these questions will direct you to a life of obedient stewardship.

                The church is also an avenue through which God by the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Ephesians 4:11-12 speaks of how God has called pastors and teachers to serve in the church for the equipping and perfecting of the saints. It is through the ministry of the local church and the fellowship we enjoy with other believers that we grow in our faith. As we learn from scripture, listen to the Holy Spirit as we pray, consider the circumstances of our lives, and receive affirmation from the church we are able to discern God’s will and plan.

                Stewardship develops by listening. To be a good steward, you must learn to listen as God speaks to you by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church. Open your ears. Open your heart. Listen as God speaks and respond in obedience as a good steward.