For Long Life and Prosperity!

"The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth." (Psalm 34:15,16 NLT)

Starting with verse twelve--we're given a strategy for long and prosperity--keep our tongue from speaking evil and our lips from lying--and then we know that the Lord watches over those who do right, hears our cries, but He turns His face from those who do evil.

Whether people believe in God or not is a non-issue. His existence is not contingent upon our belief nor does unbelief change His Word. What He has said, He means and what He means, He says. There is no gray area or obscurity with God--and though He would prefer to see us do right, He sees when we do wrong.

Just as recently as yesterday, I read comments regarding one of the Duck Dynasty stars who had a seizure and ended up in the hospital. He was thankful to God for not dying and people attacked him for his faith. He knew God was watching and would guide those who treated him while he was in the hospital. This is a testament of his faith--experience with God--to share with others. He was right to thank God!

When the nurse who recovered from being infected with the Ebola virus openly thanked God for her recovery, people attacked her faith, accused her of spitting in the face of medical science. She knew what God would do for her and her recovery is a testament for those who did not believe, about how His love surrounds us, and when people listen to Him, He guides us to safety. She was grateful for the wisdom God poured into those who were treating her and for the prayers offered on her behalf.

Knowing and understanding God does not necessarily keep things from happening to us, but it certainly provides a means of escape when negative things do happen. This then is the evidence of Him watching over those who love Him. Those who know Him understand that He pours out His wisdom on all who are willing to receive it and the prayers of the righteous--those in right-standing with God--avail much.

These are not the only situations in which those who do not know God or understand how He operates, belittle those who do. If they knew Him, they would understand, but since they don't, they would rather belittle that which is unknown to them. Their belittling others gives them a sense of superiority that is false and will crumble at the first sign of calamity in their own lives. But then, they have no one to call upon for help in their time of need.

To live a long and prosperous life, we must not entangle ourselves with evil--those who do evil and lie to make themselves to be something when they are nothing. We, who know God because of our experience with Him, should pray for God to provide opportunity for those who do not know Him, to experience His Love, grace, and mercy for themselves.