When I was asked if I wanted to write an article, I thought: Lord, what do You want me to share?
It has always been a great blessing to live in the countryside, but this is now not just a blessing but a necessity, because we are living in the time of the end and we are on the threshold of eternity. Dear reader, if you live in the country, you are already a blessed person. You have many reasons to thank God. There are many faithful people who want to get out of the cities, but it seems quite difficult to find the right place.
I would like to share with you some thoughts about the „right place“ in the countryside.
1. The most important principle is found in Patriarchs and Prophets: "The happiest place on earth for him (Abraham) was the place where God would have him to be." (PP 126.3). This implies giving up your own ideas, plans; in other words, to be flexible in the hands of God and to accept His will.
2. A part of verse 41 of Psalm 78 expresses another important principle: "(…) they (…) limited the Holy One of Israel." Do not set limits to God through unbelief. He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). Let yourself be surprised.
3. Do not rely on your own wisdom: Even if you like a certain property, ask God: Lord, but do You like it? Do You need me in this place? "Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. Thus, instead of our own, it leads us to choose His way.“ (Ed. 253.1).
Ellen White's experience with the Paradise Valley property, which you can find in the book Ellen G. White: The Early Elmshaven Years: 1900-1905 (vol. 5) is impressive. How to buy a property in an area where there had been a long drought and also did not have a sufficient water source for a Sanatorium? They bought it by faith because the Lord said that it was good. Let's see what happened after that:
"Hamilton had reached a depth of eighty feet on the well. From day to day she (Ellen White) listened with interest to reports of progress, and frequently talked with Hamilton. One day she asked, 'What are you going to do, Brother Hamilton?' 'I have a question to ask you,' he answered. 'If you will answer that, I will give you my answer. Did the Lord tell you to buy this property?' 'Yes! Yes!' Ellen White replied. 'Three times I was shown that we should secure this particular property.' 'All right,' Mr. Hamilton said, 'I have my answer. The Lord would not give us an elephant without providing water for it to drink.' He declared that he would go on digging. By now he was well past the eighty-foot level and there still was no sign of moisture. But one day Hamilton thought he heard the sound of a stream of water in the gravel at the bottom of the well. When Palmer visited the site and looked down the well, Brother Hamilton called up, 'Mr. Palmer, would you be afraid to come down? I think there is water not far away.' Palmer did go down, and he heard it distinctly, like the tinkle of a bell or the sound of a small waterfall in the depths of a forest. Hamilton had tunneled in one direction, but to no avail. He now tunneled in another direction and with a vigorous blow his pick broke through the clay into a fine stream of water as large as a man's arm. The well quickly began to fill. There wasn't even time to get all the tools out. That night the water rose fifteen feet in the well.“ (5 BIO 366). Despite appearances, God knew that the property was suitable. The lesson for us is that if God tells you to go forward, walk by faith, but if He tells you to stop, listen to Him; it is for your own good.
4. If you really want to know whether a property is according to God's will, do not worry, He will help you understand this. The sure promise is: "Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." (Isaiah 48:17 KJV). In the case of the example that I have already mentioned, God showed his acceptance for this propriety right from the beginning. It is evident in the very fact that the owner accepted Ellen White's offer: "It was later learned that another party had offered Mr. Harrison, by letter, $6,000; the letter reached him in New York City only a few hours after the telegraphed offer of $4,000 had been accepted. The Potts property now belonged to Seventh-day Adventists (…)" (5 BIO 363.2).
5. Even though a lot of time has already passed and it still seems that you are not receiving an answer to your prayer to find the right place, do not despair! God has a plan. "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall
give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." (Psalms 37:4-5).
God has a suitable place for all who want to move to the countryside. I would like to conclude this article with a picture I took some time ago that expresses a very precious lesson:
This cucumber plant clung so tightly to this rope that I seemed to see Jacob who clung to Jesus. He said to Him, "I will not leave You until You bless me." This humble prayer of faith prevailed, and it always brings victory when it is spoken from humble hearts that want God's plan to be fulfilled in their lives and His Name to be glorified.
Geanina Lungu, originally from Romania, has been living in Germany since 2013 where she studied B. A. "Interkulturelle Kommunikation" (intercultural communication).
Her biggest passion is missionary work through the Internet and by distributing books and leaflets.
Comments