Factor in the Presence

How do you respond when God brings your plans to a halt?

Amaziah had already spent a fortune to hire the Israelites when God told him to send them all home.

“But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” (2 Chronicles 25:9)

“But what about …” This is the question of calculation. It's the hesitation that arises in our hearts when God tells us to cut our losses and take an unexpected turn.

But what about the time I took?

But what about the money I spent?

But what about the people I told?

It’s embarrassing to send home all the soldiers we hired. It is painful to crumble up the work. It is humbling to say “Yes” to God and “No” to the plans we announced.

In the calculating, we wrestle with the sense that God doesn't care about what we invested. We wish he would factor in all we would have to lose.

But in the hesitation, we forget the all-significant factor.

“The man of God replied, ‘The Lord can give you much more than that.” (2 Chronicles 25:9)

A hundred talents of silver was nothing next to the Spirit. Which was better: to have hired soldiers for the battle? Or to have an ally in the Almighty?

Calculating isn’t the problem. Jesus told us to count the cost (Luke 14:28). The issue is that we don’t factor in the Presence. No matter the cost, the Spirit of Christ always tips the scale. The gain of having him is always greater than any loss—no matter how much you release in the redirection.

Amaziah’s skewed calculations revealed a disregard for the weight of glory (2 Chronicles 25:14-15).

Make the location of the Presence your first, second, and third consideration. If God is in it, send the soldiers home. Crumble it up. Cut your losses.

Go with God instead of your original plan.

He is able to give you so much more.