God Lifts and Lowers

God lifts and lowers according to His will, reminding us that every blessing—and every trial—flows through His sovereign hand.

“All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD.”—Ezekiel 17:24 NASB

God’s people had become proud. Trusting in themselves, they forgot about God. He reminded them that they were nothing without Him, but He could take a small sprig and turn it into something mighty.

The Lord also reminded them that when they became successful, they forgot that they owed everything to Him. He described how He would “bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish.” In the end, He said, “All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD.”

Today, all of us need this same reminder. We must remember that we’re simply sprigs in His sight. He can either exalt us or humble us. No matter how successful we may appear, we all must depend upon God to sustain us.

This is why it’s important to honor Him with our tithes and offerings, for they demonstrate our acknowledgement that we owe everything to Him.

Remember that you owe everything to God. He created you, and every blessing in your life has come from Him.

Don’t allow pride to enter your life or take God’s blessings for granted. If you experience success, remember to give Him the praise and glory. If you’re blessed with possessions, riches, and power, remember to submit all these things to Him. Be sure to thank Him for all He’s done for you. Praise and worship Him!

Reflection Question: What area of your life needs to surrender to God’s sovereign hand today?