If we look in The Word of God at Psalm 30:6 (NKJV) we will see that David says, "Now in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved (shaken)."
When all is well, health, finance, business and family, it is very easy to forget our dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ. A full barn makes one reluctant to get on one's knees and pray to the Lord for help, but when the barn is empty, it is very easy to seek the face of God for direction.
The world-famous heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Dempsey became the champion of the world in the days of the great depression in America, in the 1930's and he said, "It was very easy for me to get up in the morning and do my training exercise, jogging, weightlifting etc. when I was sleeping on a concrete floor, but when I became champion of the world and I was dressed in a silk gown, and silk pajamas, sleeping in a beautiful feather mattress bed on a cool frosty morning it was very hard for me to get out of bed." So we need to also thank God for adversity, because adversity (tribulation) brings balance.
In fact, continued worldly prosperity can be a fiery trial for the believer, because "Afflictions, though they seem severe, in mercy, are often sent."
The Book of Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV) The Word of God says, "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope." Adversity develops our character and so we need thank God for good times. We need to thank God for wonderful opportunities and holidays, but at the same time we need to be aware for that is probably when the Christian is the most vulnerable.
If you're honest with yourself, you will probably find the hardest time for you to get up in the morning and have a proper quiet time with the Lord is when you are on holiday. You deserve to rest and deserve to have a change of environment. Whether it be down by the sea or up in the mountains. However, sometimes because of the change of your routine and you relax when it comes to discipline you find that your quiet time probably suffers the most. That is definitely the case for me and the time that I find myself having a diligent quiet time is when I am on the road preaching overseas, with a hectic schedule and speaking every single day. I actually find that my quiet times are constant, they are pertinent and they are necessary, because I need input from the Holy Spirit in order to deliver the messages. I cannot and will not afford to miss a quiet time even on an aeroplane. Often I will wake-up in the middle of the night and ask the air hostess, "What time is it?" and she would say, "Do you want to know the time in South Africa or the time in America." So it can be very confusing, but I need to spend time with my Lord because I know that I'm at the front line and the battle is on. I really need to be hearing from my Commander General.
So in times of the smooth places, be aware that the enemy will try and come in through the back door and disrupt your relationship with God.
God Bless
