Waiting on God Makes Us Strong

Psalm 27:14 (KJV) “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Can you think back to a time or perhaps even multiple times in your life where you had to wait on God to work things out for you? You had to keep trusting that God was in control. As you reflect back to those times in your life, I’m sure you can recall the details of the difficulties you were up against, and you were determined to keep having faith even though things made no sense to you. There were probably even many days where you wondered where God was or if He had forgotten about you and the pain you were feeling as you had to navigate your way through the unanswered questions. But everyday something miraculous happened…your heart had strength to keep believing one more day!

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When God places us in situations where we must wait on Him,  although those situations are not always comfortable for us, He is often using the time to purify our hearts and prepare us for the good things that are ahead. In Deuteronomy 31:6, He promised to never leave us or forsake us so we know He is right there with us as we wait. Through waiting we learn to persevere in faith and be steadfast because we have to stand strong with the strength that God promises to give us. As we read through God’s Word, we can see that many of the people in the Bible waited for long periods of time before they saw the manifestation of God’s promises in their life. But we also know from reading God’s Word, that God is a God who can move suddenly! So as we wait, we should always be ready for things to turn around quickly on our behalf. Waiting equips us to be people who can handle God’s very best. So rather the wait is short or long just know that God always wants what is best for you.

While we wait we can use the wisdom in 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 to help us through. It tells us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks…

Rejoice – because we already know we have the victory in Christ Jesus our Lord, shouts of victory come from the homes of the righteous (Psalm 118:15).

Pray – without ceasing so we will stay closely connected to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Give thanks – because thanksgiving is the fruit of a grateful heart that is ready and able to receive God’s abundant blessings. Giving thanks shows humility before God and appreciation for the great things He has done and will do. Being thankful is His will for us (1 Thess 5:18).

Remember God’s past faithfulness to you as you wait. Also remember through your waiting you are an inspiration to others who are inspired by your endurance.

 

What’s Your Idea of Success?

Joshua 1:7-9(NIV)

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Success isn’t just reaching the final goal, but it’s also the steps you take toward that goal that count. Every bit of progress you make, regardless of how small or insignificant it may seem at the time, is an important part of the process. There is no one way of doing things, and there is no one mold that every individual has to fit into. What may work for some, may not work for others. When you understand that you are unique and have a unique purpose, you can focus on what is best for you without comparing yourself to others. Comparing yourself to others is one of the fastest ways to lose focus and get off track. Society has not been shy about giving us its viewpoint on what success is, and it definitely has not been shy about making sure that viewpoint reaches the eyes and ears of every single human soul that is willing to watch and listen.

I have heard many successful entrepreneurs say that we should never be afraid to question what it is that is being suggested to us, because we actually do have a choice in the matter. We can choose what we will do with our lives. We do have the right to question the things we are told to do and a right to “break from the norm” and choose an alternate route. True success is just simply doing what God, not society, has called you to do. Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV) says, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He promised to make our steps firm. That is a promise that society can never make to us.

As I continued to think about success, Joshua came to my mind. In the book of Joshua, chapter one, we read about Moses dying and Joshua then being installed as the leader. Joshua’s task was to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the land the Lord promised to give them. The Lord gave Joshua some very important instructions about being successful in his new leadership role.

He told him to…

  1. Be Strong and Courageous
  2. Obey the Word of God
  3. Meditate on the Word of God Day and Night
  4. Do Not Be Discouraged
  5. Remember God is With You Wherever You Go

God told Joshua that if he does these things he would be prosperous and successful. Based on the instructions God gave Joshua, we can reach the conclusion that fear, disobedience to God, a lack of spending time in the Word of God and discouragement are all pitfalls that can keep us from being successful and taking hold of the blessings that God wants to give us.  There are times in life that we may even question the things God is asking us to do because of doubt and fear, but God is always patient with us as we get to know Him better and learn to be obedient to Him. I’m learning more and more each day that the wisdom of God can handle our questions and that the love of God can surpass our doubts and fears.

By the way, Joshua and the Israelites did successfully cross the Jordan River. When they crossed, they set up twelve stones to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. They put the stones in place so that when future generations of children question what the stones mean, they could share with them the story of how God allowed them to cross the river on dry ground, just as He had done for Moses when He split the Red Sea. The stones would also serve as a reminder to all the nations of the Earth, that the Lord’s hand is powerful (Joshua 4:21-24).

Don’t be afraid to question the ideas of success that are being presented to you by society, after all it’s your life and you only get one chance to live it. Like Joshua, allow God’s power to work in you and through you so that you too will leave evidence of His power to future generations.

Father,

As we aim for success help us to discern right from wrong and produce fruit that will make a difference, not only now in the present, but also in the future. May the works we do leave evidence of Your love and Your power for generations to come.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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You Possess a Valuable Gift

Philippians 2:13 (NLT), “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

Every person has at least one thing that they are not just great at, but gifted at. Some have studied music for years and are great musicians, yet some can sit down and play an instrument, even though they have never had a music lesson a day in their lives. Most people can wash a car, yet there are those who can not only wash it, but also make it look like it’s ready to be displayed on a showroom floor. The funny thing about a gift, is that often times others may notice it in a person before the person notices it in themselves.

My mother is a retired nurse. Although nursing itself is an occupation that she went to school to learn, the character traits that God instilled in her enabled her to not only be a nurse, but a gifted nurse. Her personality and the heart of love and kindness that He gave her, turned an ordinary job into her purpose and passion. Mom would often say nursing was hard work, but nevertheless she always seemed to do it with joy. For her it was a delight to care for others, especially the elderly with whom she loved working. Mom was gifted with patience and understanding, which caused her to treat each patient with the dignity they deserved. Her patients, their families, her fellow nurses and other staff members loved her and always looked forward to working with her. Someone at my mom’s job once told her that when she entered the room, a spirit of peace came in with her. We know exactly who that Spirit of Peace is, it’s the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God. He is the One who empowers us so that He can use us as vessels, to take what is ordinary and make it extraordinary. When we commit the work we do to Him, He will give us what we need to make a true difference.

I’m not sure what gifts you possess, but the list is endless and no gift is insignificant. Some are gifted at organizing, some are gifted at decorating, and some are gifted at being great helpers, they show up and pitch in wherever needed. All gifts count for something,  and add value to the lives of others when they are shared. In God’s eyes, the soloist who sings in front of a large congregation, is just as important as the person in the choir who never does a solo, but takes time out to visit and sing with someone in the nursing home.  Both singers are sharing their gift,  and both singers are being used by God.

I hope that you are using the special gift that God gave you and will find lasting joy as you pursue your passions and use your gift to bless others.

I thank God for the gifts He has given to each of us.

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Embrace the Possibilities by Faith

Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
What is it that you are believing God for that seems impossible? Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, that with God all things are possible. When we live our lives in the will of God,  the sky is the limit, there is no telling where His love will take us. Living in His perfect will does not mean that we will be perfect people, but it does mean we will live our lives with joy as we overcome challenges, experience victories and see ourselves mature in our faith. Although everyday may not be a breeze for us, His grace is sufficient to carry us through everyday (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Having faith is not believing in what is seen, but what is unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18). Faith is not just trusting God when things are in order, but it’s also trusting Him when things seem out of our control. The truth is that when we surrender our lives to Him, He is always in control. There is never a single moment He is unaware of what is going on in our lives. We are never apart from His love (Psalm 139:8). On our best days, He is there. On our worst days, He is still there. When we put our faith in God, we can embrace the possibilities of what life has to offer us, and then trust Him to make those possibilities a reality in our lives.  God has given us a simple recipe to increase our faith, Matthew 10:17(KJV) says,”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Reading and hearing God’s Word will increase our faith and empower us to believe.
I encourage you to embrace the possibilities by faith, and then trust God to provide. Don’t be afraid to believe!
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A New Year’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are thankful that You have allowed us to enter into a brand new year. We give ourselves to You, just as we are. Any worries we have we commit them to You right now and we choose to trust in You, our all powerful, all knowing, ever present God. In 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT) we are reminded that…”No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

As we journey into this new year, we are excited about all You have prepared for us. Help us to embrace the unconditional love You have for us. It is learning to accept Your unconditional love and depend on You that will see us through. When we understand that You love us, choose to receive that love, and share it with others, we will make a difference in the world around us. The more of Your love that we have in our hearts the better and more fulfilling our lives will be. Teach us to love. We love because You first loved us (1 John 4:19).

The past year has given us many experiences, some pleasant and some unpleasant, but either way we have learned valuable lessons along the way and have grown in wisdom. Yesterday, today and forever You remain the same (Hebrews 13:8). The fact that You never change gives us a solid foundation. We all have needs and desires and You promised to meet our needs and grant our desires as we delight ourselves in You (Philippians 4:19 & Psalm 37:4). We all have areas where we need to improve, but we’re thankful that you’re patient with us as we continue to learn and grow. The mercy you show toward us is amazing. Help us to find contentment in walking with You daily.  Guide our steps and deliver us from evil, keep us safe each day.

We ask that You impart wholeness to those who are broken, comfort to those who are hurting, strength to those who are weak, hope to those who feel hopeless, abundance to those who are in lack, a sense of purpose to those who feel their lives are meaningless, healing to those who are sick, peace to those who are anxious, confidence to those who are tempted to shrink back, and justice for those who are being mistreated. Let Your truth reign over every lie that has been told. May Your Spirit fill those who are empty, but most of all may Your salvation reach those who are lost.

We rejoice in Your goodness and we rest in Your loving kindness. You are our Sovereign God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 2019 is in Your faithful hands and for this we are grateful. We are secure in You.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT),”For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Have a Blessed New Year, Happy 2019!!!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas and Thank You

Thank you so much for taking time out to read my blogs over the last year and share God’s Word with me. May you and your family have a very Merry Christmas while reflecting on the gift that Jesus is to us. I pray His love would touch your heart in a special way.

John 14:6 (NIV), “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”