"Why Praise?"

"Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him."  Psalm 68:4

 

One of the mistakes we make is in the area of "praising" the Lord.  We think we have to have good reason to praise Him.  He has had to performed some great miracle, He had to answer some prayer in the affirmative, we have to feel like it or our emotions have to line up in order for us to praise the Lord.  If you wait for all the "right conditions" to praise Him.... you never will.

 

Life doesn't always give you something to "praise" the Lord about.  It gives you plenty of reasons not to.  It works on your mind, your emotions, through your circumstances, and so on.  And if we listen to them, or are led by them, we will withhold our praise from the Lord.

 

The reason we praise Him is because He is worthy of it-- plain and simple.  He is worthy of praise when things are going well and when things are not so well.  He is worthy of our praise when life isn't treating us very well and when everything is wonderful.  He is worthy of our praise when we have all our needs met and when we are in lack and want.  He is worthy to be praised when things don't turn out like we had hoped and when they do. 

 

Praising the Lord is not an "emotional" thing.  (Although our emotions might become involved.)  Praise is a "faith" thing.  We praise Him by faith even when we don't feel like it.  Praise is an "honor" thing.  We praise Him because He deserves this honor.

 

Are you withholding your praise because you don't "feel" like praising Him?  Are you withholding your praise because you don't think you have anything to praise Him for?  Are you holding back your praise waiting for some great miracle to happen and then you will praise Him?  If so, you need to change your way of thinking about praise.  You praise Him because He is worthy and deserves the praise.... Period!

 

Have a great day.  The reason we praise the Lord is because He is worthy of it.

"Throw Your Hands Up"

"And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statute."  Psalm 119:48

 

We have all heard the expression- "throw your hands up".  Many of us have thrown our hands up at one time or other and said we just can't do it.  Some of you are ready to throw your hands up now.  You are ready to give up.  You are ready to abandon all efforts in your situation to make it better.  You have tried and tried but to no avail so you are ready to give up (throw your hands up and quit). 

 

You can throw your hands up as a sign of quitting, but why don't you first throw your hands up in surrender.  Lift your hands in surrender to the Lord.  Lifting  your hands is also a sign of surrender.  Perhaps before you throw your hands up and quit, you may need to throw them up in surrender to the Lord.  Perhaps you have been trying to do things in your own strength, your own way, in your own ability, in your own understanding and according to what you want and desire.  Throw them up in surrender and do them His way. 

 

You can also throw your hands up in praise.  When we lift our hands in praise to the Lord, powerful things happen.  Praise takes the focus off of us and our problems and places it on Him.  When we are focused on Him, everything else dwindles down in size.  The giant doesn't look so intimidating.  The mountain doesn't look as big.  The situation doesn't look as impossible.  Our focus transfers from us to Him and we can see things more clearly when we are focused on Him.

 

So, you have a choice.  You can either throw up your hands and quit.  Or you can throw/lift them in surrender and let the Lord fight it for you.  Or you can lift them in praise and bring things into proper perspective.  Or you can lift them in surrender and praise to the Lord.  Which will bring victory over the temptation to throw them up and give up.

 

Have a great day.  Are you ready to throw your hands up?  Throw them up-- in surrender and praise to the Lord.  

 

"I Can't, He Can"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  Philippians 4:13

 

How many times have you said, "I can't do it"?  I can't take it any more.  It is beyond me.  I can't handle it.  I can't, I can't, I can't.  I have been told that "can't" shouldn't be in a Christians vocabulary.  We can.  We can do all things through Christ.  There is nothing that we can't do through Him.  This is true.  But there is a flip side to this.  And it is-- I can't.  This is also true.   

 

As a Christian, "I can't" and "I can" should be in our vocabulary and in the way we live our lives.  We have to come to the truth and fact that we can't.  We can do nothing on our own.  We can't save ourselves.  We can't empower ourselves.  We can't strengthen ourselves.  We can't heal ourselves.  We can't deliver ourselves.  We have no might, no wisdom, no strength, no direction, nothing on our own.  We are weak, frail, lost and dumb like sheep.  

 

But it doesn't stop there.  We then have to acknowledge that while we can do nothing on our own-- nothing without the Lord-- we can do all things through Him.  Jesus even acknowledged that He could do nothing without the Father.  The Bible says we are strong in the Lord and the power of His might.  It is His strength that is perfected in our weakness.  It is His saving, delivering, healing, power that we walk in-- not our own. 

 

So, the "attitude" that we should have is-- I can't, but He can.  I acknowledge that I can't, but I acknowledge that He can.  I can't do it, but He can do it through me.  I don't have it, but Jesus does.  Everything we are, we have, we posses, we walk in, is given to us by the grace and goodness of God.  So, yes, I can, but only through Him, because of Him and by Him.  He gets the credit and glory for whatever I "can" do.  Because it is not I, but Christ in me.  Hallelujah!

 

Have a great day.  It is not me, but it is Christ.  I can't but He can.  I can do nothing, but because of Jesus in me I can do all things. 

"Better Or Worse"

"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."  John 6:66

 

When I got married, I came into a covenant relationship with my husband.  There were vows that I made to him to love him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.  At the time when I made them, I never really thought about the "for worse, or poorer, or in sickness" part of the vows.  I was in love and thought that life from then on would be nothing but wonderful.  That isn't always the case.  When things don't go the way we hoped, when hardship hits, when pain comes, when your spouse disappoints you, when outside problems put a strain on your marriage, a lot of times you give up and no longer honor the vows you made.  At that point many end the marriage. 

 

I have noticed a parallel between our marriages-- especially the vows we make-- and our relationship with the Lord.  When we come to Christ and give our lives to Him, we promise to love, honor and cherish Him as long as we live.  We are so in love with Him that we don't think about ever leaving Him.  We also tend to think that coming to Him means that our lives are going to be a "bed of roses" from that point on.  We think that nothing bad will ever happen to us again.  We think that our life will be nothing but bliss from that moment on and forever. 

 

The reality is, coming to Christ does not exempt you from problems.  There will still be times of heartache, grief, temptation, suffering, afflictions and struggles.  Remember, roses have thorns.  At this point, when He doesn't meet your expectations, when difficulties come that you thought would never happen, when you feel He has let you down, when hardships that you didn't count on come, what are you going to do?  Are you going to give up and walk away from Him?  Many do.  Are you going to continue to trust Him?  Hold tight to Him?  Refuse to let Him go?  Resist the temptation to turn away from Him and return to the world?  Or will you continue to honor Him and love Him with all your heart-- in spite of the problems? 

 

Have a great day.  Life, even with Christ, is not always easy.  It doesn't always turn out the way you want.  But it is still so much better than life without Him.  So don't give up on Him.   

"They Are Tiny"

"Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I."  Psalm 142:6

 

Here the Psalmist is in distress because of his persecutors.  He cries out to the Lord for help.  But in his crying to the Lord he makes a comparison.  He says that they are stronger then he is.  He is too weak to do anything about them.  He is too weak and they are too strong for him to deliver himself.  But then he goes on and makes another comparison.  Although they are stronger than he is, they are not stronger than the Lord is.  He is the stronger One.  

 

In order to win the victory over your enemy; in order to be victorious over the situations that come against you; in order to come out on top when things are weighting you down; when you are persecuted, when you are attacked, when you are in a battle, the first thing you need to do is remember that though this is bigger and stronger than you are.... it isn't bigger or stronger than the Lord.  

 

You can't just look at the size of the mountain.  You can't just look at the size of the problem or the raging of the sea, or the fire of the furnace, or the height of the giant, you have to "size them up" next to the Lord.  As you stand before the problems, compared to you they are larger.  But when you stand before them and compare them to the Lord, you will find they are much smaller.  After all, even the earth is His footstool.  If the earth is only the size of His footstool, that means everything else in the world is tiny compared to Him.

 

Have a great day.  When you compare the size of your problems to the Lord, they are not as big as they appear.    

"The Miracle Attitude"

"The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."  Exodus 14:14

 

When we go through suffering, hardships, problems or difficulties, it is a set up and an opportunity to see the Lord work on our behalf and to be the recipient of a miracle.  When King Hezekiah was on his death bed he saw a miracle-- time went in reverse.  When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, he got a miracle-- the mouth's of the lions were shut.  When the three Hebrews were in the fiery furnace they received a miracle-- the fire did not consume them.  When David stood before the giant he received a miracle-- he wasn't killed but he killed Goliath with a sling shot and stone.  All of these received miracles through difficult times. 

 

But your miracle will depend on your attitude.  You will either receive a miracle or miss your miracle, depending on your attitude.  The Israelites had just come out of Egypt.  Moses was leading them through the Lord's leading.  They came to the Red Sea.  It was impassable.  And worse than that, Pharaoh's army was pressing in behind them.  They began to complain.  The people had an attitude that day concerning their situation-- "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?  Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." (vv. 11,12)  And Moses had an attitude concerning the situation-- "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." (v.13) 

 

Had the attitude of the Israelites been the prevailing one, they would have gone back to Egypt and died in bondage.  But since the attitude of Moses prevailed, they saw a mighty miracle-- actually two miracles.  They saw a sea open up and become dry ground and their passage to freedom, and they saw their enemy completely destroyed before their eyes. 

 

Are you going through something today?  Are you going to have a fearful, complaining  attitude about it?  Are you going to give up?  Are you going to focus on the situation?  Or are you going to look to God?  Are you going to stretch your faith and trust Him?  Are you going to believe that He is working for your good and on your behalf?  Are you going to stand in faith knowing that nothing is impossible for Him and this situation is an opportunity to see and receive  a miracle?

 

Have a great day.  Your miracle is attached to your attitude.  Don't let a wrong attitude cause you to miss it.

"The Right Direction Through Acknowledging The Lord"

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  Proverbs 3:6

 

This is a very familiar passage of scripture.  Maybe you can quote it.  But being able to quote it, knowing it by heart, hearing it preached many times, does you no good if you aren't applying it to your life.  The scriptures are given to us to live by. 

 

When the Word says to acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, it means that you are to acknowledge Him in all your ways.  It doesn't mean that you pick and choose the areas you will acknowledge Him in.  It doesn't mean that you acknowledge Him in only the "hard" decisions.  It means you seek Him, call upon Him, receive counsel from Him, look to Him in all your decisions-- big or small, hard or easy.  

 

Are you in the "valley of decision"?  Do you have to make a choice concerning a matter?  Are you being torn between two paths and which one to take?  Are you unsure of the direction you should go?  Are you trying to make a decision about the next step in your life?  Are you acknowledging the Lord in it?  Or are you trying to figure it out yourself?  Are you trying to decide what is right, what is wrong, what is the best course, what you should do, or what you shouldn't do?  May I settle it for you?  May I tell you what you should do?  Acknowledge the Lord.  Seek Him.  Ask for His guidance.  He will always give you the right answer.  He will always tell you what to do.  He will always lead you in the right direction.  He will direct your path. 

 

Have a great day.  If you apply the Word to your life by doing what it says, you will always make the right decision.   

"He Came To Save"

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."  Luke 19:10

 

I think we forget sometimes why Jesus came to earth.  He didn't come to make us rich.  He didn't come to give us another religion.  He didn't come to give us a moral code.  He didn't come to give us some philosophy.  He came to seek and save mankind who was lost.

 

When man sinned, through his disobedience in the Garden of Eden, he lost his eternal life.  He lost his relationship with the Father.  He lost his state of purity.  At that point he tried to devise his own plan to hide his sin, cover his sin, change his sin and regain what he lost.  But to no avail.  It took God sending His One and Only Sinless Son to regain it for us.  It took Jesus to find us, save us and restore us. 

 

From the beginning when Adam sinned until now, mankind has been trying to find his own way back to God.  It can't be done.  We will never find a way to save ourselves.  It took Jesus who is the Way to come and point us in the right direction and save us. 

 

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.  If you are lost, if you are still trying to find your own way to the Father, you never will unless you come to Jesus and accept what He did for you at the cross.  He loves you and wants to forgive you and give you eternal life.  Had He not, He never would have come.  Let Him save you today and stop trying to save yourself--- you never will, it is impossible.

 

Have a great day.  You are lost, let Jesus find you and save you.

"Not A Passive Kingdom"

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."  Matthew 11:12

 

When David and his men reached their home base in Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had invaded it, burned it with fire and taken their wives, sons and daughters captives.  David and his men were so greatly distressed that they wept until they couldn't weep any more.  At that point David did something.  He encouraged himself in the Lord, sought the Lord concerning what he should do and then followed the Lord's command to pursue the enemy and recover what had been taken.

 

David was hurting.  He was grieved.  He was in pain.  But he did not sit passively by and do nothing.  He didn't sit down, give up and wait for a miracle.  There is a time to "be still" and see the salvation of the Lord.  But mostly there is a call to action.  The kingdom is taken by force.  It is full of action.  We aren't to be sitting down, sitting still, or retreating from the enemy, but we are to go out to the battle.  We are to run to it not from it.  Sure, we need to hold on to the ground we have, but it doesn't stop there.  We are to go and gain and claim new ground and territory. 

 

Are you facing an enemy?  Are you sitting back doing nothing about it?  Are you in passive mode?  Then get up.  Go forth strong in the Lord and the power of His might.  Take through prayer, intercession and praise what the Lord has already promised you.  Don't be bulled by the enemy.  Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  Go pursue what is yours through Christ.  Don't sit there "hoping" it will happen or change.  Make it change.  Declare and decree the Lord's will over your situation.  Take hold of the promises.  Don't let the enemy take control.  You take control through the Spirit in the Name of Jesus.

 

Have a great day.  God's kingdom is not passive.  Get up, pursue, go forth, take control. 

 

"It Ain't Big Enough For Both"

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the."  Joshua 24:15

I am sure you have heard the phrase:  This town ain't big enough for the both of us.  You hear it a lot on the westerns on television.  I heard it the other day while I was praying.  I was praying about the flu epidemic that had hit our city and heard it in my spirit.  What I heard was -- this town ain't big enough for Jesus and the flu. 

Let me take it a step further this morning and put it on a personal level.  Whatever is going on in your life and you have Jesus living in your life, your life isn't big enough for Jesus and it.  Your life isn't big enough for Jesus and self to both occupy the throne of your heart.  Your heart isn't big enough for Jesus and any besetting sin.  It isn't big enough for Jesus and jealousy, bitterness, unforgiveness, addiction, adultery, disappointment, discouragement, sickness, lying, fear, condemnation, etc.  It isn't big enough for them both to occupy it.

Since it isn't big enough for both, one has to go.  Which one?  The choice is up to you.  If you are smart, if you truly want the Lord's will in your life, if you want to be surrendered to Jesus, if you want His plan fulfilled in your life, then the choice is easy.  Jesus doesn't have to go and won't unless you chose to hang on to the other.  He is the greater One.  He is the One that should be feared and revered.  He is the One who is powerful enough to send the other on its way. 

Your life isn't big enough for both, so which one will it be?  Are you going to let Jesus send these others packing and on their way back to the pit?  Or are you going to let them have the rule?  Will you let them stay and "crowd out" Jesus and push Him to the back?

Have a great day.  Your life isn't big enough for Jesus and the things that work against Him and try to destroy you. 

"Get Well - part 2"

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."  Ephesians 5:26

When I had the flu last week, the two main things that I was told to do to get better was rest and drink lots of liquids.  They tell you to drink lots of liquids so that your body will stay hydrated.  When you are well hydrated, your body performs at its highest level.  Your organs can do their job properly.  Your muscles don't stiffen up on you and so on. 

Yesterday we compared staying spiritually healthy to what I had to do to be physically healthy.  We talked about staying spiritually healthy by resting in the Lord.  This morning let's talk about another component of staying spiritually healthy which is staying hydrated--- drinking plenty of water.

The Bible speaks of the Word of God as water.  If we are to be spiritually healthy, we cannot neglect to "drink water".  We can't neglect to take God's Word into our hearts, minds and life.  His Word is like marrow and fatness to our bones.  He sent His Word and healed us.  His Word refreshes us and renews our minds.

If we don't get enough water physically, our bodies will suffer for it.  If we don't get enough water/Word our spiritual well-being will suffer for it as well.  We will lack the wisdom that we need.  We won't have strength and power.  Our faith level will become low.  We won't have clear direction, understanding or insight.  Confusion will come, frustration will set in, condemnation can gain a hold, fear will rule you, the enemy will snare you and you will find yourself giving into sin.

Are you drinking water daily?  Your body needs it.  Are you drinking the water of God's Word daily?  Your spiritual man needs it.  You can't live without water-- physically or spiritually.

Have a great day.  Make sure you are drinking in the Word of God today if you want to stay spiritually healthy.    

 

"Get Well"

"Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."  Psalm 116:7

 

When I was sick this past week, I wasn't given much medicine to take but I was told by the doctor and various other people to get lots of rest and drink plenty of liquids.  Rest and liquids are the two main things that are conducive to getting well.  While laying there the thought occurred to me that this is the same thing we need to do to be healthy spiritually.

 

The reason many of us are spiritually sickly is because we are not getting the rest that we need.  I am not just talking about physical rest, although there is way too much busyness in our lives that is unnecessary.  I am mostly talking about resting in the Lord. 

 

How many of us are busy trying to take matters into our own hands, solve our own problems, figure out a solution to our needs, come up with an answer to our prayers or make something happen, instead of resting in the Lord and His ability to do it?  We would be happier and healthier if we would let God take care of things for us and stop trying to do it ourselves.  When we aren't resting, we are striving.  When we are striving, we are opening the door to spiritual sickness and disease-- anxiety, confusion, frustration, depression, complaining, etc.  These "break the spirit and dry up the bones".  They make our faith weak.  They diminish our trust in the Lord.  They take our eyes off of our true Help.         

 

Is this you?  Are you trying to make something happen?  Are you in a constant state of frustration?  Do you feel tired and weary all the time?  Are you always busy trying to work something out?  Then you aren't resting.  Until you learn to rest and let the Lord handle it, you will continue to feel tired and exhausted.

 

Have a great day.  You need to stop trying to do it and rest by letting the Lord take care of it. 

"A Miracle Bed"

"Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord." 2 Kings 20:5

 

Many of you know that I have been in the bed the past week with the flu.  I thank you for your prayers.  I am so thankful to be better and up and about today.  I wanted to share with you some things that I "learned" while on my "bed of affliction".  First, I want to say that the Lord doesn't put sickness on us.  Sickness is a result of living in a fallen, sin-cursed world.  He is our Healer in sickness.  But, when sickness or affliction of any sort come our way, the Lord can still take that thing and work good in our lives through it.  He did mine.  There were things that He showed me, revelations that I received, direction on some issues, wisdom, insight and instruction that He gave me while I was "flat of my back". If He wills I will share them with you in the future.

 

When we are going through hard times, afflictions, suffering, tribulations, etc., sometimes it feels like the world has ended.  We feel like it won't ever get any better.  We feel like the Lord has forgotten us.  King Hezekiah in the Old Testament felt like this.  But we see that the Lord had not forgotten him.  The Lord was well aware of his situation.  The Lord was still speaking to him.  The Lord sent his healing.  The Lord gave him a great revelation and mighty miracle.  (In case you have forgotten, this is the king whom the Lord turned time back for as a sign that He would heal him.)

 

A bed of affliction turned into a place of miracles for Hezekiah.  It was a place for a miracle in the life of Jarius' daughter.  It was a place of a miracle in Peter's mother in law's life.  It was a place of a miracle in the life of the man who was left at the Gate Beautiful, and the man at the pool, and the man who was lowered by friends through the roof to get to Jesus.

 

The point is:  God has not forgotten where we are when we are going through affliction, pain or suffering.  He is still aware of us.  He can still minister to us no matter the circumstance.  And He can still give a miracle anywhere, any time and in any way He chooses. 

 

Have a great day.  A miracle can happen even on a bed. 

 

"Who He Is"

"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."  Philippians 3:8,10

 

We have heard it said, and preached, that the reason why we don't see a demonstration of the power of God in our lives is because we don't know who we are in Christ.  I have taught this myself.  And while it is true, I believe the truer reason is not that we don't know who we are in Him, but that we don't know who He is. 

 

Yesterday, we talked about giving people a revelation of who Jesus is.  I think we need a personal revelation of who Jesus is, and who He is in us.  I think we are more like the disciples who had been with Jesus for a long time yet still had to ask-- Who is He?

 

Our goal should not be-- do great things through me, Lord.  Our goal should be-- I want to know you, Lord.  As we seek to know Him, we are applying the principle of "seek ye first the kingdom of God".  As we do, then "all these things will be added unto us".  As we seek to know Him, then everything else will fall into place.  We will be used in greater ways.  We will fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives.  Miracles and signs will follow our lives.  We will reach the lost in greater numbers.  A former pastor of mine used to say, "Don't get the cart before the horse".  I think this is what we are doing.  We are trying to do the work of the Lord without knowing the Lord of the work.  We are trying to figure out who we are in Him when we need to be figuring out who He is in us.

 

Have a great day.  It isn't all about who we are in Christ, it is also about who He is.  When we learn who He is, then we will discover who we are in Him.   

"The Trend"

"But we preach Christ crucified..."  1 Corinthians 1:23a

 

I have seen a trend taking place in the church over the last several years.  It seems as if the church is trying to keep up with the world.  With each new trend that the world develops the church seems to adopt it and bring it into their programs.  Oh, they may clean it up a bit, tweak it a little, throw in something that appears spiritual or repackage it, but it is the same thing.  The excuse I have heard for doing this is-- its a new day, old methods don't work, people want something new and relevant to the times, they don't want the old antiquated teachings of the church.  We have to make it new, improved and exciting and on their level in order to reach them.  We have to get in touch with where they are.

 

People have not changed since the beginning of time.  Yes, our fashions change, our mindsets change, technology changes the way we conduct our affairs, our forms of entertainment change, etc. but mankind has not changed.  We are still, in 2018, born sinners just like we have been for thousands of years.  We are still in need of a Savior.  We still have the need to be loved.  We still have problems that need to be solved.  We still bleed red when we are cut like we always have.  We still grieve at a loss, feel pain when we are hurt, have an evil heart, face fear and confusion.  We are still on a quest to find truth.  We have not changed inside, only the outside has changed.

 

When we bring the world trends into the church in order to win the world, all we are doing is reaching their flesh.  We are appealing to their flesh, but not reaching their hearts, souls and spirits.  We are in reality not reaching them at the point of their true need.  If we really want to reach them, we must not use "new and improved" methods taken from the world that cater to the flesh.  We must do the same thing that Jesus did.  What did He do?  He gave the people a revelation of Who the Heavenly Father is.  He gave them a revelation of the Kingdom.  He gave them a revelation of the power of God, the love of God, the grace and mercy of God.  He showed them the Father and that revelation met the need of their hearts. 

 

Giving people a revelation of Jesus, His power, His love and His saving grace is what people need.  They don't need the fancy lights, the hip-hop music, the meticulously orchestrated events, the fog machines, the coffee bars or tweaked trends of the world.  They need a revelation of Jesus.  That was all the early church had and they turned their world upside right.  We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the same.

 

Have a great day.  People are still the same as they have always been-- sinners in need of a Savior.

"Waiting For The Word"

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."  Psalm 40:1

 

There are times in our lives when we all "need a word" from the Lord.  Many are desiring a word for the new year-- what will the Lord do this year, what is His plan.  We have a promise from Him that when we call on Him He will answer us.  Are you one of those who need a word for a situation you are in, a problem you are facing, wisdom to know what to do, direction for the future, or an answer to a perplexing question?  He has a word for you.  But you may have to wait for that word.

 

There are times when He will answer us instantly.  It is because the situation dictates an immediate response.  But more often than not, His answer will not always come so quickly.  Mostly, His answer comes as we seek Him, wait on Him and take time to be still and listen.  We are so geared to having everything instantly.  Our society, our world, every aspect of the way we conduct business is done in a "faster than the speed of light" mold.  But God is not in the hurry we are in.  He understands timing better than you and I do.  He knows when the exact moment to bring your answer is.  He is never late and never early.  He is right on time-- even if we don't think He is.

 

So, the word you are desiring is there.  He has it.  But you may have to take a few more minutes than you want to to find out what it is.  Take the time to sit still.  Take the time to listen.  Take the time to wait.  Don't get impatient and move before you have heard from Him.  That is what usually gets us in trouble.  It did King Saul. (1 Samuel 15).  Besides, wouldn't you rather wait and get the right answer, than not wait and get it wrong?  Think about it.     

 

Have a great day.  There are times when we have to wait for the word that we need, so wait.   

  

"A Blank Book"

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  Matthew 6:10

 

We have just entered into a new year.  With each new year, we feel like it is a new beginning, a fresh start.  That is why it is called "new".  I have heard it said that our lives are like a book on whose pages is the story that we are writing about ourselves.  I have also heard it said that when a new year arrives we have been given a new book full of blank pages on which to write our lives for the coming year.  We are then  challenged concerning what we will write in it this year. 

 

I want to take that challenge one step further.  Instead of asking what will you write in it, let me ask you this-- what will you allow the Lord to write in it?  I wrote my own life story for many, many years.  It turned out to be a "tragedy".  As I read back over the "pages" from my past, it was really sad at times, tragic at other times, and some parts read more like a "horror" story. 

 

If you want your life story to turn out well; if you want the blank pages that are ahead of you to be filled with success, joy, abundant life, wisdom, prosperity, etc., then you need to let the Lord Author it for you.  How?  But surrendering your life to Him.  You do it by letting Him choose what is to be written there.  You do it by surrendering your will over to His will.  Doing our own "thing", following our own desires, living out our own will, will write a sad, sad story.  When we look back through those pages, we will see regret, condemnation, frustration, remorse, guilt, and so on.  But when we surrender to His will, what is written on the pages of our lives will read so much differently. 

 

Have a great day.  Who are you going to let write the story of your life this year?  Will it be written by your own will or by doing the Lord's will?