"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11
We have a promise from the Lord that He will answer our prayers. Sometimes His answer is yes, no, wait. Sometimes His answer is not always what we want to hear. Sometimes He doesn't answer when we want Him to answer. There are times when He takes His time to answer. I believe there are several reasons why He takes His time, one of them is because He wants to "enjoy our presence" a little longer.
When we go to God needing an answer, as soon as we get it we are up from prayer and gone. We are such creatures of habit, and we are all so much alike in many areas. This being one of them. All we want is an answer and we can hardly wait to get it and certainly don't want to hang around any longer after we get the answer. So in order to keep us in His company He delays giving the answer. Waiting holds us there a little longer.
Isn't it sad? God longs to be with us, to spend time with us, He loves being in our company. He has given us prayer as a form of communication so that we will come and talk to Him and we treat it so hurriedly. God knows what you need before you ask- or even before you know you need it- so He could just give us everything without us ever having to ask. But part of the reason for asking has to do with wanting us to come to Him.
He loves you this morning, He longs for you, He longs to spend time with you. Does He have to "hold back" the answer for a little while longer so that you will stay in His presence a little longer? Or will you just sit still in His presence enjoying time with Him?
Have a great day. He may be holding back the answer because He wants to spend some time with you because He knows that as soon as He speaks the answer to you, you will say, "Amen".
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
"Trust Jesus"
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
This morning the devotional is a little different, I am going to "sing" to you. For the past several days a hymn has been on my heart- woke up with it stirring in my heart this morning. I believe that the Lord wants me to share it with you. Be encouraged by it's words... your message is in it.
"Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus"
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word; just to rest upon his promise, and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I've proved him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust his cleansing blood; and in simple faith to plunge me neath the healing, cleansing flood! (Refrain)
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease; just from Jesus simply taking life and rest, and joy and peace. (Refrain)
I'm so glad I learned to trust thee, precious Jesus, Savior, friend; and I know that thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end. (Refrain)
Have a great day. You can trust Him... He is trustworthy. Once you learn to fully trust Him with everything in every area of your life, you'll find abundant life and rest and joy and peace.
This morning the devotional is a little different, I am going to "sing" to you. For the past several days a hymn has been on my heart- woke up with it stirring in my heart this morning. I believe that the Lord wants me to share it with you. Be encouraged by it's words... your message is in it.
"Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus"
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word; just to rest upon his promise, and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I've proved him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust his cleansing blood; and in simple faith to plunge me neath the healing, cleansing flood! (Refrain)
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease; just from Jesus simply taking life and rest, and joy and peace. (Refrain)
I'm so glad I learned to trust thee, precious Jesus, Savior, friend; and I know that thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end. (Refrain)
Have a great day. You can trust Him... He is trustworthy. Once you learn to fully trust Him with everything in every area of your life, you'll find abundant life and rest and joy and peace.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
"Seen And Unseen"
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
If ever there was a time when we need to be keeping our "eyes" focused on the eternal it's now. There is so much happening in the world around us- literally in the "whole" world around us. Things don't "look" very promising. Things don't "look" very encouraging. Things don't "look" very hopefully. Actually, things "look" pretty bad. But we must remember that these things are temporal- they are temporary. Just like life- it's here today and gone tomorrow; just like a vapor that's here one minute and gone the next; just like the grass of the field- it's here then it withers away.
It's the things that are "not" seen that are not only eternal- will last forever- but are the real thing. The promises of God, His word, heaven- they are real and they are eternal. These are the places we must keep "looking" at and "looking" too. What we see here is not all there is or all it is to it. "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (2 Cor. 2:9)
"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:16) There is more that awaits you, child of God. There is a better "country". There is a place that is not affected by these temporal things and events. There is a place where God sits on the throne. There is a place of eternal rest, peace and joy. There is a place around a banqueting table with the King of kings that is prepared for you. Though we don't see them now, except through the eyes of faith, they are very real, they are eternal and they await you. Don't lose sight of them because you are looking so intently at the things which are seen.
Have a great day. Stare at the unseen and only glance at the things that are seen.
If ever there was a time when we need to be keeping our "eyes" focused on the eternal it's now. There is so much happening in the world around us- literally in the "whole" world around us. Things don't "look" very promising. Things don't "look" very encouraging. Things don't "look" very hopefully. Actually, things "look" pretty bad. But we must remember that these things are temporal- they are temporary. Just like life- it's here today and gone tomorrow; just like a vapor that's here one minute and gone the next; just like the grass of the field- it's here then it withers away.
It's the things that are "not" seen that are not only eternal- will last forever- but are the real thing. The promises of God, His word, heaven- they are real and they are eternal. These are the places we must keep "looking" at and "looking" too. What we see here is not all there is or all it is to it. "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (2 Cor. 2:9)
"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:16) There is more that awaits you, child of God. There is a better "country". There is a place that is not affected by these temporal things and events. There is a place where God sits on the throne. There is a place of eternal rest, peace and joy. There is a place around a banqueting table with the King of kings that is prepared for you. Though we don't see them now, except through the eyes of faith, they are very real, they are eternal and they await you. Don't lose sight of them because you are looking so intently at the things which are seen.
Have a great day. Stare at the unseen and only glance at the things that are seen.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
"Daily Faith"
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6
Well, here I am again this morning as I was one day last week... haven't heard a word from the Lord but making a step of faith by sitting down and beginning to type. And as usual, when you make a step of faith God honors it because faith is what pleases Him. He just gave me the word. That word is... faith is not a "one time" thing.
Just because your faith was tested once doesn't mean it won't be tested again. Just because you had to exercise faith yesterday doesn't mean you won't have to exercise it today. Just because you walked in faith in the past doesn't mean you don't have to walk in faith in the present. Faith is not just an action we perform, it's the way we live our lives. "Now the just shall live by faith." (Heb 10:38)
Faith is to be present all day, everyday, of my life. It is not just something that occurs once a week, twice a month, when trials come, when I am tempted, when I need help from the Lord. We live by faith. Faith has to be present when I wake up; as I go throughout the day; when I lay my head down at night to go to sleep. It has to be there when I set out to do God's will and be obedient to His commands. It has to be there in my dealings with others. It has to be there through the day to day situations that come my way.
You have been given a new day this morning. That means you will be presented with new opportunities to exercise your faith... just like you were yesterday, and just like you will be when you wake up tomorrow.
Have a great day. The exercise of your faith is not just a one time thing... it's your lifestyle.
Well, here I am again this morning as I was one day last week... haven't heard a word from the Lord but making a step of faith by sitting down and beginning to type. And as usual, when you make a step of faith God honors it because faith is what pleases Him. He just gave me the word. That word is... faith is not a "one time" thing.
Just because your faith was tested once doesn't mean it won't be tested again. Just because you had to exercise faith yesterday doesn't mean you won't have to exercise it today. Just because you walked in faith in the past doesn't mean you don't have to walk in faith in the present. Faith is not just an action we perform, it's the way we live our lives. "Now the just shall live by faith." (Heb 10:38)
Faith is to be present all day, everyday, of my life. It is not just something that occurs once a week, twice a month, when trials come, when I am tempted, when I need help from the Lord. We live by faith. Faith has to be present when I wake up; as I go throughout the day; when I lay my head down at night to go to sleep. It has to be there when I set out to do God's will and be obedient to His commands. It has to be there in my dealings with others. It has to be there through the day to day situations that come my way.
You have been given a new day this morning. That means you will be presented with new opportunities to exercise your faith... just like you were yesterday, and just like you will be when you wake up tomorrow.
Have a great day. The exercise of your faith is not just a one time thing... it's your lifestyle.
Monday, February 23, 2009
"Knowledge Is Power"
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." Hosea 4:6a
My daughter called me the other evening very upset. She was using her computer and a screen opened up that said she had several viruses. It kept giving her multiple warnings about the viruses. She and I went through several steps to determine what course of action to take. After examining the situation a little closer we discovered the truth. She did not have any viruses- not even one- the screen that opened up was a fake virus protection program that actually wanted to install a virus on her computer.
After the matter was resolved, she and I talked for a few minutes. Her whole attitude and the sound of her voice was totally different than it was when she first called-- it went from fear and concern to peace and relief. I pointed this out to her noting the difference. I told her that it's amazing what little information can do. When she thought her computer was infected, she was worried and fearful of losing everything she had saved on it. When she discovered that there was no problem, she became calm and had peace.
This is such a good example of what a little knowledge (the knowledge of the truth) can do. There is also a spiritual parallel here too. When God's word comes into the situation, it brings knowledge and it brings light. It causes us to see clearly and gain understanding. His word is the truth, the truth frees us from confusion, fear, anxiety and worry. When you know the truth, the enemy is no longer a threat to you. Before my daughter knew the truth about what the screen represented it was "controlling" the situation. Once she knew the truth that this was a fake warning and a potential for some real problem, she took "control" of the situation and did not allow it to gain access. It's the same principle. Knowledge is power... especially the knowledge of the truth... which is God's word.
Have a great day. There is knowledge that enlightens and empowers in God's word.
My daughter called me the other evening very upset. She was using her computer and a screen opened up that said she had several viruses. It kept giving her multiple warnings about the viruses. She and I went through several steps to determine what course of action to take. After examining the situation a little closer we discovered the truth. She did not have any viruses- not even one- the screen that opened up was a fake virus protection program that actually wanted to install a virus on her computer.
After the matter was resolved, she and I talked for a few minutes. Her whole attitude and the sound of her voice was totally different than it was when she first called-- it went from fear and concern to peace and relief. I pointed this out to her noting the difference. I told her that it's amazing what little information can do. When she thought her computer was infected, she was worried and fearful of losing everything she had saved on it. When she discovered that there was no problem, she became calm and had peace.
This is such a good example of what a little knowledge (the knowledge of the truth) can do. There is also a spiritual parallel here too. When God's word comes into the situation, it brings knowledge and it brings light. It causes us to see clearly and gain understanding. His word is the truth, the truth frees us from confusion, fear, anxiety and worry. When you know the truth, the enemy is no longer a threat to you. Before my daughter knew the truth about what the screen represented it was "controlling" the situation. Once she knew the truth that this was a fake warning and a potential for some real problem, she took "control" of the situation and did not allow it to gain access. It's the same principle. Knowledge is power... especially the knowledge of the truth... which is God's word.
Have a great day. There is knowledge that enlightens and empowers in God's word.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)