"Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?" Psalm 119:82
Have you ever received a promise from the Lord but it seems as if it is taking forever to be fulfilled? You keep looking for it and looking for it but it doesn't seem to be anywhere in sight? Well, don't give up on the promise of God. He is faithful to fulfill what He has said. Just ask Abraham. God made him a promise that he would have a son- God kept His promise. Abraham had a son in his old age. He had a son at a time in life that looked like the most impossible time for the promise to be fulfilled.
Moses is another one you can ask. God told Moses that He was going to deliver His people from the bondage of Egypt- and He did, He kept His promise. He kept it during the time that was the most discouraging for the people. Their hopes had been raised time and time again, and crushed time and time again-- each time Pharaoh would change his mind.
There are many other examples throughout the Bible of men and women who were given a promise from the Lord and had to stand upon the faithfulness of His word until they saw it come to pass. They had to stand through long periods of time. They had to stand through dark nights. They had to stand through the taunts of the enemy and others who tried to persuade them that their God had failed them and will not do what He has promised. They had to stand even when there was no visible proof that the promise would ever come. They had to stand when all natural hope of its fulfillment was gone. Summed up in a word- they had to stand in faith.
We have forgotten that we have to stand in faith as well. Faith is believing and trusting that God will do what He says He will do when we don't see, hear or feel anything that reaffirms that He will do it. Faith is also remembering Who it is that made the promise to you. It wasn't a mere man, it wasn't your spiritual leader, it wasn't an angel, it was God Himself- who cannot lie, who cannot fail, who cannot not keep His promise.
Have a great day. Keep looking for and waiting on God to fulfill His promise-- that's called standing in faith.
For further reading:
Numbers 23:19
Hebrews 11
Psalm 89:34
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
"A Word In Chaos"
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2
The verse above tells us that the earth was without form, void and darkness was upon it. The word for "without form" also means "chaos". Literally, the earth was a place of chaos, empty and covered in darkness. Does that seem to describe your life? Is it full of chaos? Does it feel like it is covered in darkness? There doesn't seem to be any light shining in your situation- you can't even see any light at the end of the tunnel? Then I have good news for you this morning.
I love the next part of the verse- "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Even in the darkness, even in the confusion, even in the chaos, even in the emptiness, God was still there moving over the situation, watching what was happening, making His presence known. You are not alone, He is there with you also watching over your life.
Just the presence of God watching over the situation did not change it, it changed when God spoke a word into the situation. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (verse 2) When God spoke, the situation changed. You need to hear a word from the Lord and things will change in your situation also. It doesn't matter how great the chaos and darkness is, in our verse it covered the whole earth- that is a lot of chaos and darkness. But just one word from the Lord and the darkness and chaos was gone- the light outshined it.
When God speaks a word into your situation, it will change. It will either literally change the situation as it did at creation, or, it will change something inside of you that will lift the darkness and calm the confusion so that you can go through that place. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4) The Psalmist said he was walking "through" the valley of the shadow of death- not translated out of it. But something was on the inside of him that caused him to walk through it with peace of mind, without fear, distress or confusion.
Paul was an example of what I am talking about. Paul wasn't delivered from prison. The end of his life was spent in a dark dungeon bound in chains, yet, Paul pinned the words, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phil. 4:11b). How was that possible? Because God had spoken a word into his situation and it changed the situation by changing Paul on the inside. (Acts 21:10-13)
Seek God in prayer and stay there until He speaks a word into that situation you are in. He will speak. And His word will settle and remove the chaos either externally or internally.
Have a great day. One word from the Lord and the chaos clears up-- the chaos that is around us or the chaos that is in our hearts.
For further reading:
Philippians 4:11-13
Psalm 23
The verse above tells us that the earth was without form, void and darkness was upon it. The word for "without form" also means "chaos". Literally, the earth was a place of chaos, empty and covered in darkness. Does that seem to describe your life? Is it full of chaos? Does it feel like it is covered in darkness? There doesn't seem to be any light shining in your situation- you can't even see any light at the end of the tunnel? Then I have good news for you this morning.
I love the next part of the verse- "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Even in the darkness, even in the confusion, even in the chaos, even in the emptiness, God was still there moving over the situation, watching what was happening, making His presence known. You are not alone, He is there with you also watching over your life.
Just the presence of God watching over the situation did not change it, it changed when God spoke a word into the situation. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (verse 2) When God spoke, the situation changed. You need to hear a word from the Lord and things will change in your situation also. It doesn't matter how great the chaos and darkness is, in our verse it covered the whole earth- that is a lot of chaos and darkness. But just one word from the Lord and the darkness and chaos was gone- the light outshined it.
When God speaks a word into your situation, it will change. It will either literally change the situation as it did at creation, or, it will change something inside of you that will lift the darkness and calm the confusion so that you can go through that place. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4) The Psalmist said he was walking "through" the valley of the shadow of death- not translated out of it. But something was on the inside of him that caused him to walk through it with peace of mind, without fear, distress or confusion.
Paul was an example of what I am talking about. Paul wasn't delivered from prison. The end of his life was spent in a dark dungeon bound in chains, yet, Paul pinned the words, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phil. 4:11b). How was that possible? Because God had spoken a word into his situation and it changed the situation by changing Paul on the inside. (Acts 21:10-13)
Seek God in prayer and stay there until He speaks a word into that situation you are in. He will speak. And His word will settle and remove the chaos either externally or internally.
Have a great day. One word from the Lord and the chaos clears up-- the chaos that is around us or the chaos that is in our hearts.
For further reading:
Philippians 4:11-13
Psalm 23
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
"Caught By Urgency"
"When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was." John 11:6
One day an urgent request came to Jesus from His friends Mary and Martha concerning their brother Lazarus. The request was for Jesus to come and heal Lazarus because he was gravely ill. If you are familiar with the story, you'll remember that Jesus did not go to them immediately but instead He waited for four days.
There are urgent situations that arise in life that need and demand our attention then. (Before I make my next statement, I need to preface it by saying up front that I am not talking about being lazy or negligent in giving attention to important matters. There are matters that need our attention at that moment and can't be put off.) But not every "urgent" situation needs or immediate response.
There are times when we should be still, wait and not "jump" into the situation. When the situation screams at you to make a move now, when it calls upon you to make a decision at that moment, when it demands your immediate attention, it is then that you can make the wrong decision. Give yourself time to seek the Lord and get His counsel as to what you should do. It is all right to wait concerning some matters. Jesus taught us that through this situation with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. What you think you should do at the moment the situation arises may not be the course that God has planned for you to follow.
Jesus could have gone when He first got the request. He could have gone and healed Lazarus and he never would have died. But God had a greater plan in mind. Had Jesus not waited and sought the Lord and allowed the Father to instruct Him in the situation, a greater miracle would have been missed.
So, don't let those things that seem so urgent intimidate you to "do something". Go to God, seek Him for instruction, wait upon Him for guidance and counsel and then follow His leading.
Have a great day. Not every situation that seems urgent is urgent.
For further reading:
John 11
Proverbs 3:5,6
One day an urgent request came to Jesus from His friends Mary and Martha concerning their brother Lazarus. The request was for Jesus to come and heal Lazarus because he was gravely ill. If you are familiar with the story, you'll remember that Jesus did not go to them immediately but instead He waited for four days.
There are urgent situations that arise in life that need and demand our attention then. (Before I make my next statement, I need to preface it by saying up front that I am not talking about being lazy or negligent in giving attention to important matters. There are matters that need our attention at that moment and can't be put off.) But not every "urgent" situation needs or immediate response.
There are times when we should be still, wait and not "jump" into the situation. When the situation screams at you to make a move now, when it calls upon you to make a decision at that moment, when it demands your immediate attention, it is then that you can make the wrong decision. Give yourself time to seek the Lord and get His counsel as to what you should do. It is all right to wait concerning some matters. Jesus taught us that through this situation with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. What you think you should do at the moment the situation arises may not be the course that God has planned for you to follow.
Jesus could have gone when He first got the request. He could have gone and healed Lazarus and he never would have died. But God had a greater plan in mind. Had Jesus not waited and sought the Lord and allowed the Father to instruct Him in the situation, a greater miracle would have been missed.
So, don't let those things that seem so urgent intimidate you to "do something". Go to God, seek Him for instruction, wait upon Him for guidance and counsel and then follow His leading.
Have a great day. Not every situation that seems urgent is urgent.
For further reading:
John 11
Proverbs 3:5,6
Monday, September 27, 2010
"You Did It Again"
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
How many times have you "done it again"? How many times have you committed a situation, or person, to the Lord but you keep finding yourself involved in it trying to work it out or "fix it"? The Lord has told you to take your hands off of it and let Him handle it, yet you keep finding yourself in the middle of it again and again. You may leave it in His hands for a while, but later you find yourself at it again- trying to make it happen.
We all tend to do it-- I have done it. So in prayer the other day I was talking to the Lord about this very thing. I was wondering if I had messed things up so badly, in a particular situation, because of my continual intervention that they could never be fixed. He answered my question by saying, "I am bigger than your 'agains'!" No matter how many times I got involved and made the situation worse by tearing down what He was trying to build up, He is still bigger and able to work it out in spite of me. What peace and joy that brought to my heart.
The disciple Peter was also a "fixer"- he was always trying to take matters in his own hands. But Jesus was bigger than Peter's mistakes and attempts and failures. He accomplished His purposes in spite of Peter's intervention.
Perhaps you keep trying to take matters into your own hands. Perhaps you keep trying to "help" God make that thing happen. Perhaps you keep trying to "hurry it up". If that is you, then like me, you need to stop. You need to take your hands off and resist the temptation to put you hands back on it again. God is well able and more than able to handle it without your help. Your intervention only delays and messes up again what He is doing. If you have done that, remember today that He can take the mess that you have made by your intervention and work it out for good, because He is bigger than your "agains".
Have a great day. You may keep messing it up because you won't keep your hands off of it and let the Lord take care of it, but He is still able to work the situation out in spite of your intervention. So let go of it and let God handle it.
For further reading:
2 Timothy 1:12
Ephesians 3:20
How many times have you "done it again"? How many times have you committed a situation, or person, to the Lord but you keep finding yourself involved in it trying to work it out or "fix it"? The Lord has told you to take your hands off of it and let Him handle it, yet you keep finding yourself in the middle of it again and again. You may leave it in His hands for a while, but later you find yourself at it again- trying to make it happen.
We all tend to do it-- I have done it. So in prayer the other day I was talking to the Lord about this very thing. I was wondering if I had messed things up so badly, in a particular situation, because of my continual intervention that they could never be fixed. He answered my question by saying, "I am bigger than your 'agains'!" No matter how many times I got involved and made the situation worse by tearing down what He was trying to build up, He is still bigger and able to work it out in spite of me. What peace and joy that brought to my heart.
The disciple Peter was also a "fixer"- he was always trying to take matters in his own hands. But Jesus was bigger than Peter's mistakes and attempts and failures. He accomplished His purposes in spite of Peter's intervention.
Perhaps you keep trying to take matters into your own hands. Perhaps you keep trying to "help" God make that thing happen. Perhaps you keep trying to "hurry it up". If that is you, then like me, you need to stop. You need to take your hands off and resist the temptation to put you hands back on it again. God is well able and more than able to handle it without your help. Your intervention only delays and messes up again what He is doing. If you have done that, remember today that He can take the mess that you have made by your intervention and work it out for good, because He is bigger than your "agains".
Have a great day. You may keep messing it up because you won't keep your hands off of it and let the Lord take care of it, but He is still able to work the situation out in spite of your intervention. So let go of it and let God handle it.
For further reading:
2 Timothy 1:12
Ephesians 3:20
Friday, September 24, 2010
"Bad Things"
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Romans 8:35
Bad things happen to good people, that is just the reality of life. Look at Jesus. You can't get any better than Him. He was perfect and completely sinless, never made a mistake, yet He suffered trials. He faced the tempter in the wilderness. He faced the Pharisees and other religious people who were always trying to destroy Him. He faced death on the cross. But the death on the cross is not to be confused with and thought of as just another "bad thing" that happened to Jesus. The cross wasn't something that "happened" to Him, on the contrary, He was in charge of the whole thing.
The cross was Jesus' acceptance of the will of the Father. His whole life on earth was leading up to the cross-- it was the purpose for which He came into the world. He was in complete control. No one had power over Him in the matter. He laid down His life, it wasn't taken from Him. So again, the cross wasn't something that happened to Jesus, it was why He came.
When bad things happen to us, we tend to think that it is a sign that God doesn't love us- or at least that is what the devil tries to tell us. That is not the reason why bad things are happening. We live in a sin laden world that is under a curse and so good and bad come to us all. But to say that the Lord doesn't love us when they do come is far from the truth. The opposite is true. Why did Jesus lay down His life at the cross? Why did He allow the crucifixion? The reason-- love. He loved us. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
Don't be tempted to believe that just because something bad is happening in your life that God doesn't love you and He doesn't care about you. He does love you. He laid down His life for you on the cross. You can't show any greater love than that.
Have a great day. The fact that the Lord withholds bad things from your life is not the evidence that He loves you... the cross is.
For further reading:
John 16:33; 18:37; 19:11; 10:18
Matthew 26:39; 5:45
Bad things happen to good people, that is just the reality of life. Look at Jesus. You can't get any better than Him. He was perfect and completely sinless, never made a mistake, yet He suffered trials. He faced the tempter in the wilderness. He faced the Pharisees and other religious people who were always trying to destroy Him. He faced death on the cross. But the death on the cross is not to be confused with and thought of as just another "bad thing" that happened to Jesus. The cross wasn't something that "happened" to Him, on the contrary, He was in charge of the whole thing.
The cross was Jesus' acceptance of the will of the Father. His whole life on earth was leading up to the cross-- it was the purpose for which He came into the world. He was in complete control. No one had power over Him in the matter. He laid down His life, it wasn't taken from Him. So again, the cross wasn't something that happened to Jesus, it was why He came.
When bad things happen to us, we tend to think that it is a sign that God doesn't love us- or at least that is what the devil tries to tell us. That is not the reason why bad things are happening. We live in a sin laden world that is under a curse and so good and bad come to us all. But to say that the Lord doesn't love us when they do come is far from the truth. The opposite is true. Why did Jesus lay down His life at the cross? Why did He allow the crucifixion? The reason-- love. He loved us. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
Don't be tempted to believe that just because something bad is happening in your life that God doesn't love you and He doesn't care about you. He does love you. He laid down His life for you on the cross. You can't show any greater love than that.
Have a great day. The fact that the Lord withholds bad things from your life is not the evidence that He loves you... the cross is.
For further reading:
John 16:33; 18:37; 19:11; 10:18
Matthew 26:39; 5:45
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