"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?

 

 

"Digging In The Trash"

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."  Philippians 3:13

 

We are about to "close the book" on another year.  Soon 2017 will be just a memory.  As we stand on the threshold of a new year, we have to take inventory and decide what will we take with us on this journey into the new year.  What bags will we take?  What will we bring with us from the last year into the next one?  What will we keep and what will we discard?  What can be left behind? 

 

There is baggage that we don't need to carry with us into the new year.  There are some things that need to be "trashed"-- not recycled, not repurposed, not renovated.  Those things need to be placed in a bag and sent to the trash where they are completely removed from your life. 

Often, what we do is place them in a bag for the trash and then later find ourselves digging in the trash to try to retrieve them.  I have done that in the natural.  If I can't find something I will dig through the trash to see if I accidently threw it away.  I have also done it spiritually.  I have "thrown away" guilt from my mistakes, hurt from the unkind actions of others, condemnation for not doing the things I should have done or doing the things I should not have done, offenses that have come my way or self-pity, fears, grievances, etc., and later find myself digging through the trash to try to retrieve them.

Does this sound familiar?  Have you done the same?  Are you going to do it again this year?  Or will you place the things that are "trash" at the foot of the cross and ask the Lord to "incinerate" it-- remove it from you as far as the east is from the west; burn it to ashes; completely destroy it; consume it by His holy fire of purification?  The choice is yours.  The Lord didn't call us to be trash collectors or trash diggers.  He has something better and new for us, but we have to leave the trash behind.

Have a great day.  Are you a trash digger?  Leave it in the trash.        

"A Troubled Heart"

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."  John 14:1

 

What causes our hearts to become troubled?  Is it trials and tribulations?  Is it bad news or a bad report?  Is it problems and cares that arise?  Do the difficulties we face in life cause it to become troubled?  All these are factors, but the main reason our hearts become troubled is because we stop "believing in God and also in Me". 

 

Our hearts become troubled when we stop believing that God is Who He is--- great, powerful, strong and able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think.  Our hearts become troubled when we stop believing that He loves us and cares about what is happening to us.  Our hearts become troubled when we don't believe His Word and promises. Our hearts become troubled when we don't believe that He is faithful to do what He says He will do.  Our hearts become troubled when we stop believing that He is for us, He is on our side, He is with us and He will never leave us. 

 

Is your heart troubled today?  Perhaps you are facing a difficulty that is troubling.  Is this troubling thing troubling you because you have stop "believing in Him"?  Have you stopped believing that He is your helper, your hope, your provider, your deliverer, your healer, the lover of your soul, your friend who sticks closer than a brother, your God?

Check your heart to see what is the root cause of your troubled heart--- it often goes a lot deeper than just the troubling situation.

 

Have a great day.  The cause and answer to a troubled heart is found in your belief and faith in the Lord.    

"Bow Your Knee"

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Ephesians 3:14

 

There is a saying that goes something like this:  When life gets too hard to stand, kneel.  I wonder how much "kneeling" we are actually doing?  I know that not everyone has the physical ability to kneel.  And I know you can bow your knee in prayer and still have a heart that is distant while praying.  I also know that kneeling is not the only position of prayer.  But if it is possible, we should kneel.

 

Kneeling is a sign of humbleness and honor when you come before a king or ruler.  It is also done in recognition of the honor that the Lord God, the King of kings, is worthy of.  It also reminds us of Who we are coming before-- the One that is Greater, Higher and more powerful than we are.  Perhaps if we took more time to kneel in prayer and humble ourselves before the Lord, it would be easier to stand when life gets hard.

 

When we kneel before the Lord humbling ourselves and seeking Him, we gain strength in weakness, grace in temptation, peace in confusion, joy in exchange for sorrow.  When we kneel, we find hope in a hopeless situation.  When we kneel, we receive wisdom to know what to do.  When we kneel, we have an audience with the One who is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we can ask or think.  When we kneel before the Lord, we find a very present help in time of trouble. 

 

When was the last time you bowed your knee in prayer to the Lord?  When was the last time you prayed about the situation?  When was the last time you humbled yourself before the Lord to seek His guidance and help?  If you can get on your knees you should.  If not, then bow the knee of your heart to Him in prayer.

 

Have a great day.  Let us bow our heads, hearts and knees in prayer to the Lord.