How's That Waiting Thing Working Out for You?

Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 / Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7 / Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5




Don't you just enjoy a nice, long WAIT? Oh, if we could have simple faith in our heavenly Father, that He's going to take care of our needs and rescue us when we need it. So often, we either don't believe He's going to come through for us (and why, because deep down we know He ALWAYS does), or we don't think He's going to do it for us like He would someone else.

What God does IN US while we wait, is as important as WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR. There's important growth that can only happen to us in these times when we suffer through long periods of waiting. God knows waiting is good for us. AS WE WAIT, He's at work in us ... molding us and shaping us ... maturing us.

The people of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years. It helped them to grow up. He took away their pride and proved that He would provide for them. God wanted them to reach the Promised Land, but He was more concerned that they arrive PREPARED than that they arrive SOON.

Remember how the Lord your God has led you in the desert for these forty years, taking away your pride and testing you, because He wanted to show what was in your heart. He took away your pride when He let you get hungry and then He fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had ever seen. This was to teach you that a person does not live by only eating bread, but by everything the Lord says. During these forty years, your clothes did not wear out, and your feet did not swell. Know in your heart that the Lord your God corrects you as a parent corrects a child. Deuteronomy 8:2-4

We need to learn to be PATIENT. Often we want God's resources, but we don't want His timing. We want His hand, but we don't want His calendar. We forget His work in us while we wait, which is as important as what we're waiting for. We must learn to trust that God knows what He's doing.

Maybe you're single and you feel a legitimate longing for intimacy. You're tired of being alone. Waiting is so hard and maybe there's a relationship at your fingertips that promises to take that loneliness away but you know that it's not honoring to God. You know in your heart this isn't the right person for you ... but you are tempted to think, I've been waiting long enough. I'm going to reach out for whatever satisfaction I can get in this life and worry about the consequences later. But when we're faced with times like this we must find the courage to WAIT on God and to be patient and trust His timing to say, Ok God, I will take You at Your Word. I will not get mixed up with a relationship that I know would dishonor You and bring damage to the souls of those involved. Even though I don't know what tomorrow holds and even though I sometimes feel like nobody in this world understands how painful it is to be alone, I will trust You. I will wait. (FYI - I'm not looking for anyone, this is an example.)

Maybe you've been ill for a long time, and you've almost exhausted yourself at the feet of Jesus, waiting for the illness, pain and suffering to lift. Know that God works all things together for good and He's not only going to manifest the healing that He's already provided for you, He's going to bring some other good things from that trial as well ... like the fact that people are encouraged when you go through instead of giving up, and giving you compassion to pray for others in similiar situations. (FYI - I am awaiting healing in several areas of my health.)

We may be tempted to take things into our own hands, but we must learn to trust our God, to say with the Psalmist, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hands (Psalm 31:14,15). We must cling to Jesus' promise in Luke 18:7 where He said, God will always give what is right to His people who cry to Him night and day, and He will not be slow [according to His perfect timing] to answer them. When we experience seemingly endless times of waiting we need the patience of the man who prayed, God, I cannot grasp Your mind, but with my whole heart I trust Your love.

We need to be HUMBLE. To wait for someone is to realize that I'm not in control. I'm not calling the shots; the timing is not up to me. To grow in times of waiting on God we must remember that we are not in charge. We're the creature. He is the Creator. He is the Potter. We are the clay. This is the principle that Proverbs 3:34 refers to when it says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. It's right that we should wait on Him for when we trust God with this kind of quiet humility we are saying that we understand that He is able to take care of us in the waiting times. God's God and we're not. He sees the big picture and we can't.

We need to have an inextinguishable HOPE. Hope believes that things will get better eventually. It gives us the strength to endure until tomorrow again and again. Romans 5:3-5 says, Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. Hope is the fuel that keeps a person going in tough times. While waiting, we need to act on what we know, obeying God as though we can see the outcome. When we do this we become more confident in His instruction, more hope filled people.

Thomas Merton wrote, 'The more we seek God in daily prayer; the more we study His Word; the more we trust Him enough to follow His commands ... the more we see that He is worthy of our trust and then the more hopeful we can be - even in times of waiting.

We don't get to know God and then do His will. We get to know Him more deeply BY DOING His will. We enter into an active relationship with Him. And in this relationship we develop a faith that is ... sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1), a faith that is confident that He who began a good work [in our lives] will carry it on to completion no matter how long it takes (Philippians 1:6).

Wait ... patiently. For it's in the waiting that we gain our strength (Isaiah 40:31).

Prayer: Father, I pray that even though I may be having a tough time waiting on You, You will help me to find peace in Your timing and Your ways. Give me the hope and the strength that I need to continue, and to make right choices. Help me not to grow weary in well doing. In Jesus' name, amen.

Gotta Look Out

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. The heart is where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust. Proverbs 4:23-27

As I was spending time with the Lord in the Word the other morning, I remembered a time a few years back when my friend's son was little. I'll come as close as I can to remembering the story right.

He had a computer that he used a lot and my friend was concerned about the things he might be exposed to. One day, she came in, sat down at the computer, and typed one little suggestive word on the keyboard, just to see what might come up. She said that the thing went crazy, pulling up all kinds of websites, tons of pop ups and instant messaging some of the vilest things she had ever seen. She tried everything she could to get the things to close, but the more she tried to 'x' out the more popped up. She wondered how all this could come from one little word. It had grown so vast, she could no longer control it or get rid of it.

Panicked, she sat on the floor crying and called out for her husband. He ran in and asked what was wrong, and as she tried through the tears to explain what happened, he ran to the outlet and just pulled the plug on the computer.

She was frustrated and angry that the world could have that much influence over her son with just typing one word.

Though she pled the Blood of Jesus over her mind and cast down the thoughts and visuals when they came to mind, she just couldn't get some of the pictures off her mind. She imagined what it must be like for a young, vulnerable, inquistitive child.

The Lord instructed my friend to pray the Psalm below every day for a month after this situation happened.

Psalm 101

I will sing of Your love and justice: to You, O Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will You come to me?
I will walk in my house with a blameless heart.
I will set before my eyes no vile thing.
The deeds of the faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence.
Whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me;
He whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house;
No one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.

Guard your heart from compromise people. We need to be careful of the sin that we let creep in. The things that we think are no big deal or just this one time. The things that we watch on TV. The things that we listen to on the radio - the music with suggestive words. The tweets that we read and send. The billboards that we see. All the tings that we think are okay or seem so innocent. All that we put through our eye gates and ears affects our soul, in one way or another. One thing usually leads to another.

Be careful what you put before you.

Prayer: Father, I pray that you guard our eyes, hearts and spirits. Protect us and our families from things that we shouldn't see, divinely if You have to. Lead us not into temptation. Strengthen us according to Your Word, that we might not sin against you. May we not compromise. Help us to just say no. In Jesus' name, amen.

Please Keep My Mom in Your Prayers

Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

My mom's red blood cell count and platelets have been real low. The doctors say she must be slowly bleeding somewhere but haven't figured out where yet. The only thing they've suggested it might be is cancer.

I took her for an endoscopy this past Wednesday and all it showed was gastritis. I'm praying that it might have been her stomach bleeding and that the Lord healed it, thus not showing on the test. She's going back in for a colonoscopy next week. After that will be a bone marrow test. I so appreciate your prayers and please keep praying for healing and strength. FYI - she's 70 yrs old and her name is Virginia.

Prayer: Father, I pray that You continue to bring healing, peace & strength to my mom. Give wisdom and direction to the doctors. Thank You that You are our Healer, Lord Jesus.

Shoot – We Ain't Got No Reason to be Fearin'

Be not afraid, neither be dismayed,
for the Lord is with us wherever we go.
Joshua 1:9




The presence of God in our lives helps us overcome fear. If we know by faith that God is with us, we can take on any challenge with confidence and courage. The basis for not fearing is simply this: God is with us. We may not always feel God's presence, but we can trust God's Words and remember that He'll never leave us.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

We have a big job to do (spreading the Word) but don't let it intimidate you – fear not.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

God is trustworthy – we don't have to know what He's going to do, simply knowing He's with us is more than enough.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Fear is a spirit that produces feelings like sweaty palms or butterflies – but to 'fear not' means to do what you need to do anyway. Do what God's called you to do – even if you're afraid. When fear attacks, just go ahead and do what God's telling you to do anyway. I think it was Joyce Meyer that said to simply – do it afraid.

Meditate on scriptures from the Word of God on peace and on God's love when you feel afraid or are facing an overwhelming situation. God's Word will strengthen you to keep pressing forward, no matter how you feel.

Fear used to come against me so strong when I had heart trouble that it would literally consume me. I told the Lord, I'm rebuking the fear, telling it to go. I know I have authority, how come it's still here paralyzing me? The Lord gave me such a simple answer, 'You're telling the fear to go, but you're NOT BELIEVING it's gone when you command it to. BELIEVE!'

Don't be afraid. I am with you. Don't tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories. I am the LORD your God. I am holding your hand, so don't be afraid. I am here to help you. Isaiah 41:10,13

God just loves us SO much, you know – no matter what.

Prayer: Father God, my Lord, You are just SO amazing. I humble myself before You and worship Your holy name. I pray that You bring peace to us and our situations. Help us to know who we are in You. Help us to receive the perfect love that You have for us, that casts out fear. Give us grace & confidence as you perform Your will through us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Lord

Philippians 2:10,11 - At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul tells us that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

One day, everyone in every corner of the world will recognize His power and authority over everything. Either willingly or unwillingly, everyone will one day admit that Jesus is God and Master over all.

Don't wait - bow your heart and life to Jesus and confess that He is Lord.

Prayer: Father, I pray that You woo us by way of the Holy Spirit. Lead us to repentance. Draw us close to You. Help us to call You Lord and Savior, for You are worthy. Give us grace to follow You and to be obedient. We submit ourselves to You, completely and relinquish control. In Jesus name, Amen.

Just Praise Him - That's It

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.






I told the Lord yesterday that I was tired of begging for things that I'm believing for. He told me, 'stop begging and start praising for the answer, its on its way'.

I told the Lord I felt like a wall is put up to stop me every time I try to do something. He reminded me the 'wall of Jerico' fell with praise.

No matter how thick your 'wall of Jerico' is, it's gonna fall.

So ... I'm praising and forgetting all that other stuff.

Psalm 27:13,14 - I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Do not give up - your miracle is in the works.

Prayer: Father, give us strength to praise You, especially when we don't feel like it. You are so worthy of our praise, whether You ever do anything past salvation for us or not. Thank You for working and moving in our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.

You Might Fool People, but You Don't Fool God

Romans 2:13-16 - For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in His sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know His law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim - that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life.

If you have to hide to do something, it may be wrong, inappropriate or dishonest.

Sometimes people get so caught up in their lies they don't remember who they told what - it can be exhausting trying to keep it all straight. You can end up with self-deception & you wind up not really knowing what the truth is yourself & you loose a piece of yourself.

What's wrong with just being yourself and letting people make their own decision about whether to like you or not? Sometimes we don't even give people a chance, don't give them much credit.

Isn't it time to let the 'image' you've made of yourself go?

People have been thru so much hurt & pain, so why would so-called friends want to put you through more?

God sees all and knows all.

Ephesians 5:12 - For it's shameful to even mention what the disobedient do in secret.

Matthew 10:26 - So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

Prayer: Father, help us to be the type of person that You would want us to be. Help us to be the type of friend to others that we expect from them. Help us to be open and honest, not telling or spreading lies about ourselves or others. Guard our lips to only speak the truth. GIve us grace, Lord. Forgive us if we've hurt others with the stories we make up, and help us not to do it anymore. In Jesus' name, Amen.