Strength in Waiting
Isaiah 40:28-31
God has a purpose and plan for your life, and His timing is perfect. Sometimes He answers our prayers with "yes" or "no." But at other times, He says "not now"--when that is the case, we can avail ourselves of the rich rewards that come when we wait.
One very practical blessing is that God strengthens us as we lean on Him during delays. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that "those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." We are given the metaphor of an eagle with wind beneath his wings. It is interesting to note that the words "wind" and "spirit" come from the same Greek word--pneuma. The spirit of God lifts us up, and His energy and strength sustain us as we abide in Him.
When we are facing a difficult decision, the real key is learning to wait. There is no verse of Scripture that tells us to take control and fight our own battles. God is the one who fights them on our behalf (2 Chron. 20:15). We are to be patient and trust in Him.
When David faced his greatest battles, he waited upon the Lord. God delivered him from destruction and set his feet on solid ground. (Ps. 40:1-3) He will do the same for you. When you abide in Him, He gives supernatural energy to accomplish the things He requires of you--His Spirit does for you what you cannot do for yourself.
In reading through the Scriptures, we see that every time one of God's saints gains a victory, he or she is waiting and trusting in the Lord. You can likewise experience triumph in your life.
When you have the omnipotent Creator of the universe acting on your behalf, you can't lose.
RevCS
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Requirements of Waiting
Requirements of Waiting
Psalms 25:3-5
Waiting for God's timing is neither passive nor idle--it takes discipline and commitment. I can think of four basic requirements for successful waiting.
Faith. The Lord's ways and timing are nothing like ours (Isa. 55:8-9). From a human standpoint, He usually does things in a totally different way than we expect. But as we trust Him more, we'll discover that His approach isn't so strange after all. And when we live in harmony with God's will, His timing starts to make sense.
Humility. To wait for the Lord, you must be convinced of your need for Him. Submission to His divine will requires humility--you cannot charge ahead with your own plans and at the same time be fully surrendered to God.
Patience. Are you willing to remain in your current position until you receive clear divine direction? Pausing for clarity from God does not mean that you disengage and allow circumstances to fall apart around you. Waiting upon the Lord is a deliberate decision that requires patience.
Courage. Waiting for God often takes courage, especially when there is pressure to act. If you're not careful, you might stop listening to the Lord and follow other advice. So keep your ear attuned to the voice of Almighty God, and you won t go wrong.
Waiting upon the Lord is one of the wisest, most important decisions we make in life. And contrary to popular assumptions, it is an active endeavor that requires faith, humility, patience, and courage.
When you rely upon God and wait for His timing, the various facets of life fall into place.
Rev. CS
Psalms 25:3-5
Waiting for God's timing is neither passive nor idle--it takes discipline and commitment. I can think of four basic requirements for successful waiting.
Faith. The Lord's ways and timing are nothing like ours (Isa. 55:8-9). From a human standpoint, He usually does things in a totally different way than we expect. But as we trust Him more, we'll discover that His approach isn't so strange after all. And when we live in harmony with God's will, His timing starts to make sense.
Humility. To wait for the Lord, you must be convinced of your need for Him. Submission to His divine will requires humility--you cannot charge ahead with your own plans and at the same time be fully surrendered to God.
Patience. Are you willing to remain in your current position until you receive clear divine direction? Pausing for clarity from God does not mean that you disengage and allow circumstances to fall apart around you. Waiting upon the Lord is a deliberate decision that requires patience.
Courage. Waiting for God often takes courage, especially when there is pressure to act. If you're not careful, you might stop listening to the Lord and follow other advice. So keep your ear attuned to the voice of Almighty God, and you won t go wrong.
Waiting upon the Lord is one of the wisest, most important decisions we make in life. And contrary to popular assumptions, it is an active endeavor that requires faith, humility, patience, and courage.
When you rely upon God and wait for His timing, the various facets of life fall into place.
Rev. CS
Saturday, June 24, 2017
A quiet place
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 1:35
The people came from everywhere to see Jesus. News of his divine healings and powerful preaching had spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. Wherever He went they came. The sick. The curious. The demon possessed. So many needs and so little time.
In the flesh, Jesus suffered from many of the same limitations we face. He could only be in one place at a time. He only had so many hours in the day. He got tired. Jesus needed a quiet place. So early in the morning, while others slept, he went to a solitary place and prayed. Where do you go when life presses down on you? We all need a quiet place where we can be alone with Him.
He knows what you face and He will meet you there.
The people came from everywhere to see Jesus. News of his divine healings and powerful preaching had spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. Wherever He went they came. The sick. The curious. The demon possessed. So many needs and so little time.
In the flesh, Jesus suffered from many of the same limitations we face. He could only be in one place at a time. He only had so many hours in the day. He got tired. Jesus needed a quiet place. So early in the morning, while others slept, he went to a solitary place and prayed. Where do you go when life presses down on you? We all need a quiet place where we can be alone with Him.
He knows what you face and He will meet you there.
A little help
And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. Mark 2:3
The house was packed. They had come to hear Jesus. Somewhere nearby, lay a man who could not walk. He could not come to Jesus on his own. But he had four friends. Each took a corner of his bed and carried him to the house. When they arrived, they found the place so crowded they could not go inside. They lifted the man and the bed up on the roof. They began to tear the roof away and lower the man to Jesus. When he saw their faith, Jesus healed the man.
Do you know someone that needs to come to Jesus? Maybe, they need a little help.
Rev DB
The house was packed. They had come to hear Jesus. Somewhere nearby, lay a man who could not walk. He could not come to Jesus on his own. But he had four friends. Each took a corner of his bed and carried him to the house. When they arrived, they found the place so crowded they could not go inside. They lifted the man and the bed up on the roof. They began to tear the roof away and lower the man to Jesus. When he saw their faith, Jesus healed the man.
Do you know someone that needs to come to Jesus? Maybe, they need a little help.
Rev DB
In His presence
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. John 20:24
It was the evening of the day Christ arose. Jesus’ disciples were all gathered together. Everyone but Thomas. Suddenly, Jesus came into their presence. In an instant, their fears turn to joy, their defeat into victory. The blessing of being in His presence changed everything.
We do not know where Thomas was. We only know he had not gathered with the other disciples. By being absent, Thomas missed the blessing of being with Jesus. Whenever believers meet together we have the promise of His presence. Tomorrow is Sunday. Will you be gathered will your fellow believers?
If not, you may miss the blessing of being in His presence.
Rev DB
It was the evening of the day Christ arose. Jesus’ disciples were all gathered together. Everyone but Thomas. Suddenly, Jesus came into their presence. In an instant, their fears turn to joy, their defeat into victory. The blessing of being in His presence changed everything.
We do not know where Thomas was. We only know he had not gathered with the other disciples. By being absent, Thomas missed the blessing of being with Jesus. Whenever believers meet together we have the promise of His presence. Tomorrow is Sunday. Will you be gathered will your fellow believers?
If not, you may miss the blessing of being in His presence.
Rev DB
An Opportunity
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Gal. 6:10
An opportunity missed is an opportunity lost. Sometimes we fail to see the opportunity before us. The opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. The opportunity to share an encouraging word. The opportunity to help someone in need. Life is full of opportunity!
Each day is a new opportunity to do something good for someone else. Paul encourages us to take advantage of the opportunities God gives us. Often, my greatest failure is not the bad thing I do, but the good thing I fail to do.
Let us use the opportunity today to do good for others.
RevDB
Refuse to hear
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. Jer. 8:20
God sent Jeremiah to speak to the people of Judah. In doing so, God was providing them an opportunity to repent and avoid His coming judgment. But the people of Judah refused to hear the Word of the Lord. In this verse, Jeremiah weeps over the people for losing their opportunity to be saved.
Jesus died on the cross and rose again so that we might have an opportunity to be saved. God sends messengers today to tell people about Jesus so they can repent of their sin and avoid the judgment to come. To refuse to hear is to lose the opportunity to be saved.
This is one opportunity we cannot afford to miss.
RevDB
God sent Jeremiah to speak to the people of Judah. In doing so, God was providing them an opportunity to repent and avoid His coming judgment. But the people of Judah refused to hear the Word of the Lord. In this verse, Jeremiah weeps over the people for losing their opportunity to be saved.
Jesus died on the cross and rose again so that we might have an opportunity to be saved. God sends messengers today to tell people about Jesus so they can repent of their sin and avoid the judgment to come. To refuse to hear is to lose the opportunity to be saved.
This is one opportunity we cannot afford to miss.
RevDB
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