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God Is Working While You’re Waiting
“I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised” (Psalm 130:5 TLB).
God wants you to wait patiently for him to answer your prayer, but he also wants you to wait expectantly. Have faith. Trust God to hear and to answer. When you wait expectantly, you show God that you believe his promises. You believe he’s going to keep his word.
Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman, was once asked, “Have you ever gotten lost in the wilderness?” He said, “No, I’ve never been lost. I’ve been bewildered for weeks at a time, but I’ve never been lost.”
Some of you may feel bewildered right now. You’re bewildered about your marriage: “I’m praying for it to get better, but it’s not getting any better.” You’re bewildered about your career: “Do I go up, down, change jobs?” You’re bewildered about relationships. You may feel powerless and hopeless and like you can’t do anything to change your situation on your own. You’re bewildered.
Don’t be discouraged! Don’t give up! Look up.Turn to prayer. I have had many, many requests in my life that I’ve prayed to God that have never been answered. I can think of one prayer that I have prayed almost every day for 24 years, and it hasn’t been answered. I don’t know why God hasn’t chosen to answer that prayer, and I don’t understand it. But I have decided this: Whether or not God ever answers that prayer, I am going to die believing his promises. Because God is a good God, and he knows what’s best, even when I don’t understand it.
When God doesn’t answer your prayers, you need to remember a couple very important truths. First, God is in control, and you’re not. He knows better what you need than you do. There is no mountain too tall that he can’t move it. There is no problem so big that he can’t solve it. There is no sorrow so deep he cannot soothe it. God is in control, and he has a plan.
The second thing you need to remember is that, whether or not you ever receive your answer, God will honor your patience — if not in this world then in eternity.
“I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised” (Psalm 130:5 TLB).
What Does God Want While You Wait for an Answer?
“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act” (Psalm 37:7a NLT, second edition).
What does God want you to do while you’re waiting on an answer to your prayer?
Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act”(NLT, second edition). God wants you to wait patiently for him to answer your prayer.
Have you noticed that we don’t mind waiting as long as we can grumble while we wait? We don’t mind waiting in the DMV line as long as we can gripe and complain about how lousy and unorganized the government is.
But God says, “Be still.”
Like little 2-year-olds, we get the spiritual wiggles while we’re waiting for God to answer a prayer. We get nervous and restless. We want to jump up and do something. But God says, “Wait patiently. Be still. Watch me act. Don’t get restless, don’t get nervous, and don’t try to take matters into your own hands.”
And, don’t ever make Abraham’s mistake in the Old Testament of trying to be the answer to your own prayer. It will cause all kinds of problems! One day God told Abraham that he was going to make him the father of a great nation. There were only two problems: Abraham was 99 years old, and he was childless. Abraham looked at his own body and said, “No way, José!” And he looked at his wife Sarah, who was infertile, and said, “Double no way! It ain’t gonna happen.”
So Abraham took matters into his own hands and had a baby with his wife’s maid, Hagar. Abraham said, “Here’s my answer to prayer! I’ve got a son at 99. His name is Ishmael.” God said, “No, no. You missed the point. That’s not my answer to prayer. That’s youranswer to prayer. I’ve got a miracle boy who’s coming, and Sarah’s going to be the mom. You’re going to name him Isaac.” Isaac means “laughter.” When Sarah was told that she was going to be pregnant, the Bible says she laughed because she didn’t believe God.
But God had the last laugh. Isaac was born, and it started an intense rivalry between him and Ishmael that we’re still paying for today. The tense relationship between Jews and Arabs all began because Abraham tried to answer his own prayer request.
Whenever you try to answer your own prayer, you’re asking for trouble. Instead, wait patiently, and watch God act.
Conquering Your Fear Of Intimacy (1)
“They were both naked…and were not ashamed.” Ge 2:25 NKJV
Adam and Eve had no secrets from each other. “They were both naked…and were not ashamed.” As a couple, God said they had power to rule the world. And that’s when Satan entered the picture. What did he attack? Their intimacy! “The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings” (Gen 3:7 NKJV). The word intimacy means “to be open, transparent, and trusting.” When Adam and Eve lost that, they started hiding from God—and each other. And we’ve been hiding from each other ever since. Emotional intimacy is the bedrock of any meaningful relationship. Without it, relationships become shallow and unfulfilling. We are afraid of revealing to others our fears, needs, insecurities, secrets, hopes, dreams, weird opinions, or our undesirable parts. And this fear is rooted in the fear of loneliness: “If you really knew me, you’d leave me.” Or the fear of inadequacy: “You may be disappointed in me because I cannot fulfill all your expectations.” Or the fear of losing control: “Now that you know how I feel, you may use it to control me.” Women play “hard to get,” and men play the “tough guy” who doesn’t need anybody. What’s the answer? Learning to pray together. Our most honest moments are before the God who already knows everything about us. When we share such moments the barriers come down, our hearts tenderize toward one another, and we move closer together.
The Father/Son Talk (1)
“My son, hear the instruction of your father.” Pr 1:8 NKJV
In Proverbs the words my son are used twenty-three times, and the word father is used nineteen times. So it’s a letter from a father to his son. It’s also a letter from a father to other fathers, about being a good father. It not only teaches a father how to lead his children, but how to live before them. Interestingly, the letter contains a lot of warnings about the misuse of sex and the heartache it can bring. We’ve all heard the story of the twelve-year-old boy whose dad said, “Son, don’t you think it’s time we had a talk about sex?” The little guy said, “Sure, Dad. What do you want to know?” The sad truth is that today our children are getting their sex education in school, from their friends, from the Internet, and from experimentation—but not at home. Solomon writes, “Why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman?” (Pr 5:20 NKJV). Sex education is the answer—as long as it involves the right teacher, the right classroom, and the right curriculum. And the right teacher is you, Dad; the right classroom is your home; and the right curriculum is the Bible. A study of 10,000 high school students revealed that strong parental values and supervision have the most significant effect on a teen’s sexual activity. Parents who had a close relationship with their daughters and supervised their schoolwork and activities, were able to curb the likelihood that they’d ever become pregnant out of wedlock by 42 percent. So Dad (and Mom), speak up. Get involved. You can’t afford not to!
The Principle Of Reciprocity
“God has heard your prayers and knows about your gifts to the poor.” Ac 10:4 CEV
Up until this time the gospel had been preached exclusively to the Jews. But all that was about to change: “One afternoon at about three o’clock, Cornelius had a vision. He saw an angel from God coming to him and calling him by name…‘God has heard your prayers and knows about your gifts to the poor. Now send some men to Joppa for a man named Simon Peter’” (vv. 3-5 CEV). As a result of Cornelius’ prayers and generosity, he became the first Gentile to hear the gospel and be saved. What a payoff! God hears the kind words you speak to others when they’re hurting. He sees your sacrificial giving when you can least afford it. By doing what you’re doing, you’re paving the way for God to help you. He’s storing it all up so that in your time of need you’ll have a rich account to draw on. A lady was praying about starting a pet-grooming business but she couldn’t afford to advertise. So she went to her local animal shelter and volunteered to groom the pets to increase their chances for adoption. Interestingly, the harder she worked, the more her own business grew by word of mouth until she ended up with more clients than she could handle. You say, “Does that mean if I don’t help others God won’t help me?” Thankfully, no! God’s love is unconditional. But when you say no to an opportunity to give, you miss out on an opportunity to receive. The principle of reciprocity is simple: When you’re generous with others, God promises to be generous with you (See 2Co 9:6-8).
Knowing You’ve Truly Forgiven Someone
“They didn’t even smell of smoke!” Da 3:27 NLT
When King Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace, God brought them out and “they didn’t even smell of smoke!” We’ve all encountered people who still “smell like smoke.” Their attitude says, “I’ve been through a hard time, and I’m still upset about it.” How about you? Have the experiences you’ve been through hardened your heart or softened it? When you speak, do you sound positive or negative? Are you bound by the memories of your past? Do you talk about your pain to anyone who will listen? Don’t you see what you’re doing—chaining yourself to the past? When circus elephants are young and unaware of their strength, they’re bound by a chain to a stake to limit their mobility. Later when they’re full-grown and have the strength to break that chain, they’re still bound by it. Why? Because they accept this limitation as permanent! But it’s not the chain that binds them, it’s the memory! If you are bound by painful and debilitating memories, the word for you today is: “O Lord our God, masters besides You have had dominion over us; but by You only we make mention of Your name. They are dead, they will not live; they are deceased, they will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish” (Isa 26:13-14 NKJV). Whatever your haunting memory is, you must begin to declare your deliverance from its bondage. By standing on God’s Word, you activate its power to set you free.
Ten Commandments For A Great Marriage
Honor…marriage.” Heb 13:4 NLT
Here are Ten Commandments for building a great marriage: (1) God said, “Honor…marriage,” so remain faithful to one another. Forsaking all others, put your mate before your mother, your father, your son, and your daughter. Your mate is your lifelong companion. (2) Remember, “You…are the temple of God and…the Spirit of God lives in you” (1Co 3:16 NLT). Don’t abuse your health with excessive food, tobacco, drugs, and alcohol, and hopefully you’ll enjoy a long, healthy life around the people you love. (3) Never permit your business or hobby to make you a stranger to your own family. “Children are a gift from the Lord…a reward from him” (Ps 127:3 NLT), and the most precious gift you can give them is your time. (4) Don’t forget that cleanliness is a virtue. (5) Willingly share all your worldly goods, and don’t make your mate a beggar. “Go all out in…love…as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting” (Eph 5:25 TM). (6) Don’t forget to say, “I love you.” Even though your love may be constant, your mate never gets tired of hearing those words. (7) Remember that the approval of your spouse is worth more than the admiring glances of a hundred strangers. (8) Keep your home peaceful and in good repair, for out of it comes the joys of old age. (9) Always forgive with grace, for who among us doesn’t need to be forgiven? “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive…as quickly and thoroughly as…Christ forgave you” (Eph 4:32 TM). (10) Honor God, and your children are much more likely to grow up and honor you (See Pr 22:6).
God’s Got Your Back!
“God…will be your rear guard.” Isa 52:12 NKJV
Not only does God go ahead of you, the Bible says He’s “your rear guard.” One author writes: “In Israelite campaigns into the wilderness and across the Promised Land, soldiers had a vanguard and a rear guard. The vanguard was comprised of scouts who went ahead to explore…and suggest a plan to move forward. The rear guard stayed behind to pick up the pieces and insure they didn’t leave anything valuable behind…God is my rear guard…I keep moving along, like you do, sometimes living at too fast a pace, and doing things incompletely. But God follows up and finishes what I’ve done in a halfway measure…If you were to look back, how many tasks would you find incomplete because the urgency of some new task called you away before the first one was finished? If you’ve done your best, God will do the rest! I’ve talked to parents about their teenagers. They said, ‘If only we had…’ and I gently remind them they did their best. Now they must trust the rear-guard action of God to finish the job, pick up the broken pieces, and mend them into something wonderful and beautiful.” Has God given you a job to do? “Fix your eyes on what lies before you” right now, not six or twelve months hence. “Don’t get sidetracked” (Pr 4:27 NLT). That’s particularly challenging in an age of so many distractions. Remember, the strength of the Sender is more important than the strength of the one being sent. The word for you today is: God’s got your back!
Don’t Just Pray—Believe!
“Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mk 11:24 NKJV
One of the dangers in praying is not expecting God to answer. The Bible says, “Without faith no one can please God. We must believe…God is real and…he rewards everyone who searches for him” (Heb 11:6 CEV). The only currency God trades in is faith, and “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Ro 10:17). As you immerse yourself in Scripture, faith takes root and begins to grow. And faith is what makes your prayers effective. But what if your faith lines up with God’s Word and the answer is delayed? Keep praying and believing! “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Heb 10:35-36 NIV). When a rural farming community was hit by severe drought, the local church called a prayer meeting. Almost everybody in town showed up (interesting how trouble has a way of getting our attention). As the pastor stood before a packed church he noticed an eleven-year-old girl beaming with excitement in the front row. Lying on the pew beside her was a bright red umbrella poised and ready for use. The beauty and innocence of the sight made him smile, as he compared the child’s faith with that of all the others in the church. Looking at the congregation, he announced: “The rest of us came to pray for rain, but she came expecting God to answer!” So don’t just pray—believe!
He’s Always A Step Ahead (2)
“His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Ps 91:4 NLT
A vendor at a state fair gave Mavis Gustafson Pigford a free Gideon Bible. She tucked it in her purse and forgot about it. Later as she walked along, a car pulled up, the driver pointed a gun and told her to get in. She writes: “I did as he said. He pulled over and tried to force me down on the seat. I struggled…and finally he ordered me out of the car. Before my feet hit the ground, I heard a shot and felt a sharp pain in my side. I collapsed, and the man came around…took my wallet…threw my purse at my head and shot it. I felt a dreadful impact. Still conscious…I heard the car drive away and I stumbled to a nearby farmhouse. The woman called for help…and as I was rushed to the hospital the police closed in on the drug-crazed driver who attacked me. Before surgery to remove the bullet in my side, my sister came to see me. ‘Do you know what saved your life?’ she asked. She handed me the Bible from my purse. A bullet was lodged inside, its tip stopping exactly at Psalm 37:14-15: ‘The wicked draw the sword…to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken’” (NIV). Yet another example of how God’s always a step ahead: “He will rescue you from every trap…shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection…he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go…The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me…protect those who trust in my name” (Ps 91:3-4, 11, 14 NLT).
Don’t Proceed Without Peace
“To be controlled by the Spirit results in…peace.” Ro 8:6 GNT
When your thoughts, actions, and plans are approved by God, He’ll confirm it by giving you an inner “knowing” (See 1Jn 2:20). The Bible says: “Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which…you were also called [to live]” (Col 3:15 AMP). When you’re being led by God, you’ll have a sense of peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances. His peace is like a baseball umpire who decides what’s “safe” and what’s “out of bounds” for you. But beware of false peace. Sometimes your desire to do a certain thing will be so strong that it will actually produce a false sense of peace that comes from your own excitement about the idea. As time passes this false peace will disappear and God’s true will, will emerge. So wait for it. As a rule you should never move too quickly on important decisions. The Bible says, “To be controlled by the Spirit results in…peace.” So don’t proceed if your inner peace can’t hold its weight against what you think or hear. You don’t have to explain to others why you don’t have peace about it; indeed, sometimes you won’t know why. Just say, “I feel it’s not wise for me to do this at this time because I don’t have peace about it.” There’s power in having peace. And one more thing: Once you know that you’ve heard clearly from God, do all you can to keep your peace and don’t become anxious.
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2016
Dealing with the Devil (4)
“The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain.” Mt 4:8 NKJV
The Bible says: “The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan!…You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (vv. 8-10 NKJV). Paraphrased: Satan said to Jesus, “If you serve me I’ll help you rise to the top.” When your ultimate ambition is to glorify God, you’re being led by God. But when your ultimate ambition is to glorify yourself, you’re being led by Satan. And he’ll appeal to your pride, for pride is at the very core of his being. His fall from the number-two spot in heaven was preceded by these lofty aspirations: “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isa 14:13-14 NIV). Satan wants to take God’s place, but God isn’t moving. Satan covets God’s throne, but God isn’t abdicating. Satan wants to win you to his side, but God will never let you go. The truth is: You can’t defeat Satan in your own strength, but you don’t have to. The Bible says, “Let us…feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it” (Heb 4:16 NCV).
Dealing With The Devil (2)
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.” 1Pe 5:8
When Jesus fought the Devil in the wilderness, Satan never landed a single punch. Three times Jesus told him, “It is written” (Mt 4:4, 7, 10 NKJV). And with those three solid right hooks, Satan went down and couldn’t get up. Let’s look at each of the three temptations. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread” (v. 3 NLT). Note Satan’s twofold attack: (1) “If you are the Son of God.” Satan will make you doubt your salvation, your Savior, and your righteous standing before God (See 2Co 5:21). He’ll remind you of all your flaws and failures. He’ll tell you, “The Christian life is too hard; give up!” That’s a lie; don’t believe him. Yes, the Holy Spirit will point out your character defects so you can overcome them. But you’re not saved by your own goodness. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8 NKJV). (2) “Change these stones into loaves of bread.” Forty days of fasting had left Jesus famished. His stomach was empty, so Satan began with the topic of bread. Where are you empty? Are you hungry for attention, craving success, and longing for intimacy? You must be aware of your weak spots and bring them to God before Satan brings them to you and says, “Meet your own needs. Take matters into your own hands. Leave God out of the picture.” No, if you could live the Christian life without God, you wouldn’t need Him! It’s the life that’s totally dependent on God that defeats Satan’s strategies every time.
Try To Be Kind Today
“A gentle answer turns away wrath.” Pr 15:1 NIV
If you’re an organized, time-conscious, purpose-driven, make-it-happen kind of person you can get upset with incompetence and low productivity in others. And you can end up speaking words that hurt them and don’t bring the result you hope for. In Proverbs chapter thirty-one here’s how Solomon describes a wise woman: “On her tongue is the law of kindness” (v. 26 NKJV). Speaking kindly to and about others was one of this woman’s core principles. And when you think about it, there’s never any justification for being harsh or unkind in your communication. Certainly not if you’re a Christian! Hasn’t God been gracious with you? Then extend that same grace to others. The old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” isn’t true. Harsh words can impact a person for a lifetime. Many so-called “social outcasts” have been victims of verbal abuse at some point in their lives. They have suffered at the hands of parents, teachers, insecure spouses, and others battling their own emotional issues. If you find you’re prone to speaking harshly to people, pray for God’s help. Whatever it takes, including seeking help from a pastor or counselor, do it. The Bible says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Pr 16:32 NKJV). Decide today to “rule your spirit” and make kindness a hallmark and guiding principle of your life.
Have You Prayed About It?
“Pray and ask God for everything you need.” Php 4:6 NCV
Can you imagine walking into a restaurant and asking if your order is ready? “When did you call it in?” the server asks. “Oh, I didn’t,” you reply. “I just thought perhaps you might have something with my name on it.” That’s as ridiculous as expecting God to answer prayer requests you haven’t made—or haven’t made in faith. The Bible says, “The reason you don’t have what you want is…you don’t ask God” (Jas 4:2 TLB). Will God give you everything you ask for? No. “Even when you do ask you don’t get it because…you want only what will give you pleasure” (v. 3 TLB). Your request must be in harmony with God’s will. “If we ask anything…according to His will…He…hears” (1Jn 5:14 AMP). Jeremiah said, “The Lord is good to those who wait…expectantly for Him” (La 3:25 AMP). Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God’s goodness. So instead of fretting, or talking about it to everybody but God, or taking matters into your own hands, say, “Lord, I’m going to trust You with this regardless of the outcome,” and He will honor your faith. Paul writes, “Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.” Do you need a job? Help overcoming a problem? The salvation of a loved one? A deeper spiritual walk? Physical or emotional healing? Guidance? Jesus said, “It gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of] [His] Kingdom” (Lk 12:32 NLT). God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the “desires of your heart” (Ps 37:4 NKJV). Then thank Him and believe the answer will come—in His time!
How Can I Get Out of This Mess
“Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24b-25a NLT, second edition).
Here is the testimony of a Chinese Christian: “I walked through the road of life and had fallen into a great ditch. The ditch was filled with depression, discouragement, and sin. As I lay in that ditch, Mohammed came along and said, ‘It’s your fault you’re in the ditch. You offended Allah, and this is your just punishment.’ Then Marx came by and said, ‘You’re in the ditch because of class warfare. You must revolt.’ But after the government changed, I was still in my ditch. Then Buddha came along and said, ‘You’re not really in that ditch. You just think you’re there. It’s all an illusion of the mind. Be at peace.’ Then Confucius came by and said, ‘Here are the 10 steps of self-attainment by which you can get out of your ditch. If you will struggle, you will climb out eventually.’ But as much as I struggled and strained, I couldn’t get out of the ditch, because it was too deep.
“Then one day, Jesus Christ came by and saw me in my ditch. Without a word, he took off his white robe and got down in the muddy ditch with me. Then he lifted me up with his strong arms and got me out of the ditch. Thank God that Jesus did for me what I could not do for myself.”
Jesus did for you what you could not do for yourself.
If you want healing in your life, you have to believe that Christ can change you. Romans 7:24-25 says, “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord”(NLT, second edition).
The answer to your problem is a person. Who’s going to be lord of your life? Who’s going to call the shots? You or Jesus Christ? When you’re mastered by him, you can master your problems.
God has the power you were lacking. He’ll help you out.
The Father/Son Talk (2)
“With her enticing speech she caused him to yield.” Pr 7:21 NKJV
Psychologist Henry Brandt tells how his son got upset when he wouldn’t permit him to go out alone in a car with a girl down to the lake after dark. “What’s wrong, Dad?” demanded the son. “Don’t you trust me?” Brandt replied: “In a car, alone at night, in front of a lake, with a beautiful girl? I wouldn’t trust me!” Solomon got involved early and strongly in the lives of his children, and educated them about God’s perspective on sex. The three largest sections in Proverbs dealing with one topic are found in chapters 5 through 7. In chapters 5 and 6, Solomon dealt exclusively with premarital sex—fornication. He devoted almost the entirety of chapter 7 to extramarital sex—adultery. And in between, he gave a frank discussion of sex within the will of God. For too long pastors and parents have kept their heads buried in the sand, hoping this topic would just go away. But the subject can’t be avoided. Pollster George Gallup stated: “There’s no question about it, sex-related issues are going to become the most important issues facing all churches in the foreseeable future. Abortion, AIDS, premarital sex, homosexuality—all those are going to be at the vortex.” Solomon warned his son, “With her enticing speech she caused him to yield.” So whether you’re a father, a mother, a single parent, or even a grandparent, your child won’t make the wrong move if they’re not in the wrong place, with the wrong person, at the wrong time. So teach them, “If you don’t want to get burned, stay away from the fire!”
If You Want It, Give It!
“You will be given a full amount in return.” Lk 6:38 CEV
One night a man came to Mother Teresa’s house and told her about a family of eight who hadn’t eaten for a week. When she got there she saw the faces of little ones suffering from malnutrition, so she gave them a sack of rice. Then the children’s mother did something interesting. She kept half the rice and went out carrying the other half. When she returned Mother Teresa asked, “Where did you go?” She answered, “To my neighbors; they’re hungry also.” Mother Teresa says, “I wasn’t surprised that she gave; the poor are usually very generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we’re suffering we’ve no time for others.” The Bible teaches that when you focus on the needs of others God will make sure your needs get met too (See Eph 6:8). So if you want it, give it! Here’s why: (1) Giving is the key to blessing. Jesus said, “If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap.” (2) The seed you sow now decides the size of the harvest you’ll reap later. No seed is too little to multiply if you’re willing to sow it. By finding a cause greater than your own self-interest and pouring yourself into it, you discover two things: First, it’s okay to acknowledge your limitations as long as you don’t build your life around them. Second, God’s blessing is released when you give what you have instead of talking about what you don’t have. So if you want it, give it!
Never Assume
“The hand of the diligent makes rich.” Pr 10:4 NKJV
Never assume your instructions are clearly understood and will be carried out. The Bible says, “The hand of the diligent makes rich,” and the word diligent means paying careful attention to details. When you give someone instructions, check to be sure they’ve made a note of them. If not, you should be concerned. The unlearned and uncommitted tend to trust their memory with everything, but the shortest pencil is still better than the longest memory. When someone doesn’t consider what you’re saying important enough to write down, they are sending you a signal; the light is flashing red. Even if their intentions are good, in their busyness or overconfidence your instructions can easily be forgotten. Those who are follow-through people always ask additional questions about the assignment and instructions you give them. For example, when you ask them to telephone somebody about a particular matter, they should automatically ask you: (a) Is there a deadline on this? (b) When do you need a report back on the results of this call? (c) Is there any additional information I need to know? If those kinds of questions are not forthcoming, chances are that person is not giving enough thought to their assignment. When someone tells you, “I’ll try to get to it,” that’s another flashing red light, because much of the time they won’t. The word try often reveals halfheartedness. Give your instructions to one specific person—not two. Document the date you gave it to them and when you need them to report back. In other words: Only give instructions to someone who is qualified to receive and implement them.
Is God Directing You To Zarephath?
“Go at once to Zarephath…and stay there.” 1Ki 17:9 NIV
The stream Elijah had been drinking from dried up and the ravens that brought him food every day stopped coming. When that happens God’s trying to get your attention! He’s getting you ready to move. Next God sent Elijah to an impoverished widow in the town of Zarephath, assuring him that she’d feed him. That must have been difficult for a leader who was used to ministering to others. Elijah found the widow in the middle of a famine, cooking one last meal for herself and her son. Nevertheless he challenged her to obey God, promising, “There will always be flour and olive oil…in your containers until…the Lord sends rain and the crops grow” (v. 14 NLT). What gave Elijah the faith to say that? Because he’d proven God’s faithfulness in his own life! You can only talk in faith when you walk in faith. And associating with people of faith is contagious; it builds your faith. That’s what happened to this widow. She and her son may not have eaten a five-course meal every night, but God made sure that for the duration of the famine they had all they needed. So if you don’t have everything you want right now, obey God with what He’s given you and trust Him that when the time is right He’ll send an increase. Notice also, the faith of both the widow and the prophet was tested. So whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned believer, tests of faith will keep coming your way. Is God directing you to your own personal Zarephath today? Don’t argue! “Go at once,” because His blessing hinges on your obedience.
Refuse To Settle
“They set out…to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.” Ge 11:31 NIV
Are you pressing “on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you]” (Php 3:14 NIV), or have you “settled” along the way? God made a pact with Abraham—one that continues to influence the modern world. A lesser-known fact is that years earlier Abraham’s father, Terah, “set out…to go to Canaan,” the land of abundance where God later called Abraham. But Terah never made it: “When they came to Haran, they settled there.” No question, it couldn’t have been easy traveling hundreds of miles across rough terrain with flocks, herds, children, and servants. Can you imagine the sheer logistics! Remember, there were no professional movers to pack and load your stuff! Finally Terah decided they couldn’t go any farther, so they settled where they were comfortable. One pastor adds: “I wonder how many times we do the same thing? We have a big dream…to excel in our careers…as parents…and in our walk with God. We get started, but things get difficult and achieving our goal doesn’t happen as quickly as we hoped. Perhaps similar to Abraham’s father we say, ‘Let’s just settle here. It’s not really what we wanted, but it’s good enough.’ Don’t fall into that trap. You were made for more than ‘good enough’…Don’t settle for a little love and joy, a bit of peace and contentment, or a small helping of happiness…Pull up stakes, pack your tents, get your belongings, and start moving forward. Enlarge your vision. You may have had a delay, but…you can begin again.”
To Be Faithful Is To Be Successful
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Mt 25:23 NKJV
God wants you to succeed in life (See Jos 1:8). And He will give you the tools, strategies, and relationships necessary for success. David started out as a lowly shepherd boy, but God made him King of Israel. The Bible says, “In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him” (1Sa 18:14 NIV). But God’s definition of success is very different from the world’s definition. Former U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa. They visited the “Home for the Dying” where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers faced daily. “How can you bear the load without being crushed beneath it?” he asked. Mother Teresa replied, “My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful.” Some of us are called to serve in the limelight while others are called to serve in the shadows. Some are privileged to receive the world’s accolades and rewards, but most of us aren’t. Should we be discouraged? Not for a moment! With God, faithfulness counts as success. One day when you’ll stand before God you will hear these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
2016
He’s always a step ahead (3)
“No plague will come near your home.” Ps 91:10 NLT
For nine-year-old Keith Pulles, winterizing the family swimming pool signaled the end of summer. He writes: “I watched glumly from the window as Dad opened a jug and started dumping chemicals into the pool. Then he got another jug and added more stuff. ‘That’s a lot of stuff to put into the pool,’ I thought. Just then the phone rang and I ran to check the caller ID. ‘Unknown name, unknown number.’ Mom and Dad had warned me about talking to strangers, but that day a voice inside said, ‘Pick it up!’ The urge was so strong I lifted the receiver and said hello. ‘May I speak with Steve Pulles, please?’ I didn’t recognize the voice. Probably a telemarketer, but something made me say, ‘Hang on. I’ll go get him.’ I went outside, phone in hand, and shouted, ‘Dad! Phone!’ He walked around the side of the garage from the backyard and took the cordless phone from me. ‘Hello? Hello? Who’s calling?’ he hollered. A couple of seconds later he took the phone from his ear and turned it off. ‘Nobody there,’ he said. Suddenly there was an enormous boom from the back yard. ‘The pool!’ Dad shouted. It turned out he’d mixed two chemicals he shouldn’t have. The mixture exploded out of the water, leaving toxic fumes…if Dad had been out there at that moment he could have died. Unknown caller? I don’t think so. The person on the phone that day certainly had our number.” The Psalmist said, “No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.” Today, God’s protecting you and your loved ones.
He’s always a step ahead (1)
“Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isa 65:24 NKJV
When Wilda Lahmann’s husband woke in the wee hours of the morning gasping for air and clutching his chest, there wasn’t time to wait for an ambulance. She got him into the car and he slumped against the door. She writes: “Fifteen miles to the hospital…we’re not gonna make it. Please send help, Lord! A mile down the road I saw something. Were my eyes playing tricks? It was an ambulance with a paramedic standing beside it. Was he waiting for us? Who could’ve known to call? I slammed on the brakes and ran screaming for help. They started treatment immediately and rushed Randy to the hospital. The next three days were touch-and-go. I never left his bedside, praying he’d wake up. When he did, he asked, ‘What happened?’ ‘You had a massive heart attack. Another minute or two and who knows?’ ‘You called the paramedics?’ Randy asked. ‘No,’ I replied. ‘They were responding to an accident at that intersection. They even called headquarters to confirm they had the right location. Then we came along seconds later.’ Fifteen miles on empty roads in the middle of the night; Randy’s heart attack would’ve been fatal if the paramedics hadn’t been there. I’d say they were in the perfect location.” Often in a crisis there’s no time to call the pastor or your prayer partner. That’s when it’s good to know God said, “Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.” He’s on the job 24/7, redeeming “your life from destruction” (Ps 103:4 NKJV) long before you even know you are in trouble!
Be Teachable
“That the Lord…may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do.” Jer 42:3 NKJV
Twelve bees were placed in a jar in a darkened room. A light was beamed onto the bottom of the jar, and then the lid removed. Instinctively, the bees flew toward the light and couldn’t escape. So they died trying to buzz their way through the bottom of the jar. Next the researchers took twelve common houseflies and repeated the experiment. Within seconds the flies had found their way out of the jar. Now, bees are more intelligent than flies and their survival instincts are better. Yet it was those very instincts that doomed the bees. There’s a lesson here. You may be very intelligent, yet your preconceived notions can doom you to failure in life. Assumptions, rigidity, and force of habit can cause you to keep doing things that don’t work and make no sense. Dr. James Dobson says: “Until 1992 I wrote books with pencils and yellow pads. I did that for years after word processors were available. The twentieth century was almost over before I decided to join it.” Are you afraid to abandon an old belief system, or learn a new skill, or tackle a new project? When you’re finished learning, you’re finished! The only real limitations are those we place on ourselves by refusing to learn. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Pr 9:9 NKJV). “The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Pr 18:15 NKJV). Don’t let your fears and preconceived ideas keep you from growing; be teachable.
Prepare Them For Adolescence
“Children are known by the way they act.” Pr 20:11 NLT
When you see signs of adolescence in your child, it’s time to talk with them. As the parent of a preteen, your task is similar to that of a football coach who’s trained his squad all through the late summer and early fall. Now the first game is about to occur, when direct coaching is not going to be possible. So the coach gathers the players in the locker room and makes one last speech before they take the field. He reminds them again of the fundamentals of the game, and gives them the old pep talk about winning. Similarly, as the parent of a preteen you’ve been teaching them through preschool and elementary years about right and wrong, what to believe, and how to behave. Now the big contest called adolescence is about to begin and your team will take the field. From that point forward, very little parental advice can be given. A Christian psychologist recommends that parents take an eleven- or twelve-year-old child on a “preparing for adolescence” trip, during which moral values and family principles are repeated and emphasised: sex education and the physical changes of adolescence, the approaching social pressures, and other fundamentals that should be discussed. When you’ve done this, you’ve two things left to do: (1) Assure them you love them and will always be there for them, and that will never change. (2) Pray for them every day. And don’t just pray, have confidence in the power of your prayers: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (Jas 5:16 NLT).
Dealing With The Devil (3)
“If you are the Son of God, jump off!” Mt 4:6 NLT
The Bible says, “The devil took him…to the highest point of the Temple, and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ Jesus responded, ‘The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God’” (vv. 5-7 NLT). Notice, Satan will misquote the Scriptures. So when you do battle with him you need to be able to say as Jesus did, “The Scriptures also say.” Jesus defeated Satan by using Scripture correctly—and that’s a secret Satan hopes you never discover. So arm yourself with God’s Word. Load your pistol with Scriptures and keep your finger on the trigger. Notice where this temptation took place: in church [the temple]! “If you are the Son of God, jump off!” In church, of all places, Satan will urge you to do tricks, impress others with your service, make a show of your faith, call attention to your good deeds, and manipulate your way into a position of prominence. God has called you to be a servant, not a star. Kneel, don’t strut. “God opposes the proud but favors the humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1Pe 5:5-6 NLT). When Satan told Jesus to jump into the arms of God, Jesus refused. Not because God wouldn’t catch Him, but because He didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, much less the Devil. And you don’t either.
Dealing With The Devil (1)
“We are not ignorant of [Satan’s] schemes.” 2Co 2:11 NAS
Nothing thrills the Devil more than the current scepticism with which he’s viewed. The more we doubt or downplay his existence, the more he’s free to hurt and hamper us. Jesus never doubted the reality of the Devil. The Bible says, “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Mt 4:1 NKJV). But Jesus was victorious. And He proved that God uses Satan’s schemes to strengthen us. Times of testing are actually times of spiritual training. “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you can become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way” (Jas 1:2-4 TM). God loves you too much to leave you undeveloped and immature. “God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves” (Heb 12:5-10 TM). Paul says, “We are not ignorant of [Satan’s] schemes.” When General Patton counterattacked Field Marshal Rommel in World War ll, Patton is reported to have shouted in the thick of battle, “I read your book, Rommel! I read your book!” Patton had studied Rommel’s Infantry Attacks. He knew the German leader’s strategies and planned his moves accordingly. And when you become acquainted with Satan’s moves you can stop him cold in his tracks.
A Mother-In-Law’s Prayer
“Adjust yourself to [people].” Ro 12:16 AMP
A woman who was about to become a mother-in-law wrote to columnist Abigail Van Buren: “My son will marry his girlfriend this summer. She’s a lovely girl…already a cherished member of our family. I remember a prayer you ran; a pep talk from a woman to herself as she approached mother-in-law status. And since all truth is God’s truth, here’s the prayer: ‘Lord, let me be glad when my son picks a mate. If he brings home a girl with two heads, let me love both of them equally. When he says, “Mom, I want to get married,” forbid that I should blurt out, “How far along is she?” Help me get through the wedding preparations without squabbling with the “other side.” Drive from my mind the belief that had my child waited they could’ve done better. Remind me when I become a grandmother, that my kids don’t want advice on raising their children any more than I did. If You’ll help me with these things perhaps my children will find me a joy to be around, and I won’t end up writing another letter complaining about them neglecting me.’” One pastor says: “Because somebody doesn’t do things the way I do, doesn’t mean they’re wrong. We’re just different. It takes maturity to get along with somebody who’s different, [and] patience not to start a dispute or become offended…No matter how great somebody is, if you’re around them long enough you’ll have opportunities to be offended.” Paul says, “Adjust yourself to [people]…Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.” It takes humility to keep your own counsel and resist giving unsolicited advice to your adult children.