Promise for Today - Making the Choice to Wait

I trust the LORD God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer. 

Micah 7:7 (CEV)

The Bible is clear that you’ll go through different seasons in life. One season God talks about over and over is the season of waiting. But you can trust that while you’re waiting, God is working. A season of waiting doesn’t mean that God has stopped working. In fact, he’s taking you through that season because he’s using the time to work in your circumstances for your good.

The truth is, you’re going to spend much of your life waiting. And so, if you don’t figure out how to trust God while you’re waiting, you’ll spend a lot of your life not trusting God.

God is never in a hurry; he’s eternal! And as he’s working, he wants you to learn how to trust him.

You might be asking, “When, Lord? When is it going to happen?” And God’s saying something like, “You can trust me with this.”

It’s human nature to say, “Don’t wait! Get things as quickly as you can.” But that goes against God’s blessing in your life—because God’s blessing often comes through times of waiting. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “[God] has set the right time for everything” (GNT).

Are you in a time of waiting? Maybe it’s for school to end. Maybe it's for healing. Maybe it’s for the “right person” to come into your life. Maybe it’s for a marriage to happen, a baby to come, or a new job opportunity to arrive. And you’re frustrated with how slowly things are happening. We’ve all been there.

There’s a promise in the Bible that not only tells you God is working but also how God is working. You need to believe it while you’re waiting: “I am the LORD, and when it is time, I will make these things happen quickly” (Isaiah 60:22 NCV).

That’s how God worked when he sent Jesus into this world. The world waited thousands of years for him to come the first time. And then he came at just the right moment.

We’ve been waiting 2,000 years now for Jesus to come again. When will that happen? At just the right time—God’s time. That’s when he’s going to return.

You can apply this same truth to your time of waiting. Remember that a delay is not a denial. When you think God is saying, “No,” he may just be saying, “Not yet. Will you keep trusting me through this?”

Micah 7:7 says, “I trust the LORD God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer” (CEV).

That is the kind of faith God blesses.

Talk It Over

What have you been waiting for God to do in your life? How have you responded to the season of waiting?

Think of a time when you had to trust God’s timing. How did he work in your life during that time?

It’s easy to hurry—but God’s blessing often comes through waiting. How can you slow yourself down so that you learn patience and trust?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           In this hurry-up, instant-fix, same-day online order season of the world we live in, we often lose sight of and patience with a season of waiting. Forgive us for every time we gloss over, 'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength". Forgive us for every time we equate waiting with being punished or ignored by You. Forgive us for believing that lie of the enemy of our souls to try to make us doubt You and weaken our faith and trust in You. Father, we declare the Truth of Your Word over the facts of our lives. From Psalm 62, Let all that we are wait quietly before You, God, for our hope is in You. You alone are our rock and our salvation, our fortress where we will not be shaken. Our victory and honor come from You alone. You are our refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach us. Father, we choose to trust You at all times.  Help us to stand strong upon Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Not Your Job

Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 

Romans 8:32 NLT

Anytime I needed something when I was a kid, I’d talk to my dad. Sometimes what I needed was expensive, but not once did I worry about where my father was going to get the money for it. That wasn’t my job! It was my dad’s job to figure out where the money would come from. It was my job as a kid to simply ask.

In the same way, it’s not your job to figure out how God’s going to provide. It’s your job to ask.

When you worry instead of asking, you’re acting like an atheist, like someone who believes they don’t have a heavenly Father. Worry is practical atheism. It’s living your life like God doesn’t exist or can’t be trusted.

The Bible is clear: God wants you to come to him in prayer about everything. James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (NIV).

Worry less and ask more. Instead of worrying, pray about everything.

As Philippians 4:6 says, “Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests”.

Did you catch that? God wants you to come to him in every situation. You can talk to him about everything—no matter how big or small it seems to you.

Romans 8:32 says, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”

God has solved your biggest problem—your sin—and everything else is small by comparison.

If God loved you enough to send Jesus to die for your sins, don’t you think he loves you enough to help you with your finances? Don’t you think he loves you enough to help you with your health? With your relationships? With career decisions? With your deadline?

God is interested in every single area of your life. In fact, he already knows what you need. But he still wants you to ask him for it.

Are you ready to reduce the stress in your life? God is waiting for you to come to him with your needs. Choose to worry about nothing—and pray about everything.

Talk It Over

If God already knows all your needs, why do you think he wants you to ask him to meet those needs?

What keeps you from asking God for the things that you need?

Think of a time that God clearly answered one of your prayers. How does that answered prayer encourage you to keep praying about other needs and others' needs?

 - by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         We know that the trials and stresses we're facing now are not meant to defeat us but will instead be used by You to strengthen and equip me. We have faith in Your plan above our own. So Lord, help us to consider it joy when things come our way. Let us not lose hope, but be encouraged that You’re working something out for us! 'We're sorry for carrying the stressors of life when we don't have to. We know Your Word says to lay all our worries and cares at Your feet. We acknowledge that it's not our job to worry. So we now surrender all of that to You in prayer. Holy Spirit, help us distinguish between what is urgent and what is not. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The "Uns" of Worry

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Work doesn’t keep you up at night. Worry does. In the Bible, God gives clear direction about the role of worry.

Why do you need to let go of your worry?

Worry is unreasonable. Here are a couple of reasons why that’s true. First, worry exaggerates the problem. Have you noticed that, if somebody says something bad about you, the more you think about it, the bigger it gets? Second, worry doesn’t work. To worry about something you can’t change is useless. And to worry about something you can change is a waste of time. Just go change it!

Worry is UNnatural. No one is a born worrier. You might think you are, but you’re not. Worry is something you learned. Since worry is unnatural, it’s also UNhealthy. Your body wasn’t designed to handle worry. When people say, “I’m worried sick,” they’re telling the truth. Doctors say that a lot of people could leave the hospital today if they knew how to get rid of guilt, resentment, and worry. And Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body” (NLT).

Worry is UNhelpful. Worry cannot change the past, and worry cannot control the future. All it does is mess up today. The only thing that worry changes is you. It makes you miserable! It’s never solved a problem.

Worry is UNnecessary. God made you, he created you, he saved you, and he put his Spirit in you. Don’t you think he’s going to take care of your needs? So then, there’s no need to worry.

Do you want to learn to better manage stress? A great first step is to refuse to worry about anything. Why? Because worry is unreasonable, unnatural, unhelpful, and unnecessary.

The Bible tells us to “Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 GNT).

God personally cares about you and for your needs. So what should you do with all those things you’re stressed, anxious, and worried about? Let them go. Give them to God.

Talk It Over

What does your current state of worry say about how much you trust God?

What are you worried about right now? What can you do to change the situation or to let the worry go?

In what practical way can you leave all your worries with God (1 Peter 5:7)?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

        When our minds start going down the road of worry, guide us back to Your path of peace. Remind us that You are not bound by time. You have been in our past, You are in our present, and You’re already in our future. Whatever we have to walk through, You’re already there. You know it. You are sovereign over it. We have nothing to worry about.
         Help us to cast all our cares on You, because we know that You care about us. When our finances are tight, You provide our daily bread. When our hearts are heavy, You are our consolation. When our health is precarious, You are the strength of our hearts and our portion forever.
         Your Word is full of promises about how you sustain us, You lift us up, You provide. Help us to take You at Your Word. Your Word is Truth.
         Thank You for being a good Father. When we ask for bread, You do not give us a stone. You give us exactly what we need. When we turn to worry, remind us of Your faithfulness. Your steadfast love endures forever. We lay all our worries into Your capable hands. Help us not to reclaim them. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Turn Away and Keep Moving - Guest Author - Pr. Alan Neel

Guest author - Pastor Alan Neel

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Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.
Proverbs 4:14-15 NLT

Indeed, it's not always our actions that get us into trouble, but our thoughts. What we think about somehow becomes "normalized" in our lives, causing us to lose our way. 

Yes, we as Christians should be different! Not just in our relationships and behavior, but also in our thought life. Proverbs give us good advice: "Don't do as the wicked do, and don't follow the paths of evildoers. Don't even think about it; don't go that way. TURN AWAY AND KEEP MOVING."

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Prayer:

Father,

           We trust Your Word and choose to walk in Your way. You said through the prophet Isaiah that You would go before us and make the crooked places straight. We want to follow You. Cause Your Word to be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Here Comes Trouble

We sent him [Timothy] to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong.

1st Thessalonians 3:2b-5a

If you're on the upside of the dirt, there will be trouble. How do we handle it? Do we choose to ask God's direction or just ask Him "Why?" After all, He knew it was going to happen. He's God, isn't He? Why didn't He stop it?

How do we handle that?

Do we endure? Become one with it, take it on? Identify ourselves with it? What IS our identity? Really...do we want to be defined by trouble?

Do we run? Escape? Avoid it at all costs? We miss the lesson if we move away from it.

Do we enlist it? Make it work for us. James 1:2 reads, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." Gee, I don't think I've met anyone who has said at the onset, 'Oh, all these troubles are gonna bring me GREAT joy!'

We've been talking about faith and control. They have nothing to do with each other, by the way. Faith is a relinquishing of control, based on trusting God. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. Without relinquishing control of our lives TO Him, based on our trust IN Him, it's impossible to please God. It kind of lends a new meaning to, "With God, all things are possible..."

Is our trust linked to our perception of what He's done for us or will do? Do we trust Him just because He is who He is - God - and for no other reason? Do we know Him? It's one thing to say we know Him, it's another to see what our actions are when we don't get our own way, or if we need to sacrifice something we want.

You see, faith is an action word. Here comes trouble - what action will you take?

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for thinking of You only as our benevolent overseer. Help us to see You for who You are and what You are, no matter the circumstances. We place our trust in You. Help us to be a Timothy to those around us who may need to be encouraged. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Focused Confidence

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 20:7 ESV

Throughout time, armies have boasted about and trusted in their weaponry. How many times have we heard about the Arms Wars? Most of this century and half of the last was about who had what weapons in an attempt to "keep a balance" of power. However, it was more about not letting one have more power than the other. I don't see it as a true rendering of balance for good because of the fear factor that is the driving force behind it. 

David was a mighty warrior, a skilled strategist because he trusted Yahweh. His boast and trust were in the Name of the Lord. David and his army understood that victory only comes from God. How do you trust someone so completely? You must know their character and reputation and recognize their sovereignty. David understood God's character. He knew his God did not fail. 

As we face life's battles, we, too, can know that God does not fail when we take the time to invest in our relationship with Him; to know His character and to recognize and submit to His sovereignty. The more our focus is ON God, the greater our confidence will be IN God.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You that You first loved us and sought after our hearts, then made provision for a right relationship restored through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. Let us never lose sight of Your great love and faithfulness. Holy Spirit, please continue to reveal God's Truth to us as we bow before the holiness and sovereignty of the Lord our God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

He Has Not

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Matthew 6:34 The Message

This scripture is taped to the monitor stand at my place of employment where I can read it every day. I printed and posted it several years ago as a reminder when the company was going through major layoffs. By God's grace and mercy, I am still there. The first couple of months I realized I was living with an underlying fear. That's when I went back to the Words I knew; to the One I can trust. God is my Source. He is my Provider. He leads me in the paths of righteousness... and my beloved Psalm 139; It doesn't matter where I go, He is there. And Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave me nor forsake me. And so many more...

God has been reminding me to live in the present. Forgetting those things that are behind, not worrying about tomorrow and what it may or may not bring, for God is already there. He is not going to take us or send us to any place that He has not already made the way. And if we believe that (and it is our choice), then we can fully live in the peace that He has promised us. The peace that only He can give us, and the world cannot.

Don't get caught up in what may or may not happen tomorrow or the next day. We must choose to put our faith and our trust in God; to not be moved by what we see or feel. It is God and His Word that must shape our lives and the choices we make.

Remember His Word in Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?"  No, He has not and He never will. 

Praise His Holy Name!

Prayer:

Father,
          When I think about all You have done for us, I am overwhelmed by Your love and faithfulness. Thank You for continuing to teach us. Use us to further Your kingdom, Lord. Morning by morning, according to Your Word, awaken us and open our understanding to Your will. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - In God We Trust...Maybe...

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
Galatians 3:2-3 NLT

Guilty! Guilty as charged! When will we grasp the gist of grace? When will we comprehend the cruxes of the crucifixion? When will we divest ourselves of our delusions that we could possibly do anything to earn salvation?

Why is it so difficult to relinquish our will and our own selfish desires to the One who has given HIS all so that we could have it all? Is it because He didn't answer our prayer the way we thought He should? Is it because we didn't get the spouse, the job, the house, the car, the (fill in the blank) when we "really prayed hard"? Is it because the loved one died anyway?

Here's the Truth. We cannot have Christianity on our terms. It's not called "ME-anity." It's His rules. His way. And Jesus is the only way to God.

Where have you placed your trust?

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in Hebrews 11:6, It’s impossible to please You apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach You must believe both that You exist and that You care enough to respond to those who seek You. As an act of my will, I lay down my will in surrender to Your will, O God. I want to walk humbly before You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Advent Day 11 - We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

This year's Advent devotionals are from A Celebration of Advent: A 25-Day Devotional
by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC
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“We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:6-7

When Caesar Augustus decided to take a census, the timing couldn’t have been worse for Joseph and Mary. They weren’t yet married, and Mary was due any day.

Bethlehem is immortalized to us now, but imagine what the journey meant for Joseph and Mary. There are many things a heavily pregnant woman wants to do, and none of them start with walking 70 miles to your soon-to-be in-laws’ house. They would be exhausted and embarrassed. They would feel others’ stares and have their fears confirmed when told, “There’s no room for you in the inn.”

But what Caesar meant for tax collection, God used to fulfill His Word. In making the long, dirty, and difficult journey, Mary and Joseph fulfilled Micah’s promise that Israel’s ruler would come from Bethlehem.

The road to Bethlehem was part of Joseph and Mary’s faith journey. It’s the place where they learned to walk by faith, not by sight. Our faith saves us, but it’s also what helps us keep going, day in and day out.

Like Joseph and Mary, all of us will face moments when the road seems too long and the cost too high. Faith is believing God’s sight is better than ours. It’s trusting that all things — even a long, arduous journey — are for His glory and our good.

Reflect: Read Luke 2:1-7, 2 Corinthians 5:1-7 ...

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” What are you hoping for in the coming year? What step of faith is God asking you to take?

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Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for giving each of us a measure of faith that enables us to walk through the tough times, "when the road seems too long and the cost too high." Thank You for the grace to see us through, to be able to hold on to Your Truth that ALL things work together for our good and Your Glory. We want to be faithful witnesses of Your love and peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Advent Day 3 - Learning to Trust God's Timing

This year's Advent devotionals are from A Celebration of Advent: A 25-Day Devotional

by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC
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“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”
Isaiah 40:28

Israel lived in exile for 70 years. They knew the frustration of waiting. Although Isaiah prophesied a Rescuer would come, it became harder and harder to believe the promise. In response, Isaiah reminds Israel of God’s power and might, of His thoughtfulness, and attention to detail. But when days turn to months and months turn to years, hearts become sick from deferred hope.

When we wait well, we learn to trust God with our lives. Jesus’ birth is proof that God’s plan is worth the wait. Jesus did more than save Israel. He saved the world and established an eternal kingdom, offering freedom from sin and a relationship with God to all who seek Him.

Wait on the Lord. Resist the urge to rush the process. Christmas - the arrival of God’s greatest promise - reminds us that no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.

REFLECT:   Read Isaiah 40:12-31

How do you respond when things don’t go as planned?

What do Isaiah’s words tell you about God’s ability to change your circumstances?

How have you grown in times of waiting?
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Prayer:

Father, 

          Help us to walk in trust and faith according to Your Words of promise. Help us to keep in mind that we are to walk this way one day at a time and to keep our hearts, eyes and minds focused on You. Holy Spirit, help us to remember the words of Isaiah that when we wait on You, our strength shall be renewed. We will be strong like eagles soaring upward. We will run and not be weary. We will walk and not faint. Bring a fresh anointing of Your precious peace while we wait. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Not How I Planned It

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV

I did not write the following, but I find it to be an eye-opening analogy.
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Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'

Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby on the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest Treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping Man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it carried the King of kings in its hull.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the Man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the Man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will use you mightily.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We only know that His Ways are not our ways. However, His ways are always best.

Nothing is a surprise to God; nothing is a setback to His plans; nothing can thwart His purposes; and nothing is beyond His control.

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Prayer:

Father, 

         Your ways and Your thoughts are so much higher than ours. We don't always understand what Your plan is and sometimes, we dare to ask what You are doing or why You are doing it. But we trust You, Father. We choose to trust You, for You alone are God. It is in You that we live and move and have our very being. Help us to walk uprightly before You, nothing wavering. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Where Is God in the Struggle? Thanksgiving Devotional #6

By Cindi McMenamin - author of "The New Loneliness: Nurturing Meaningful Connections When You Feel Isolated."

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“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.” 

Psalm 138:8 ESV

“I don’t understand why God is allowing us to struggle like this,” a friend told me recently after she and her husband experienced a series of financial and relational challenges.

After four decades of ministry to women, I can tell you, without a doubt, that struggles are a part of life. You are not being discriminated against or punished by God when you experience difficulty, delay, disappointment, or loss. And if you know God, you don’t struggle alone. He’s there, ready to redeem your suffering and refine you through it, and He’s placed more people in your path than you realize who can help you through it.

Disappointment can make us feel so very lonely. So can loss or a setback or a series of frustrations. Just because life is full of struggles doesn’t make them any easier to navigate. But, oh the comfort of knowing there is a reason (whether you are privy to it this side of heaven or not) and there is help along the way.

In the early years of my marriage, it seemed like my husband and I had one situation after another in which we needed to trust God to get us through financially. One day, after I was briefing my husband on all that needed to happen for the bills to be paid that month so we wouldn’t go into credit card debt, Hugh said, rather casually, “If these faith tests are still happening because you haven’t yet learned to trust God with our finances, I sure wish you’d trust Him. I learned long ago that He will provide.”

His statement took me by surprise. And instead of feeling insulted that his remark implied I was the one who was worrying and he wasn’t, and that’s why the test was happening, I realized he was right. I did still worry about the finances. I did still have to talk it all through and see it all on paper to understand it would work out in order not to panic. I was still trying to control it all.

That day, I repented to God for still not trusting Him to provide, even though He had an excellent track record of providing for us in every way since the day we married.

“God, don’t let us go through this on account of my lack of faith,” I prayed, “Help me to rest in You when it comes to financial matters so we can get beyond this.”

As a result of that prayer, nothing changed for the next 20 years in terms of our financial situation being tight. But my anxiety level changed tremendously. God didn’t necessarily bring us more money, or give me more faith (you and I have all the faith we will ever need at the point of our salvation). What changed was my determination to trust God to be Who He promises He will be—our Provider, Sustainer, and Giver of every good and perfect gift under heaven (James 1:17). I started living what I professed to believe.

Have we still faced financial concerns? Of course. But they are no longer concerns that we won’t have what we need. Rather, our concern is that we will fail to manage well what God has given us. Our concern is that we might overlook the needs of others whom God clearly brings our way. But mostly, our concern is that we will—even if for a moment—fail to trust the One who has a million times over proven that He is trustworthy in every area of our lives.

As you and I honor God with our time, talents, and treasure, He honors us as well, by faithfully providing all we have ever needed, and so much more simply because He is the God who loves to bless.

Faith tests grow us into people who take God at His Word—people who experience peace rather than panic, and people who trust rather than fret or complain.

Whether it’s a financial difficulty, a relationship struggle, a health problem, or an overall fear of the future, God is the One who can work it out, redeem it into something good, and grow us through the struggle.

Intersecting Faith & Life:
God knows all about what you struggle with. He knows. He’s in control. He has His reasons for allowing what He does. And most of the time that reason is because He wants us to trust Him like a child instinctively and unswervingly trusts the protective care of his loving [parent]. When we get a glimpse of God’s greater purposes for us, or just believe He has a plan that is far bigger than ours, we can trust His goodness, even if we can’t yet see it.

When you and I realize we can’t control our lives, we can relax into His control and realize every circumstance—even this disappointment or loneliness you’re feeling today—is in His hands and He is allowing it to show you a new side of Himself, and bring you into a closer relationship with Him.

Further Reading:
Psalm 121
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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for always being our Provider - physically, financially and spiritually. Thank You for placing us in circumstances that test and grow the strength of our faith in You. Your Word assures us in Psalm 121 that You "will watch over our lives; and that You will watch over our coming and going both now and forevermore".  Help us to relax and live in these precious promises. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - How Can You Not...

"O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion."
1st Kings 8:23 NLT

I have been called a wordsmith more than once in my life, but when I attempt to lay attribute to Almighty God or try to tell you how I love the Lord, I am most inept. I guess if I could sing like Whitney...well, not like Whitney, but with her passion, I would belt it out, ♪♫ I LOVE THE LORD! ♫♪ HE HEARD MY CRY...♪♫

How can you not love a God who will say to you - "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1b

How can you not TRUST a God who promises you - "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3a NLT

How can you not love a God whose Word declares when the enemy comes in like a flood, that He - God - will lift up the standard against him?
Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

"Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah"
Isaiah 61:1-4 NKJV

No matter what I see. No matter what I hear.

Do I know or understand why children die? No, I do not. Do I know or understand why there are mighty prayer warriors who die having lost the memories of all but Him? No, I do not. Do I know or understand why there are illnesses for which there is no cure, save a miracle from God? A miracle of healing that sometimes does not manifest on this Earth? No, I do not. But no matter if I understand it or I do not...even if I never do - this one thing I know. He is God and I am not. God of the universe. The Creator of Heaven and Earth - more than we can even begin to wrap our finite minds around. He is God and He is trustworthy and He is faithful and merciful and full of grace toward us. His grace empowers us to do His work. Unmerited favor - we couldn't earn it by our works if we tried. He sent His only Perfect Son to die - to pay the ransom price for my many sins...and for yours.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps." Psalm 40:1-2 NKJV

How can we not love this God...

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word! Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You. O God, give us Your Words to speak - to shine Your Light into the darkness, to bring Your Comfort to those who mourn, Your Strength for those who are weak and heavy-laden! May Your Words be fruitful seed, watered by our tears. Give us the increase of Your Word, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Sleep

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 NKJV

Somewhere around mid-morning, I lost track of the number of people who did not sleep well last night. Various reasons, but most of them were "thinking about this" or "thinking about that"... which could easily translate to "worrying about this" or "worrying about that."

Worrying is not what we're supposed to do. Worry is caused by fear. Fear is a lack of trust. It is the opposite of faith... It does NOT please God. According to Hebrews 11:6, Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Isaiah 26:3 tells us, You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. In other words, if we keep our mind focused on the Lord and Who He is and what He's already done for us - if we study His Word to know His promises toward us, IF we obey His Word - THEN we can trust Him. IF we will trust Him, THEN we can be at peace. When we reach that place, then we'll do two things...

We will lie down in peace AND sleep.

Prayer:

Father,
           You alone are God. You alone make us to dwell in safety. You alone are our Shield and Buckler, our Shelter in the time of storm. When our hearts are overwhelmed within us, You, O Lord, are the Rock that is higher. Our safe place. Father, we choose to trust You and to lie down in peace AND sleep. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Make it Better

Don't spend all of your time thinking about eating or drinking or worrying about life. If you do, the final day will suddenly catch you like a trap. This day will surprise everyone on earth. Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you.
Luke 21:34-36 CEB

How easy it is to get caught up in the day-to-day distractions. I cannot tell you how many conversations in the last few weeks I've had with Christians who are worried about the what-ifs of life. Things that could happen if or might happen if, but have no certainty of happening, and yet we spend precious time and energy trying to conquer any and all potential contingencies. To put it plainly, we worry.

It's surprising to discover how many people believe it is their "job" to worry. That's one of satan's great deceptions - as though worrying about something will make it better. No, it won't. When we choose to worry about things, it means we don't trust God. Praying and believing about it will make it better. Giving it to God and seeking His wisdom will make it better. Trusting the Lord to be ALL that He has promised is faith. Trust and faith will make it better.

The less time we spend caught up in the day-to-day distractions, the more time we have to spend with God. The more time we have to watch and pray. The more time we have to prepare ourselves and those within our realm of influence for the Day of His return. THAT'S when and where we want to be caught up - with HIM.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray from the Psalms, Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let our children see Your glory. This we declare about You, Lord: You alone are our refuge, our place of safety; You are our God, and we trust You. 

           We stand on Your promise that You will rescue those who love You. You will protect those who trust in Your Name. You will answer us and be with us when we're in trouble. You have promised to rescue and honor us.  And also to reward us with a long life and give us Your salvation. We trust You, Lord.  We lay down every worry and what-if of doubt. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Blessed to be a Blessing - written by Pr. Alan Neel

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
Luke 16:10 -12

We are privileged to be conduits of God's blessings, not creators of our own wealth. As followers of Jesus Christ, we should understand that everything given to us is a test of our gratitude and faith. 

Our worldview is undoubtedly different because we find God’s purpose in every area of our lives, including our finances. We are called to be like our heavenly Father, constantly pouring blessings to demonstrate His love! Never do we believe that God blesses us for our selfish pleasure. We have been blessed to be a blessing!

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Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your faithfulness of provision for our needs. Thank You also for giving us the desire of our hearts as we DELIGHT ourselves in You. Thank You for ALWAYS providing so that we can provide for others. Open our eyes, Father, to see those in need around us so that we open our hearts and our hands to BE the blessing You've created us to be. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Pretty Good

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 3:13-15 NIV

When you plan to make an investment, do you go with a sure thing or something you hope is good? Financial experts will tell you there's no such thing as a "sure thing", so you try for something that seems pretty good. Gold, for instance, and then hope the bottom doesn't fall out of the market.

This Word tells us that wisdom and understanding are more profitable than gold, silver and jewels. We can easily understand how to begin to invest in gold, silver and jewels, but how do we invest for wisdom? Our Promise for Today declares that wisdom yields better returns than gold. Where do we start?

Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” What does it mean to fear the Lord? It means to have the utmost reverence for Him. To acknowledge His Lordship. To trust Him and be totally submitted to Him and His authority. THAT's the beginning of wisdom. Stay in God's Word, trusting with an undivided heart and we will get the best return for it. If you're reading through the Bible in a year, we just read Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do,[emphasis mine] and he will show you which path to take. Wisdom. Understanding.

The world's experts have their own ideas of how to gain wisdom and they seem pretty good. However, you cannot trust what doesn't have a firm foundation. Pretty good is not pretty. Neither is it good.

Prayer:

Father,

          We choose You. We choose Your Way. You promise that if we ask for wisdom, You will freely give it to us. We want it, Lord. We need it. We trust You to show us Your Way and how to walk in it. Help us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 14th

Genesis 30:1-31:16
Matthew 10:1-23
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 3:13-15

The Right Path

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV

How many times have you found yourself facing a really tough situation while being unable to figure out what to do? You wracked your brain for solutions to no avail. How long before you realized you should have sought God first? 

It's His wisdom we pursue. His understanding we seek. His direction we require to righteously follow in His footsteps. 

Prayer:

Father,

            With everything that we are, we choose to trust You and to not walk in self-sufficiency. With every step, every breath, every beat of our heart, we recognize and acknowledge that it's by Your mercy and grace that we have life and it more abundantly. Direct our paths, Father, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen


Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 10th
Genesis 23:1-24:51, 

Matthew 8:1-17, 

Psalm 9:13-20, 

Proverbs 3:1-6

Advent - Day Thirteen

From 21 Gifts of Advent by Janelle Keith

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

James 1:22-25 NLT

The Gift of Obedience

Joseph's head hit the pillow hard that night, anchored by his heavy heart. He just had the most honest discussion with his betrothed, Mary, and heard some unexpected news. Joseph's reaction to Mary's Immaculate Conception has us wondering what could have been. Matthew was the only Gospel writer to give perspective to Joseph's response.

Joseph pits his faith against human doubt. Divine conception is only possible with God's power, and we believe this by faith. But imagine hearing this for the first time from his point of view? Honestly, it would make me question God’s plan, too. For a carpenter, it’s natural to desire to see the plan before he starts. It's in his nature to make sure all the pieces fit well to make a polished finished project.

With all the questions of doubt and worry a new dad would have, shame and unknown concerns added pressure and weight to his mind that night. However, Joseph cried out to God like a righteous man. The father-to-be went face down before the Lord; he was literally floored.

"Lord, show me what I should do," Joseph prayed. He didn't want to expose the love of his life to disgrace, but he needed a plan to save face with the community. He planned to divorce her quietly and protect Mary from public scandal. It was all he could do since their wedding plans had taken an unexpected twist.

He fell asleep. Then Heaven dispatched another angel who appeared to Joseph in a dream. He said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” After receiving confirmation from the angel, Joseph knew what to do to honor God and Mary. God commanded Joseph's obedience over his own understanding.

Advent reflection: Obedience is best when God asks. Position yourself face down before the Lord, and you will hear God's directions clearly. We must forgo our right to understand and simply obey. Many times understanding doesn’t come until after we move in obedience. The Lord wants our complete trust in His abilities and immediate obedience. God is sovereign, and He knows what He’s doing... He has every detail planned out for us, so we only need to obey Him.

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Prayer:

Father,

           Please forgive us for every time we have chosen our perceived right to understand why or how over our immediate obedience to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Rejoice!

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT

How do we love Christ? 

In every circumstance, choose how we can best bring Him the most honor and glory and do that. 

How do we trust Him?

By believing His every word and obeying. Trust isn't a feeling. To trust Him is a decision - a choice we make (to believe and obey).

What does it mean to rejoice in Christ? 

It means to thank Him and praise Him for the wondrous blessing of our salvation and our secured eternity with Him. When we meditate on that thought alone, our joy can be truly inexpressible. To get to live for God - knowing He ever watches over us - should flood our hearts with pure joy.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your wondrous plan for our salvation since before the foundation of the world. What great love You have for us - incomparable and incomprehensible - too great to fully grasp and understand. Help us, Father, to follow obediently in Your footsteps and to love others as You have loved us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen