Ask!

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matt 21:22

Ask and you will receive. The problem is not that we don't ask, but that we don't wait to receive. We ask, but we leave our prayer times and go find our own solutions instead of waiting on God's plans and answers. Then we find ways to satisfy our desires temporarily with the wrong things or people, instead of waiting for the right things or people. This can often lead to disappointment and then we blame God again for not providing. Meanwhile we went chasing the wrong thing and totally missed the blessing. Scary hey?

I totally understand why this is happening. We live in a culture where everything is fast, comfortable, convenient and accessible. We tend to subconsciously think that God also needs to jump when we push the prayer button and when He doesn't we assume that He's not listening or that He doesn't care. Those thoughts are such lies! We know that the Bible says "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31 So clearly God does care and wants to be intimately involved in the detail of our lives.

We need to be confident in who God is. He is a God who speaks and leads and He will not leave you alone on your journey. If He hasn't given you an answer yet, then the answer is still coming. We need to grow in patience, knowing that God has our best interests at heart. He knows what the right timing is for everything in our lives and we can cast our cares fully on Him and trust Him completely.

Waiting isn’t easy, but it is totally worth it! I know how hard waiting can be, but the best is yet to come. Choose to exercise some patience today and accept (and find rest) in the fact that your answer might take a while, but it’s on its way. The plans that God has for us far exceed our wildest dreams and expectations and if we are willing to seek His face and wait on His instructions then we open the door to His throne room full of blessings.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

Photo credit: turnbacktogod

Live while waiting

We have all had to wait for something in some or other stage in our lives. Whether it is for a holiday, promotion, a partner to love, provision, healing or a promise from God, waiting can be difficult. It can be a rollercoaster journey of highs and lows, where some days are better than others. People around you celebrate victories and blessings while it feels as if your life is standing still.

The thing that you are waiting for doesn't even have to be something big or maybe you are waiting for something to end rather than to start. We easily start developing the mentality of 'when' that thing ends or happens 'then' I will do this and that. Jesus says “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” and that is what He has for us every day, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.

When we start putting life on hold because we are waiting, then we open a door for impatience, frustration and doubt to creep in and our days drag on. This happens when we take our eyes off life and God and we start focusing on the situation or the thing that we are waiting for. The trick is not to live waiting, but to live while waiting.

I'm reading Nick Vujicic's new book Unstoppable and he always says that if you haven't received your miracle (yet), be the miracle for others. His positive attitude has inspired millions of people, in spite of the fact that he was born without arms and legs. If you haven’t heard of him yet, I encourage you (and your children) to watch some of his videos on YouTube or read his books. He is truly an inspiration.

Decide today to make the best of each day, no matter what challenge you are going through. Waiting can be incredibly hard, but when we tap into the daily plan which God has for us we realise that there is joy to be found in every circumstance. It’s all about your attitude and the manner in which you approach your day. Do not allow your circumstances to isolate you from the life God has for you, rather reach out to God and others around you. If you are struggling, do not be discouraged, Paul says: “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in (your) weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:9-10

Do not let your days be dulled by waiting, but live as if you have received everything you need, because Jesus has already given us His strength, joy, peace and love so that we can live each day to the fullest.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Picture credit: chindiandreams

God is patient

 

Today I was thinking about how patient God is with us and how impatient we can sometimes be towards Him. We know that God's timing is perfect, but we ask "when, when, when?" and we become impatient and discouraged so quickly.

If I think back over the years, I can just thank God for how patient He has been with me. All the times that I didn't love Him the way I should've, listened to what He said or did what He asked me to do. He didn't ask me "when, when, when?" but patiently walked with me on my journey until I understood what He was saying or saw what He was busy doing and left my selfishness behind and obeyed His voice. He has always approached me with kindness and patience.

I thank God that He didn't give up on me, turned His back on me or withheld promises from me just because I didn't do everything that He asked me to do. How often do we want to give up on God, turn our backs on Him or get angry with Him just because He is not doing what we think He should be doing right now? Then a few weeks into the struggle we realise why He held back or why He didn't jump when we wanted Him to jump and we end up feeling embarrassed because of our impatience.

God is love and "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV)

Look back at the times when He was there for you, where He showed you the way and led you through dark hours. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and He has shown us much patience, much more than we deserve. He patiently waited for you to follow and choose Him and He did not count your sin against you even if you have mocked or slandered His name. He has shown us unending mercy, kindness, grace and love.

Maybe today you feel as if you want to give up on God, that He is not coming through for you or that He is not being all that you believe He is. I want to encourage you that God IS love and He IS faithful and that He has never given up on you and He believes in you. Even if you don't see it yet or have been waiting for a long time, don't give up, He is for you and not against you. Find comfort in Him and know that He is your Father and that He has only the best in store for you. You can overcome any challenge with Him at your side and He will guide and comfort you through anything that life can throw your way.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare Him own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31, 32 ESV)

Photo credit: favim

Patience is a virtue

Photo credit: Ramon Mariano

I remember years ago asking my mom what the word “virtue” means. She tried to explain, but as a child it was difficult for me to understand. Today I can safely say that I understand what “virtue” means and why people say that patience is a virtue. At many times in our lives we will find ourselves in situations where we will need to have patience and wait whether we want to or not.

The question is what do we do in the waiting period? Maybe you are waiting for a situation to change or for a promise that God has made in the Bible (direction, wisdom, finances, healing, restoration etc.) or maybe God has spoken to you about something more specific in your life, regardless of what it is, you are still waiting.

We never know how long the waiting period might be, unless He tells you of course, but often we need to just walk in faith and wait and this can often be difficult. Especially when hours become days, days become weeks and weeks become months or years. Doubt can set in and we can become dismayed or even angry.

It is important in these times that we do not lose focus, that we keep our face fixed on God and what He has already said, whether in the Bible or whether to you directly. God never panics and He is not still trying to figure out the solution to your situation. He knows what He is doing and His timing is perfect, He has planned it long ago. He has heard your request and your “answer” (so to speak) is on its way.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt 6:33

So while we wait we undertake to not sulk, complain or get angry, but to serve God diligently, knowing that what we have asked for is on its way. Rather than looking at what we not yet have, we focus on what we do have and that is everything we need in Jesus. Instead of seeing ourselves as people sitting in a desert, we stand as expectant people walking into the promised land.

Faith is knowing that we have what we have asked for, before we even receive it. So today, thank God in advance for what you are soon going to receive.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matt 7:7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Phil 4:6

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jer 33:3

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13

 Awesome song!!

While I’m waiting – Fireproof Movie

When "no answer" is your answer

Photo credit: abstract

Sometimes we so desperately want an answer. "Why did this happen to me?" "What do I do now?" "What is the plan here God, because I'm surely not seeing the full picture?!" 

Don't get me wrong, it's good to ask. God is a god who speaks and that of course is the basis of our relationship, but sometimes He also needs to protect us from ourselves. We are indeed very complicated beings and if we are really honest, very often our own worst enemies. 

We all have different pasts, biases, likes, dislikes, fears and insecurities. Then mixed in the equation is our fast paced culture. We get everything now, on the move, fresh, hot and comfortable. We sometimes forget that patience really is a virtue and that Rome wasn't built in a day.

Our impatience, quite unnecessarily, often leads to frustration or anger, when the answer is quite simple, "now just isn't the right time".

I realised again this morning, that even though the storm rages on, there is one who has the answer, there is one who is not freaking out the way that I do, who is always stable and secure. One who knows what He is doing and maybe in that moment instead of asking for an answer or an explanation of the full picture, I should rather ask for peace, joy and a love that overflows. 

The fact that He is not providing me with an answer does not mean that He doesn't hear or that He doesn't care, but merely that He is unfolding a plan larger than I can comprehend and by telling me the detail it will distract me from what I need to do now, which is nothing but rest, wait and trust. He doesn't need me to know the answer and then think ahead, worry or tell Him that He's crazy. He sometimes needs to protect me from myself and my primitive way of thinking.

This reminds me  of a quote that someone special once gave me, I paraphrase, but it goes something like this:

"Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child."

In the years that I have been walking with God, He has never once turned His back on me, never once left me, never once took His love from me and never once gave me any reason whatsoever to doubt Him. This brings me to a place where I can confidently say that no matter where you are or how deep you're  in, in the middle of the storm, that is where Love will find you...