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

Pack the problems!

Recently I was having coffee with a friend and we started talking about problems. We all have 'problems' and they are all different. I don't like to call them problems, but rather challenges. It might be issues relating to the past, challenges relating to current circumstances or a fear about the future, but the one thing that challenges do have in common is that they can cause anxiousness, fear or stress. Often we cannot do anything about the challenges we face. We cannot force a family member to forgive us, we cannot mend a broken friendship from one side or change the mood of a depressed friend or maybe you are trusting for finances, a new job or a new home. Often we find ourselves at the place where our hands are tied, we have done all we could do and there are no more options left.

While I was chatting to my friend I received this awesome picture in my mind. There is a shelf called God and we can pack all our challenges on it, like a row of encyclopaedia from A to Z. I imagined those old heavy books. Then the devil comes and he makes us worry about an issue which is out of our control or he makes us feel guilty about something that we cannot change. "Why aren't you thinking about that? Don't you care about your future? Who will do it if you don't carry the load? How is God going to do His part if you do not put in your time and thoughts? Should you not be pulling your weight? You deserve to get justice, why don't you approach that person?" There are millions of questions that he can throw at us to make us feel guilty and to convince us that we have to carry the books ourselves. We then remove the books from the shelf, tie them around our waist and drag them around wherever we go. We complain to people about them, we dwell on them and we reread the pages of each book over and over in our minds until we are so drained that we don't have energy left for anything else and that is exactly where the devil wants you, tired, discouraged, fearful and drained. The devil knows that when we are in that space, we are of no threat to him, because we have no energy left and our focus is on the problems and not on God.

The Bible says: "Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus says, come, bring your books to me, put them on my shelf, I know you cannot carry them. Take instead my yoke which is light and filled with peace, love, joy and freedom and let me carry your burdens.

Each book on the shelf has a time to be opened and a time to be read. God will show you when it is time to read each book and when you have the strength to do so. He will address the issue and instruct you to take the book and act at the right time. Until then, leave your challenges on His shelf and continue living in joy without dragging every burden behind you. Jesus came to remove our problems so that we can have the abundant life.

It does not mean that we don't take responsibility, it does not mean that we won't face challenging times, it only means that there is a time for everything and that when something is not in our control, it needs to be put in God's hands and not dragged behind us. In this way God can help us deal with each challenge at its time and we can be victorious in everything we do. Pack your problems on God’s shelf today and live free from anxiety and fear.

“The thief (devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

Photo credit: favim

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

Do not give up!

Photo credit: sparklingheart

You are just at your end. You don’t know which way next. You hold on, but you struggle and it’s not that you don’t have faith, but you are just tired. You know the miracle is coming, but when? Why is it taking so long? You have no idea and there is nothing you can do about it. It’s not in your hands, it’s out of your control and you feel helpless and discouraged.

“But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.” 1 Kings 19:4-8

Elijah was probably the greatest prophet who ever lived, but still he finds himself in the wilderness asking God to take his life. Ironically Elijah never died, but was taken up to heaven by God before Elisha’s eyes. But at this stage Elijah was at his end, Jezebel wanted to kill him and he fled into the wilderness. He obeyed God, slayed and defeated the priests of Baal and was now suffering persecution because of it. He had no reason to doubt the power of God, as he just saw the power of God in 1 Kings 18, but still he flees to the wilderness as he is the only prophet of God left in the entire Israel.

“There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And He said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.  And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””

Maybe today you are at your end. You don’t know how much longer you can hold on and you are just tired. Can I encourage you today? God is with you wherever life takes you and He will sustain you as He sustained Elijah with food and water. Not just food for your body, but food for your soul and Sprit through His word and His voice. Seek Him. He will give you the strength to go on fighting. He knows where you are at and what you are going through and He is not oblivious to it. His voice is in the whispers and He will lead you through. Even though you do not feel Him, He is definitely there carrying you. Don’t run away, but stay and fight, your victory is around the corner!

“But He answered, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone,
 but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matt 4:4

“ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Gal 6:9

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