When in Doubt...Wait on the Lord!

Waiting has become part of life in North America. When we leave our homes we wait for traffic. We pick up the phone to call about anything, many times we are put on hold and made to wait. We go to the grocery store and we wait for a cashier. We even have to wait for our friends and family to finish texting, talking on cell phones or sign out of facebook. In a world where waiting is inevitable, why do we think every prayer we pray should have an instant answer?

There are things we are unsure of in our lives and we need guidance and direction. We pray and ask the Lord to give us proper discernment and wisdom and expect instant gratification. Sometimes we get an immediate answer and other times we don't. How do you react when you do not receive clear directions? Do you wait on the Lord or do you get frustrated and do whatever you think you should at the time? Learning to wait on the Lord is a discipline many of us would do well to learn.

David learned to wait on the Lord. His life was filled with times of victory, but he also had times of disobedience and discouragement. We are bound to have testing times but it is what we do with them that counts. Learn to rest in the quiet and wait on Him. When you are unsure of which way to turn or which path to take continue to love and wait on God, serve others in whatever capacity you can and share the message of hope Jesus has given you. It is not always easy, but He has promised to be with you and take you through (Hebrews 13:5).

One of David's Psalms beautifully describes this time of waiting and the victory that comes with it.

"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,

He has put a new song in my mouth-

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord."

Psalm 40:1-3 NKJV

Higher Thinking

Has your heart ever been burdened not knowing what to do next? Have you experienced pain and the frustration of indecision when it seemed a decision needed to be made promptly? I wish I could tell you that I have a quick three-step process to cure what ails you but I don't. What I have discovered is the truth of the Scriptures which brings me much assurance and peace. "For 'who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ," (1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV).

God's promises to His followers are all within the covers of the Bible waiting to be discovered. Let me try to demonstrate what I mean. For most children-and some adults-Christmas comes with much expectation and anticipation. The thought of a tree dressed in majesty and beauty, gifts piled underneath, displaying wrappings of red, blue, green and silver. Bows and ribbons flow gracefully from the rich tapestry of colour. The anticipation comes to a peak on Christmas morning when everyone eagerly waits to dive right in, peeling and pulling back the wrappings to see what lies inside. Once all is revealed, then the play can begin. Games and toys are played with. New cookware is used to prepare a feast. Those special items received are treasured deeply.

This is a picture of God's promises to us. Once we hear and understand the gifts and treasures in the Bible, we can begin to claim them and apply them to our lives. This particular passage from 1 Corinthians is exciting because we can have the  mind of Christ. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have the awesome privilege of being the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can take our thoughts captive to Him (2 Corinthians 10:5) and wait on His timing and answers to our concerns and questions.
May you find your strength and power in Him,
Natalie

Dear glorious and gracious heavenly Father,
Thank You for the promises in the Bible. Lord, in Jesus name, I pray You will open up the truths as they apply to me and give me the mind of Christ. Lead me O Lord and teach me Your way. Thank You for Your leading and guiding. Forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness that I may be Your shining light in this world where You have placed me. May everything I do bring You glory and honour. In the mighty and powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Spirited Giving

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work," 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

God's ability to supply for our needs is limitless. He has the resources to bless us with every good thing He so chooses. Remember that truth. He chooses. This passage of Scripture helps me keep giving in perspective. That is, God wants my giving to be directly related to my heart attitude. When we give cheerfully we bring Him glory. When we don't, it reveals our lack of faith in His ability to supply our need.

There is need all around us. This morning I glanced at the newspaper and saw an article about the devastating loss of children under five in Africa. It breaks my heart. In our community-as I'm sure in yours-there are needs so great it is difficult to think about. How can we ever get to the end of it all? Maybe we can't. There is an enemy roaming around this earth and he is doing all he can to drag us to a place of helplessness. But we serve a Saviour, Jesus Christ, who is bigger than any of the loss or devastation we see, and we can each do our part.

If we keep our eyes and hearts focused on Him, He will direct and guide us to help heal some of the hurts. Provide for some of the need. Give comfort and hope to some of the lost. It begins with each of us down on our knees in prayer, seeking the Lord's will for our lives then taking the steps in obedience. A shift in our heart attitude and walk can make all the difference in the world. What if each of us did our little part? What if we took the time to seek God's face and respond to the need He has for us to fill? Life could change as we know it.

There may be a revolutionary turn-around this world has never yet seen. Let us consider verse 8 that holds a special promise. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."  Trust in Him, pray and be obedient. Trust He will provide for everything He asks of you then watch Him work. May your steps of obedience bring Him glory by making a difference in this world.

Trusting and serving my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Natalie