Friday, January 29, 2010

Walking in Faith

Sometimes we just have to completely trust God. We have to surrender our fears and insecurities and follow Him by faith, even if the outcome seems doubtful. Abraham had to when God told him to leave his homeland and travel to the land of Canaan, a place unknown to him. He again had to trust God when the Lord told him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac, even though he knew God was opposed to human sacrifices.

When Joseph was sold into Egypt, he had to trust God for his safety, provision, and well being. This was not an easy task, especially when he was thrown into prison for something he didn't do. But his faith was rewarded years later when Joseph was made 2nd in command of all Egypt.

Moses had to trust God to provide food and water for over a million Israelites when they left Egypt. David had to trust God to keep his promise to make him king, even though he was homeless and hunted down for many years. Mary had to trust God when the Holy Spirit came over her and made her pregnant in a land where adulterous women were stoned.

All these people had one thing in common in their walks of faith: they trusted God. Did they have doubts at times? Most likely. They were only human. But there must have been an indwelling of the Holy Spirit to carry them through the tough times until God's promises could be fulfilled.

As believers God calls us to trust Him and to walk by faith. We are not to look at our circumstances and the improbability of the situation, but we are to look at the Creator who tells us nothing is impossible with Him.

Going through a difficulty right now? Trust God. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit for guidance and strength, and then you'll be able to walk by faith wherever He leads.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Honest to God

Sin. It's the one thing that hinders our fellowship with God. Most of the time we can recognize our sins and confess them; but sometimes we are in denial and we try to pretend they don't exist. Over time, we feel distant. Our zeal for the Lord wanes a bit, and we find ourselves feeling that something is not right.

Because God loves us so much, He finds ways to make us acknowledge our sins. Sometimes it's through exposure or self-realization. Whatever method He uses, God confronts us with our sin and we must determine our course of action.

We can either continue to sin, which creates a further and maybe even permanent rift from God, or we can confess our sins. But our confession must be true. We need to be honest when we talk to the Lord. Sometimes that will bring tears as we lay our transgressions at His feet. But I promise you, when you are honest to God, He will bring healing and restoration. He will pick you up from where you have fallen, and He will bring blessing to your life.

Is sin keeping you from having a wonderful relationship with the Lord? Be honest to God so He can make you whole again.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Waiting

It isn't easy to wait sometimes, especially in our world of fast food drive-thru's where your order is already being handed out before you even reach the pick up window. But prayer requests aren't like that. Sometimes we have to wait a long time before God reveals His answers.

But if we truly trust God (and I admit that sometimes it is difficult to completely give up our fears and inhibitions), then we can trust that our waiting will not be in vain. His answer will come, and we may be surprised at the outcome. We might find ourselves being changed in the process.

If you read your Bible carefully, you will notice that everyone had to wait for God's timing. Joseph had been given a dream that his family would bow down to him, yet that wasn't fulfilled for many years when he was made second in command of Egypt. Abraham was told by God that his ancestors would own the entire land of Canaan, yet it didn't happen for hundreds of years. Genesis 3 talks about the promised Messiah, but He (Jesus) didn't arrive on the scene for several thousands of years after Adam and Eve's sin.

Waiting is part of God's plan. It gives us a time to prepare our hearts for God's answer. It isn't easy, but the sooner we hunker down and wait, with trust in our hearts, the easier it becomes.

The Psalms are a great source of encouraging words while you wait. A personal favorite is Psalm 27:14, "Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!"

God will answer our prayers. But sometimes we just have to wait.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Hidden

Because of our current rainy weather conditions, the line of cars to pick up kids after school have increased. I usually try to arrive early, especially on these inclement days, so I can get a good parking spot. But it is almost impossible picking up my oldest son because he gets out 15 minutes after my other kids, so all the choice parking spots are taken.

Yesterday was really bad. I had to park halfway down the block behind a car with tinted windows. Because I was so far away, my son didn't see me. He didn't think I was there at all, so he waited at the corner in the rain, feeling cold, wet, and forgotten. It wasn't until ten minutes later, as I finally pulled out and weaved my way through the heavy traffic, that he saw me, a look of relief on his face.

To my son, I was hidden. Because he could not see me, he thought I was nowhere to be found. Yet I was waiting there all along; just like God waits for us. Sometimes in our trials we feel alone and abandoned. We don't see God or feel Him, so we think He's left us. But that is never the case. God is always around. He's always within reach, but our attitudes or impatience or our sin keeps Him from our view. But it is easy to rectify the situation. All we have to do is call out to Him, and then we will be amazed that He was right there all along.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Water-Logged

We're not used to much rain in Southern California. The streets get flooded and there's always a chance of mudslides from the areas burned out by the summer fires. This week we are expecting rain every day; sometimes very heavy.

When you're sitting nice and cozy in a warm house, it doesn't matter if it rains all day. But when you have to drive through big puddles, or have to herd your children through a sea of umbrellas and in a steady downpour when that school bell rings, then it's no picnic. All you get is water-logged, and if you don't change out of your wet clothes when you get home, you can be sure you'll be getting a sore throat or the sniffles real soon.

Sometimes life hands us a series of trials and tribulations that leave us feeling soaked. Even though we've covered ourselves with prayer (an umbrella of sorts), sometimes the severity of the storm can still have an affect on us. We become weak, tired, and discouraged. But we aren't meant to be stuck in this "water-logged" condition. Just as with a rainstorm, these trials will pass. With consistent prayer and perseverance, the skies will clear and the sun will shine forth, giving us warmth and peace.

Are you getting water-logged with problems? Are you up to your ankle in tears? Keep praying. The Lord is not only walking by your side in the midst of the storm, but He is clearing the path ahead.

Friday, January 15, 2010

A Word of Hope for Those in Haiti

"The LORD replies, 'I have seen the violence done to the helpless,
and I have heard the groans of the poor.
Now I will rise up to rescue them,
as they have longed for me to do.'"

Psalm 12:5

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Don't Let the Enemy Get You Down

The devil hates Christians. He knows there is power in their prayers because those prayers go directly to the God of the universe. So the devil will do all he can to condemn, frighten, and discourage. The problem is, we often let him do this. He will cause us to doubt. He will cause us to question. He will cause us to waver in something we felt so strongly about just the other day. If he can keep us focusing on our problems or concerns instead of focusing on God, then he can do damage to our spiritual defenses.

When you start feeling those doubts or fears, or when you start to feel a bit insecure, get down on your knees and pray. Give God the problem. Tell Him your concerns. The stronger you feel these feelings, the more you need to pray. Fill yourself with His Word; draw comfort from His promises. Psalm 42:5 says, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."

Don't let the enemy get you down. Turn to the One who can uplift and give you strength and peace.

Monday, January 11, 2010

True Light

Are you a Christian? A true Christian? Have you asked Jesus into your heart, making Him your LORD and Savior? Do you follow His commands? Too many people who claim they are believers are in a sense "bench warmers." They only go to church because that was how they were raised, or that is just what is expected of them. Yet, their life does not shine with the light of Christ.

A true Christian will reflect the true light of Jesus. They will obey His commands, seeking His guidance daily. They live for Him, asking Him to mold and change them into the active followers He designed them to be. That means if there is sin in the camp, they are willing, although it may be hard, to remove it so they will not hinder all that God has planned for them.

Luke 11:35-36 in the New Living Translation states: "Make sure that the light you think you have is not really darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you."

Is there a hidden sin, or even a more evident one, that is keeping your life from radiating the true light? Then confess it, ask God to work in your life to remove it, and then let Him shine through you!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Thought for the Day

"Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass."


Psalm 37:5

This Scripture is a current favorite because there are a few things I'm trying to commit to the Lord. My ultimate lesson: to trust God completely. When you do, don't be surprised at all the open doors and opportunities.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Putting the Pieces Together

How do you put a puzzle together? Do you work on groupings by color or do you start with the edges? I like to sort through and pull out all the end pieces, and then I start working on the frame. Next I match by color and shadings. I keep working and sorting and filling in until the puzzle is completed and I can see the entire picture.

Too bad our lives aren't that easy to work on. We may not see the entire picture until we are in heaven. But just like starting out with a frame on a real puzzle to have a base to start with, we need a frame, a foundation, to support us. That foundation is the Lord. He has a whole life planned out for us. He sees a beautiful and complete picture. We may only have the edges to start out with, but we have the assurance that as long as we follow Him, He will guide us to completion.

Let the Lord help you put the pieces of your life together. He has a wonderful picture designed just for you.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!