Wait! Don't Respond too Quickly

Struggle: What happened to the fast-acting miracles?  Christians are told to "ask and it shall be given," aren't we? So… if we are asking for "good things" then why does God not immediately gratify our desires? Is it lack of faith, a problem with our prayers, or a "No" from God?

Truth: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33 

Truth Encounter: I remember going to the doctor years ago and getting an injection of something I called the miracle drug. By the time I picked up the other prescriptions at the "drug store" I would be feeling better. Now they say, give it a week and you will be better. Not so long ago, I made an appointment at my medical center. I saw Nancy, the PA on call, told her my problems, picked up my prescription and a week later I called and asked to see my doctor, hoping he would give me some fast-action potion. The PA saw me in the hall, and asked, "Patsy, How are you doing?" I told her, the medication she gave me wasn't working. She answered, "Go home and do what I told you, and give it time." Well that's just like, Nancy. She is good at what she does, she knows it, and if you give her time she will deliver."

I admit that if I do not get immediate results, I too quickly take things into our own hands to try and make "it" happen. This is true in everyone's life. The world system programs us to expect immediate response. We also follow the same pursuit in our spiritual life. We are told that we can ask anything and it will be given. We have read story after story where God responded immediately to an individuals needs. So why shouldn't we expect those miracles in our lives.

I believe the reason we do not always receive immediate responses from God is that we do not truly seek his will for our lives, we only seek help in time of our desperate needs. We are told to "seek God first." He is our counselor, our great physician, and the provider of all good things. God promised the children of Israel that if they would follow Him he would provide for them. However, we know that as they moved toward the Promise Land, they soon forgot how he had provided for them. In their unthankfulness and impatience they began murmuring and whining about their provisions, and ultimately, many were kept from seeing the promised land. 

We want the "right"spouse, job, house, etc., so we pray or ask others to pray for us in hope that God will answer our prayer for that need. But if God does not give immediate gratification as soon as the amen rolls across our lips, we take things into our own hands.

I believe the biggest hinderance in our lives is not in our seeking God, but, in our waiting on him to answer. We must allow him time to work it out in our lives. God still performs miracles and I have experienced some specific ones in my life. While God answers prayer he is more concerned in teaching us to trust him. He love us and wants us to have "good things." Matthew 8:28 tells us that God works everything to the good of those who love God. Instead of trusting God for his best, we see his answer as a "No" so we decide to take matters into our own hands. 

Right now there are some opportunities that are out there for my family as well as in my personal life. It is not easy to wait. In fact, I daily fight the urge to to run ahead of God. I am learning to exercise James 5:7 in my spiritual walk. Submit to God and Resisting Satan's temptation to run ahead of God is the best way to exercise our trust in God to deal with and provide our needs.

What is your greatest need? Have you truly sought God? Are you fighting the temptation to run ahead of God to supply your on desires or need? Don't respond too quickly… give God time to work it out. Share your thoughts on waiting on God.

On the other hand, many times God has given us answers and we do not act based on his answer. How do you know that you have received God's answer? My future posts will come from comments that I receive from my readers.

Prayer: "Father, I know you have a plan for my family and for me. May your Holy Spirit continually draw us to you, and that we keep our focus on you.  Help us to exercise patience in our life, to give you time to give us those "good things" that you have in store for us. In Jesus name, Amen."

Do You Want to See God?

Struggle: “Have you seen God? What is keeping you from seeing Him?" Many people live their lives, watch anything they want, listen to anything they want, and read anything they want, then wonder why they have never seen God? 

Scripture Truth:

 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Truth Encounter:

The Pharisees thought outward cleansing and outward purity, keeping of laws, was sufficient ground for entering the kingdom of God. They, like many professing Christians, outwardly appear righteous through their good works and yet inwardly their hearts are impure and unclean. Jeremiah 17:9-10 tells us, “The heart is deceitfully wicked above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”  Jeremiah was saying that the heart is the center for the mind, emotions, and will, and each person will be rewarded based on the purity of the heart. Jesus said that if you belong to the Kingdom, then your heart will be changed. He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” 

What constitutes a pure heart? Jesus is not saying that a Follower of Christ will not sin, but he is saying that the Follower of Christ is not a sinner. A believer is a new person, cleansed by the blood of Jesus and is forgiven. In other words Jesus was calling us to a lifestyle of purity; a pure heart, a pure purpose, and a pure passion. Therefore we are set aside for God’s purpose - to honor God. 2 Peter 3:14 says "...make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight." This means putting God’s word into practice in terms with how we live our lives. This means we will refuse to live as the world lives. We must do this each day by making choices to obey God’s Word and to honor Him through our words and actions. Not only are we to make wise choices but 2 Timothy 2:22 tells us to “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NIV)

So each of us has a choice to allow our hearts to be wicked or to seek and possess a pure heart. We are told that, " No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him." (1Jo 3:6); nor will they live with him for eternity. However, there is a reward for those who seek and possess a pure heart, “they will see God.”

Do you want to see God? Many want to see God, yet they are not interested in guarding their heart? Psalms 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.”  We could focus on the things we that cause an impure heart, instead what can we do to guard our hearts? What scripture verse(s) comes to your mind that challenges us to keep our hearts pure?

Prayer:

Dear Father, Search me, and know my heart; 
test me and know my anxious thoughts. 
See if there is any offensive way in me, 
and lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Scripture: 

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethelem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." ...And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincence, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream no to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way." Matthew 2:1-12.

Study:
The Magi's found the young child and worshipped him and offered him gifts. Having been warned in a dream they chose to avoid King Herod and return home another way.
The ones at a distance had heard of His coming and came for miles to see him.  Even though these Magi were not of the religious sect nor were they Jewish but they recognized Jesus. Many times the seemingly religious, and some who sit on church pews, are blinded by Satan to see the Christ Child. 
Application:
It is a wise man and woman who chooses, in and above all else, when they hear about Jesus to seek and when he is found bow and worship Him. What is your spiritual Take-Away?

Having studied the stars and heavenly bodies, these philosophers, Wise men, or Magi's, when they saw this unusual star, recognized it as the Old Testament  prophesy (Numbers 24:17) of the coming Messiah. So they began their trip to Bethlehem to inquire and worship the Christ Child.  On their way they encountered the wicked King Herod, who through trickery, asked them to report to him the Christ Child's whereabouts. Even though he was old and his reign was close to an end he could not stand the chance of a rival. In his jealous nature he wanted to get rid of Jesus. 

I find it interesting that the inhabitants of Jerusalem, those that seem to be so covered in religion do not know him. Notice too, how Herod under the disguise of religion said to the Magi, "so that I may come and worship him also." If he had really been interested he could have traveled the approximate seven miles to see the Christ Child himself. His objective was to destroy Christ, but this was not in God's plan. We see God's hand of protection on His son. Likewise he protects the Church today.


Have you heard about Jesus, you know all the facts, but you've never gone the distance to see him, to see for yourself and experience Him in your life?  You have the same habits and live life as you have always lived? Are you willing to come close enough to him that he can make a difference in your life? The difference for us is that we do not have to go far. God's presence is as close as the mention of his name. 

Prayer: 

Dear God, thank you for coming in the flesh to dwell among us, to embrace, to protect, and save those who will choose to seek you. Help me to seek you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.