Month: May 2016

In continuation of prayer we seek God, yet often times His response doesn’t come. In the silence we struggle as we try to hear His answer, yet it doesn’t come. Day-by-day we seek to know and night-by-night we pray for answers, yet it doesn’t come. We have all been there enduring the inner turmoil of soul knowing that God is “Able”, but yet we “Wait”. The hardest part of having faith in God’s plan isn’t in knowing if He can accomplish what we ask, its in the “Waiting” for Him to move, in “Waiting” for His answer.

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. Psalm 69:3

Sometimes we are tempted to cry out to God asking if He is even listening; does He hear our hearts cry? Is He aware of our struggle, does He know how desperately we want to hear from Him? We become frustrated as we see others going about in seeming full awareness of God’s plan in their lives, yet we “Wait”.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalm 37:7

The hardest part of “Wait” is the struggle; the struggle that occurs within us as we want “today” what God has planned for “tomorrow”. We fail to see that “today”,  He is preparing us for what He has planned for “tomorrow”. We do not yet possess the strength or the wisdom that we need. We have lessons still to be learned, strength that He still needs to provide. It’s the failure to see where we are today that is the hardest part of “Wait”. Each day comes as a blessing, a moment in time through which to fulfill God’s plan for our life. We spend so much time seeking His will for “tomorrow” that we lose sight of where He has us “today”.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14

One day at a time, God leads us toward the future that He has planned for us. One day at a time, He guides us toward becoming the person He needs us to be “tomorrow”. The actual truth is that we aren’t yet prepared to receive what He has for us “tomorrow”.  He is preparing the way today; putting each piece of the puzzle together so that in due time He will reveal to use the answers we seek.  But, the hardest part of that is the “Wait”.

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Isaiah 64:4

Each day begins anew with new purpose, it is up to us to focus on each one as it comes trusting that God will provide the answers one step at a time. He is in control and He will reveal all things as we become prepared to see them. His will is perfect and His plan is carefully detailed to the ensure that we have the knowledge, wisdom and faith to meet tomorrow when it becomes today. The hardest part of the “Wait” is actually the sincerest demonstration of “Faith”; faith in God and faith in His timing.

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

During a recent night time devotion with Bryant we were reading about the children of Israel and how they seemed to go through a vicious cycle of “following God – falling away from God – experiencing the chastisement of God – returning to God – discovering the goodness of God”; a cycle that never seemed to end. As strange as that cycle may be to us today as we look back on all of the miracles that God worked in the lives of the Israelites, its not that far removed from how we live today. Often times we seem to forget that “When God Moves In” our thoughts and desires of the flesh that are self-seeking are suppose to “Move Out“.

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4: 22-24

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, “God Moves In” and the old man is replaced by the new. In that newness we are suppose to die to self and take on the characteristics of the spirit.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9

Yet even though the Spirit of Christ is within us, it becomes a constant battle to remain true to God and focus on His plan for our lives. Daily we struggle to keep our eyes on Christ and allow Him to work in and through us.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23

When we become frustrated with the constant fight, when we become downhearted because one more time we faltered, just as the children of Israel did so many times. We need to remember that within our struggles we are not alone, we need to remember that “God Moved In” and He has already won the victory.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57

So just like the children of Israel we need to focus our eyes on God, the one who saved us and the only one that can keep us. We need to focus each day on the fact that within us exists the power of a mighty God that has the power to overcome this world. We need to focus on the “God that Moved In” and lose sight of the restraints of this world that continue to try to hold us down.

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40: 28-29

As I sat by the “waters edge” listening to the seagulls with the sun upon my face I felt the smile of God warming my heart. The water tossed back and forth returning to its place again in constant motion, it’s rhythm in perfect peace. The grace of the seagulls in flight, the white of their feathers in crisp contrast to the blue of the water. All in all it was a moment that refreshed the soul bringing a calm that set this place apart from the chaotic world just beyond the waters edge. In reflection I thought about the God who created such a place, a God who considered the soul of man knowing the chaos that would overtake us round about and making provisions for those special places where we could seek refuge. Who is man that God would consider us so?

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visitest him? ” Psalm 8:4

In his divine nature he established places of refuge for man among a world of turmoil. God is our refuge, He is our place of solace. In times when our soul becomes overwhelmed we have a place where we can go, a place where we can pour out our heart before Him.

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Psalm 62: 8

In those moments when we find our quiet place with God, we can find rest that will renew our spirit with a new sense of purpose and strength.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” Psalm 107:30

The whole Earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth in singing.” Isaiah 14:7

Take a moment today to pause beside the “Waters Edge”,  take solace in the words of God, seek refuge in him and find the quiet in the midst of the chaos of this world.