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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While traveling last week I watched as people were hustling about going here and there in an apparent hurry; I paused for a moment to look at their faces and reflect on their final destinations. Not just for that day, but for eternity . . . I paused to reflect on the reality of of a far reaching moment in time, the moment when each of those faces would come to the end of their race here on Earth.  What would be their end? Did they realize the true frailty of life? Had they given thought to the value of their eternity?

“Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” Psalms 39:4-5

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” Psalm 73:17 

As I began to think of each one as a person with a final destination, I began to contemplate my own vision. When I look at others do I see an eternal soul, or just another face in the crowd? Do I have a clear vision of the reality of eternity?  I’m afraid the answer would be no . . .  my heart cries within me as I realize just how cloudy my vision for the souls of others has become. So much of the time I go about my life at a mad-dash without reflection or thought to the frailty of life. I spend my time working toward a to-do-list that in its very existence is primarily filled with items that hold no relevance when compared to the moments of time that reach into eternity. Looking inward I begin to cry out to God for a “Clearer Vision”.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35

Please help me to see the harvest, open my eyes to clearly see. Give me a “clearer vision” of each person that crosses my path enabling me to focus on the reality of their eternal end, their final destination.

 

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath give us an understanding that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” I John 5:20

What must have been going through Jesus’s mind on that week prior to Easter morning so long ago? In the hours of agony leading up to the moment in which He bore my sin, what must have crossed his mind? Did he look down through time and love me just as I am ? Did he see all that I am and all that I could be? Did he long to reach out and secure me in his love so that I might truly comprehend the true extent of his gift to me? What thoughts were upon the mind of God as he watched his only Son in my place upon the cross? How he must have loved me, yearning for me to see even just in part the true magnitude of his great love for me. How does he feel today when I fail to see the incredible gift that he has given to me through the death of his Son? Not just the gift of eternal life in the future, but the gift of life today.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” I Corinthians 13:12

“I am known” . . .  I paused as I read those words, trying to capture the true extent of just what that meant. “I am known” by the Father of all Creation, the Master of the Universe; because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and my faith in that work that has been completed . . . “I am known” !!!

“But if any man love God; the same is known of him.” I Corinthians 8:3

“O Lord, thou has searched me, and known me.” Psalm 139:1

Yet, so many times I fail to remember the confidence that I have in and through my Savior. I return to the bondage of a life that is full of doubt and fail to rely on the one that “knows me”.

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” Galatians 4:9

As I reflect upon the week before the resurrection that occurred on Easter morning, I will reflect upon the fact that “I am know”. I will rest confident in Christ’s finished work upon the cross and I will be reminded of the confidence that I have in him.

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath give us an understanding that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” I John 5:20

 

 

Watching the birds flitter about as the sun starts to shine through the clouds, I pause to consider the fact that God, the creator of the universe thinks about me just as He considers the birds of the field.

“Consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than fowls.” Luke 12: 24

Its really a staggering thought . . . why would the supreme being of all things great contemplate my comings and goings in the smallness of my existence? Why would He spend time watching over me; providing for my every need, giving me strength to face each new day? In His word He expresses that His thoughts are toward us.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

The God of Heaven thinks of me  . . .  His thoughts are of peace . . . His thoughts are of my eternal value . . . He looks forward to an “expected end’ when I will be with Him in Heaven. He longs to be a part of my life, to share each moment of each day with me.

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17

Everything that God does is to bring about goodness in and through my life. Even in His creation of the Earth and the establishment of life, He set out to provide for me. Never in my wildest imaginations will my thoughts ever be equal to the magnitude of His thoughts. I can not comprehend even in the smallest sense how the mind of God works.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.” Isaiah 55: 8-10

Daily, God supplies my every need, in fact He knows what I have need of before the need even comes to be. Each new day that dawns has already been written in the mind of God, He sees all and knows all.

“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Matthew 6:8

When I pause to reflect on the truths found in His word and evidenced in all of creation, I begin to question why I would ever fear the day ahead or doubt the provision of my Heavenly Father. I can greet each new day with the assurance that “God Thinks of Me”, He knows the path ahead and has provided all the resources necessary for me to reach my “expected end”.

“Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou has done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Psalm 40:5

 

 

As I sat and listened in the quiet of the morning with coffee cup in hand, my Bible upon my knee, I heard the sweet melody of birds singing outside my window. In my heart I began to feel an inner sense of renewal; renewal of life, as the evidence of spring reminded me that the harshness of winter is past. God spoke to me heart through His word . . .

“My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone: The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Song of Solomon 2: 10-13.

Looking through the window I can see the signs of spring all around me. The budding flowers in sharp contrast to the drabness left behind by winter’s touch. The birds are flittering about in excitement as they give witness to the coming of spring. I feel a tug upon my heart as I am reminded of the signs  of God’s renewal springing forth unto His glory in my heart and life as I see His hand at work bringing forth new life. I close my eyes and reflect upon His goodness, I breathe in the wonder of just how mighty my God really is feeling His power working within me.

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory; may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” Ephesians 1:17-19

I feel the renewal of spring in my heart and the realization that “winter is past”.

Some days are just harder than others to find my song, those are the days that I need to pause and take the time to just be still. I need to breathe in the goodness of God, feel his loving touch in the sunshine upon my face and experience his presence  as it engulfs me through His word. I need to break away from the sounds of the world that threaten to deafen me and the burdens that are heavy upon me. I need to spend time reaching out to a loving Father, the creator of the universe who is my refuge; seeking Him through time spent in His word.

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalms 9:9-10

He is my hiding place when I need a place to go to get away from the struggles of this life. He never forsakes me, in Him I can find rest for my soul.

“I will praise thee, O Lord with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice, in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most high.” Psalms 9:1-2

When I lose my song, when I feel like giving up and I grow weary, God is there to hold me and to renew me. He stands up for me when I am unable to stand up for myself, he saves me from the troubles that come my way.

“Have mercy upon me, O Lord: consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.” Psalms 9: 13-14

When I wait patiently to hear His voice He will hear my cry and bring me to a renewed sense of His presence. He can give me a song, even when I don’t feel like singing.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak them, they are more than can be numbered.” Psalms 40:1-5

When we pause and reflect, when we look to God rather than man, we will see God’s marvelous works that can not be numbered and all of the struggles of this world that work to bring us down will fade away. Our hearts will begin to see God for who he is, the one who is worthy of all our praise. In our thoughts of praise toward Him we will find our song.

“Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.” Psalms 9:11 

So, today I will focus on God rather than man, remembering that my song comes from God and can only be found in Him 🙂  . . .  And, thus I will sing 🙂

Even on the dreariest of days I can find color around me if I take the time to notice. Through the rain we can see the working of God in the ever-changing colors of each season. Today it was the gorgeous colors of orange and red leaves vividly standing out in contrast against the hazy overcast sky above me refusing to acknowledge that winter is just around the corner. As I contemplated the goodness of God in even the smallest of details I was reminded that even in the ever-changing seasons of life “It’s Not a Black and White World”. Every season has its beauty; every moment has its hidden miracle just waiting to be discovered. It’s all in how we chose to view our world, we can view our world through eyes that look for all that is bad and wrong in the blackness of despondency or through eyes that look for all that is good and right in full color of hopefulness. Our Creator placed within each of us the ability to see the beauty of His goodness in full color, an inner need to find that connection with Him that will bring out the true essence of all that He has provided for us to enjoy. I chose to see a world that’s not black and white, but a world that is in full color as I embrace each new season of my life with full expectant hope of all that God has in store for me.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1: 1, 31

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3

“O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” Psalm 104: 24