Waiting For the Lord - God's timing is always right

S. Micah 7:7 "As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me."

O. Israel was experiencing discipline from the Lord for their unfaithfulness to Him. He used the nations Assyria and next up, Babylon, to punish Israel. Yet there would be a day in which this would end and God would again bless His people.

During this time, it was so tempting for Israel to look to others for help, yet Micah said he would "wait" confidently for the Lord. This word "wait" means "to help, trust, expect, be in anticipation of." It is used for hoping and waiting for the Lord, while expecting His mercy, His salvation and His rescue. Further, while waiting, we will not take matters into our own hands.

A. I will continue to learn and grow in the discipline of waiting upon the Lord. Waiting is not taking matters into our own hands. I do think this waiting is to be done with expectation. I often think of how Nehemiah wanted to return to Israel to rebuild the wall. He began praying and prayed for 6 months. During that prayer time, he got together details of what the work would need to have to be accomplished. But he did not leave to do the work until God had opened the door. (Nehemiah 1). That's called praying with expectation and that type of prayer God blesses.

P. Thank you Father. Grant us wisdom and strength to maintain the balance of preparing and waiting for your leading. In Jesus' name!

Praying for Less Clutter In our Lives

S. Psalm 86:11 b  "....grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you...."

O. David prays, asking God to give him a pure heart or as the NIV translates it, an "undivided heart."   David is known as being a man after God's own heart; yet he himself prays that God would grant him, give him a whole (undivided, pure) heart. He knew that is the way to truly honor God.

A pure or undivided heart is one in which there is nothing else competing for our time, interests, or desire to honor God. We don't get ourselves ":entangled" or "caught up" in other things. Rather, it honors God when we free ourselves from these other things (which can be seemingly good things) that literally "capture" our attention and care."

A. This is an area in my life that I continually need to pray and work on. There are so many  things that I find interesting (officiating, leadership, family history, teaching) and yet when I venture into those areas, I find that my spiritual life suffers. 

One time I heard Pastor Rick Warren say (I believe he was quoting someone) that if you're burning both ends of the candle then you're not as bright as you think you are."

I'm much more effective when I focus on thing that God has called me to do and be the person He has created me to be.

P. Thank you Father for this Word today.  It is wise and true - I desire that you grant me an undivided, pure heart, so that I may honor you. I pray that as well for all those who read this journal and likewise want to have this type of purity before you. In Jesus' name!

Pursing A Godly Life

S. 1 Timothy 6:11-12

11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

O. I would like to focus in on a few words which I will call "key words" in this passage. 

Pursue - (Greek, Dioko) which means "aggressively chase after like a hunter pursuing a catch or prize."

Fight - (Greek, agonizomani) of which we get our word agonize. This means to strive or to contend like in an athletic contest or warfare. To struggle.

Hold tightly (Greek, epilambanomai) to take hold of, to seize, to have focused resolve.

Paul writes Timothy instructing him to aggressively chase after a life of godliness. It is not an easy thing to do when you live in a fallen world. There are so many things that can or will distract us from our calling to serve as light for the Lord. In fact, Paul says in v. 11 "to run away from these evil things."  

To live a godly life of faith, love, perseverance and gentleness, it's going to take on our part, diligently pursuing, fighting/struggling and then holding tightly onto our Lord. 

A. When I encourage people to work through their marriage, or to get off whatever is addicting to them, it's not easy. It's not going to be easy. But if we will purse, fight and hold tightly as mentioned above, we will shine as lights to others who are witnessing our life.

P. So I encourage you to join me in this prayer, "Father, thank you for the reminder and encouragement. I pray for strength and for the ongoing filling of the Holy Spirit to give me focus and strength to pursue, fight, and hold tightly onto the calling I have to serve and live for you. I praise you, in Jesus' name!