Today when asking the Lord what to show me to post, I was led to I Samuel 12:16. Obviously, He is trying to tell me something that I need to hear for myself, and not just blog about for others' benefit.
"Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes"!
I don't know about you, but for me to be still is a very hard thing to do! Patience has never been one of my best qualities - I'm high strung and like things done quickly, and usually want them done my way.
Several times in my life, the Lord has told me this very thing - "stand still". I have learned that when it seems like the Lord is quiet and not doing anything while I pace around in some kind of fret mode, that is when he is at work behind the scenes, organizing His plan to happen.
In my journal, "My Utmost for His Highest", by Oswald Chambers, there is a devotion called "Vision and Reality", where I had previously taken notes and journaled about standing still.
It says, "We always have visions before a thing is made real. God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. God has to take us into the valley, and put us through fires and floods to batter us into shape, until we get to the place where He can trust us with the veritable reality.
The vision is not a castle in the air, but a vision of what God wants you to be. Let him put you on His wheel and whirl you as He likes, and as sure as God is God and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision. Don't lose heart in the process!
Some reference scriptures are: Isaiah 58:11 - "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame".
Isaiah 46: 3 - 4 - "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you".
Is there something in your life that has got you into what I call a "fret mode"? Does it seem like you're in things all alone? If so, then now is the time to get before God and ask him to calm you and make real to you, those scriptures I just shared.
I am seeking Him as to what area in my life is He trying to speak to me about. What am I doing, that I need to stop doing, and let Him work? I need to get out of the way and let Him move and orchestrate things and circumstances in order for His will to be done in my life.
Have a great Thursday and let the Peace of God rule in your heart..
Janelle
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak
Today I am getting back to my study in the book of James. The verses I'm focusing in on are 19-21 which say,
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you".
James is speaking to believers here, which shows by him calling us "brothers".
I'm sure most of us have heard the expression, "God gave you one mouth, but two ears". James is reinforcing that by telling us that we all need to put listening into practice, more so than talking.
In the OT book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, there's a familiar passage that was actually turned into a song in the late 60's which starts off saying, "There is a time for everything". Verse 7 says, "a time to be silent, and a time to speak".
To be an effective Christian, we need to exude the same characteristics that Jesus did - some will say, ' I can't do that because I'm not perfect' - once we become believers in Jesus, his Holy Spirit is imparted into us, and we can, by the power of the Spirit, put into practice all the divine qualities of the Lord; we just have to be humble and willing to allow him to do so.
Jesus listened; he frequently asked, "What do you want me to do for you"? This is how we should approach those who aren't believers, but have questions and the desire to know the truth.
If you are one that is quick to become angry, what kind of message is that going to send to an unbeliever? James tells us that it doesn't bring about the righteous life that God has laid out for us; he says we are to GET RID OF anger, as well as other moral filth and evil that surrounds us and tempts us on a daily basis. Spending time in prayer and in the Word of God will bring deliverance to us from these things.
There have been times when I've been very quick to become angry, and once I open the door to that, things just get uglier and leave me feeling wretched. One of my prayers throughout my adult life is to be more at peace and tolerant with people when they say or do things that "push my buttons".
May the Peace of the Lord Jesus be yours today - may we all strive to reach out to someone who needs a shoulder to cry on; a listening ear.
Janelle
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you".
James is speaking to believers here, which shows by him calling us "brothers".
I'm sure most of us have heard the expression, "God gave you one mouth, but two ears". James is reinforcing that by telling us that we all need to put listening into practice, more so than talking.
In the OT book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, there's a familiar passage that was actually turned into a song in the late 60's which starts off saying, "There is a time for everything". Verse 7 says, "a time to be silent, and a time to speak".
To be an effective Christian, we need to exude the same characteristics that Jesus did - some will say, ' I can't do that because I'm not perfect' - once we become believers in Jesus, his Holy Spirit is imparted into us, and we can, by the power of the Spirit, put into practice all the divine qualities of the Lord; we just have to be humble and willing to allow him to do so.
Jesus listened; he frequently asked, "What do you want me to do for you"? This is how we should approach those who aren't believers, but have questions and the desire to know the truth.
If you are one that is quick to become angry, what kind of message is that going to send to an unbeliever? James tells us that it doesn't bring about the righteous life that God has laid out for us; he says we are to GET RID OF anger, as well as other moral filth and evil that surrounds us and tempts us on a daily basis. Spending time in prayer and in the Word of God will bring deliverance to us from these things.
There have been times when I've been very quick to become angry, and once I open the door to that, things just get uglier and leave me feeling wretched. One of my prayers throughout my adult life is to be more at peace and tolerant with people when they say or do things that "push my buttons".
May the Peace of the Lord Jesus be yours today - may we all strive to reach out to someone who needs a shoulder to cry on; a listening ear.
Janelle
Monday, June 9, 2008
Watching and Waiting
Today I'm taking passages from Proverbs 8: 34 and Isaiah 31:18.
Prov. 8:34 says, " Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway".
Isaiah 31: 18 says, "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait on him".
Waiting can be hard - we live in a world of instant gratification, and when we ask for something in prayer, we expect God to give us an immediate answer. Sometimes when he's quiet, we tend to think he doesn't hear us, or we just step out on our own and don't wait to hear what he's got to say.
God doesn't live by a watch - he is always in the present, and sometimes has to organize or rearrange things in order for them to all be in place, so the things he has planned for us can occur. We need to all learn to understand that even though it looks like things aren't happening, God IS behind the scenes orchestrating things, and once we grasp hold of that, waiting becomes much easier.
Today, if you're waiting on God for something - re-read that verse from Isaiah - "the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion". He's wanting the very best for your life, and wants nothing but your trust in him to keep you strong that he can and will make it all work out.
Have a blessed week!
Janelle
Prov. 8:34 says, " Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway".
Isaiah 31: 18 says, "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait on him".
Waiting can be hard - we live in a world of instant gratification, and when we ask for something in prayer, we expect God to give us an immediate answer. Sometimes when he's quiet, we tend to think he doesn't hear us, or we just step out on our own and don't wait to hear what he's got to say.
God doesn't live by a watch - he is always in the present, and sometimes has to organize or rearrange things in order for them to all be in place, so the things he has planned for us can occur. We need to all learn to understand that even though it looks like things aren't happening, God IS behind the scenes orchestrating things, and once we grasp hold of that, waiting becomes much easier.
Today, if you're waiting on God for something - re-read that verse from Isaiah - "the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion". He's wanting the very best for your life, and wants nothing but your trust in him to keep you strong that he can and will make it all work out.
Have a blessed week!
Janelle
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Patience of Faith
Today, I'm taking from Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" devotional journal.
Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hand of God like a bow and arrow in the hand of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint can't see, and He stretches and strains and every now and then the saint says, "I can't stand anymore". God doesn't heed - He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hand!
It's hard to give over control to someone other than ourself. We all have the tendency to think that we can do it best, and most of the time it leads us down a road of self destruction.
Like the analogy above, an arrow has to have the bow to give it direction; without it, the arrow is can't soar - it has no power on it's own. So are we, when we try to go about without putting ourselves in the hand of God.
God wants us to soar - so put yourself in His hands and enjoy this incredible ride, we call life!
In the movie, "Parenthood" the old grandmother recalls her younger days when she would go to the carnival and ride the roller coaster. She mentioned how some people were to scared, so they stayed on the easy rides like the merry go round - going nowhere but around and around. She liked the roller coaster - the thrill and the unexpected were exhilarating - the ups and downs, the unexpected turns.
Put yourself in the hands of God today - take the ride - enjoy the unexpected!
Janelle
Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hand of God like a bow and arrow in the hand of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint can't see, and He stretches and strains and every now and then the saint says, "I can't stand anymore". God doesn't heed - He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hand!
It's hard to give over control to someone other than ourself. We all have the tendency to think that we can do it best, and most of the time it leads us down a road of self destruction.
Like the analogy above, an arrow has to have the bow to give it direction; without it, the arrow is can't soar - it has no power on it's own. So are we, when we try to go about without putting ourselves in the hand of God.
God wants us to soar - so put yourself in His hands and enjoy this incredible ride, we call life!
In the movie, "Parenthood" the old grandmother recalls her younger days when she would go to the carnival and ride the roller coaster. She mentioned how some people were to scared, so they stayed on the easy rides like the merry go round - going nowhere but around and around. She liked the roller coaster - the thrill and the unexpected were exhilarating - the ups and downs, the unexpected turns.
Put yourself in the hands of God today - take the ride - enjoy the unexpected!
Janelle
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