Mid-Week Message - When God Said "No"

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.  And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (AMPC)

God said "no" today.  It has happened many times before, but today hit me rather hard.  This "no" followed what I had interpreted as a "yes" and because of that I was disillusioned.  My words to my husband were, "I can't trust anything anymore."  Now that a few hours have passed and I have had some time to think, I realize that I heard the "yes" because it was what I was wanting to hear and not anything that the Holy Spirit had conveyed to me. 

See, I took my attention off of the Lord.  I transferred my trust onto what I thought I heard in my heart rather than leaving it where it needed to be.  Only the Lord knows what tomorrow holds.  By His side is where I need to keep myself.  Had I done that, I would not have experienced the distress because I would have known that although this was not His provision, His perfect provision is coming.  

It is not His will that we be anxious about our lives.  He wants us to lean on Him and to trust Him for everything we need in life.  Today should have been a time of thanksgiving and acknowledgement and of seeking peace over the future.  Just as He provided manna for the children of Israel, so He will take care of our needs.  I love the verse for today, and specifically in the Classic Amplified version because it conveys a mighty picture of our hearts and minds being guarded.  We can all have that protection.  It is readily available.  All we have to do is ask God for that peace then we don't have to worry about what is yet to come.

I know I am not the only one that has found themselves in this predicament.  We all go through periods in which we wonder about tomorrow.  What will the medical report say?  How did the interview go?  When will that check come in?  And we find ourselves asking if God truly knows what we are going through.  Does He know how worried we are?  Does He care?  

As I have had to assure myself today, I will now assure you.  Indeed He does care.  He loves us more than we will ever be able to understand.  That is why He reminds us not to fret or worry.  All good things come from the Father above.  Everything belongs to Him.  Whatever situation we find ourselves in He is mighty and loving enough to guide us through.  He has answers that we cannot even dream of and at the correct time, His time, He will reveal them.  Until then, He asks that we rest and allow Him to be in charge.  

I pray that each of us is able to find that peace that transcends all understanding as we go through this week.  With great love and thanksgiving, God bless you.

Mid-Week Message - Confusion in an Uncertain World

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you what path to take."  Proverbs 3:5-6  (NLT)   

When I was a college student outside of Dallas, Texas in the late 1970's, one of the fun nearby activities was Six Flags.  I forget how many times friends and I went there but it was something we always looked forward to.  That was back when I would get on a roller coaster, which I wouldn't even think of doing today!  

I don't know if it is still there, but one of the attractions was an anti-gravity house.  If you have ever been through it, you know firsthand how confusing it was.  The floor slanted.  Chairs hung from the ceiling at odd angles.  Balls rolled uphill.  If it weren't for the wall and a railing, I'm not sure I would have been able to stand!  It was designed to confuse the mind and it was successful.  

There are days now when I see all that is going on in this world and I almost feel as disoriented as I did in that house.  There seems to be an attempt to change everyday life into something that is off-kilter, creating confusion.  The "norms" that we are familiar with are being questioned and challenged which creates a sense of being off-balance and needing something to hold onto.  

What are we to do when life seems to be spinning out of control?  How do we remain standing upright and secure when it feels as if the very ground under our feet is collapsing?  

If you are a parent, think back to when your child was learning to walk.  After having to be supported, there comes the day when the first independent steps are taken.  As we encouraged them to walk from parent to parent, they kept their eyes on our faces.  There they found encouragement, approval and excitement about what they were accomplishing.  If they looked away, they fell.  

Likewise, we have a Father to keep our eyes on as we navigate this world.  Although we may be unsure about our next steps, He guides us.  In Him we find encouragement.  He is our source of direction and support.  And it is important to remember that just as Peter was able to walk on the water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, so we need to keep our focus on our Lord.

Change is happening around us at an overwhelming pace, even as we attempt to continue to deal with all the issues in our own lives.  Quite frankly, it can seem like too much to take in.  Proverbs tells us to seek God's will in all we do and He will show us what path to take.  In Him we find peace in the turmoil and direction in the darkness.  Our own understanding is limited, but He knows and sees all of our days in one glance.  Fear not, beloved.  Place your confusion and worries in His hands and follow where He leads.  The only sure way is His way.  God bless.