Your Daily Crossroad
Hope for the Promises
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. (Jeremiah 33:14)
There are times when I wonder if God will ever answer certain prayers of mine. There are prayers that I pray knowing that the Lord has put them in my heart. I have verses of Scripture and biblical illustrations to support these same prayers. I keep journals that detail the dates and descriptions of the promises the Lord has given me. But still I wait and wonder, not about the what but about the when and the how. Where is my faith?
These are the times when I stop and reflect more closely at what I know about my God. I must remind myself of His character traits. Unlike me, He is perfect in every way–so perfect that He is not capable of doing anything out of His character. For example, one of God’s character traits is love. 1 John 4:7-8 says that “love is of God” and that “God is love.” Therefore, everything God does is motivated by love. If the Lord has me waiting and has not answered certain prayers, then His reasons for waiting are based upon His love for me. Another example of God’s character traits is that He is truth, perfect truth. Titus 1:2 says God cannot lie. He is incapable of lying; therefore, everything He has promised me will come to pass. God keeps His promises. But I must remember that He controls the timing, the process and the outcomes, for He is God.
When I step back, I can understand more clearly than when I am in the midst of being anxious over things. We all have seasons in life where we wonder if, and when, God will answer certain prayers. It is in these times that I find myself being tested most in my relationship with the Lord. Do I really know Him and believe Him and trust Him? I go to His Word and start asking for help and comfort. I confess my lack of faith. I am honest about my anxieties and worries. Then, I know I just need to be still and know that He is God. Before long, I am praising Him and my hope has returned. Don’t give up and don’t give in to the temptation to be discouraged and dismayed. Remind yourself of just who God is, what His true character is, and let His Word fill you with hope and joy for the promises that He has given you.
Be still and know that He is God! What truth! I needed to be reminded of this today. My faith has been tested and anxiety has tried to creep in but I know in whom I have believed. I would encourage you to remind yourself, not matter the outcome, no matter the delay, He’s still God and He controls the timing, the process and the outcomes, for He is God. Trust His timing!
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 John 4:7-8
Get God’s Attention
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. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
When I read this setting of scripture my first thought was, what more needs to be said. But, I want to share something I read. I felt it was filled with such truth and in a way many can relate to.
The verse above from Jeremiah 29 may be one of the most popular sections of Scripture within the whole Bible. For me personally, it was one of the first that I ever committed to memory. So often, there are times in my life when I just need to hear that the Lord is thinking about me and that He wants to give me “a future and a hope.” Many times, I have difficulty grasping the truth of that statement. The God of the universe, the Lord of heaven and earth, actually has time to think about me? Is that really possible? Not only is it possible but also there is so much more: He wants us to call upon Him, pray to Him, seek Him, find Him, search for Him. God Himself wants us to want Him.
One morning I got up early to pray and knew I needed to spend some time on my knees, literally. As I positioned myself on the floor, my dog soon discovered where I was and proceeded to demand my attention. He began nudging me, licking my face and pressing his body into a position where I could no longer deny his presence. He was insistent to the point that I continued in prayer while petting my dog. I must admit he is irresistible in his persistence and extremely affectionate. In those moments, I sensed the Lord impress upon my heart that He was doing the same thing to me. I knew in that moment that the Lord wanted me to give Him the same kind of attention. He wanted me to know that His love is unconditional, irresistible and affectionate. And He just wants to be loved back. He wants my prayers, but He also wants my never-ending desire to seek and search for Him, to never settle when I may not sense His presence. He is always with me, but sometimes I need to press into Him and not give up until I get His attention.
Just like my dog knew how to get my attention, knowing that I would respond with love and affection, the Lord knows how to get our attention and our response should be the same. But we need to learn how to respond to Him. We need to call upon Him, seek Him and press into Him. We need to give Him our love and affection. He just wants our hearts but He also wants us to sense His nudging. The next time your child or your pet demands your attention, especially in the areas of love and affection, just remember that the Lord is seeking the same kind of attention from you. And no one gives it back better than He does.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Jeremiah 29:11-14
An Alternative to Anger
The book of Proverbs teaches, “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife” (20:3). Strife is that friction that either simmers under the surface or explodes in the open between people who disagree about something.
God has given us the resources to live peacefully with other people. His Word assures us that it’s possible to feel anger without letting it boil over into rage (Eph. 4:26). His Spirit enables us to override the sparks of fury that prompt us to do and say things to strike out at people who upset us. And God has given us His example to follow when we feel provoked (1 Peter 2:23). He is compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Ps. 86:15).
Dear God, Please help me to manage my anger in a way that does not lead me into sin. Give me self-control through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
When I read this it challenged me to be aware of how easily frustrated or angry I get and in those moments I pray, God help me to be compassionate, gracious and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Just as He does. What an example we have to follow after. Allow the Holy Spirit to flow through you. Be the change you want to see in the world, and even in those moments when you have every right to be angry or upset, stope and think, how would Christ handle this situation and show love. Don’t blow out someone else’s candle, even if you feel you have the right to do so, you don’t. Allow God to deal with that person or situation and go to Him in prayer. He always has the answer.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 20:1-15
He is Faithful
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised). (Hebrews 10:23)
At times it is so easy to quote this scripture with faith until your faith is put to the test but it’s in those moments of testing when you realize how faithful He truly is. We can’t have a testimony without first being tested. It is important that in those times of testing that we declare our faith, steadfast without wavering.
I don’t know what your going through but He does. He sees all things great and small. If I can leave you with this one simple, yet powerful truth, it is, He is indeed faithful that promised and it doesn’t matter what the enemy tries throwing at me or in my path, I will raise my hands, I will raise my voice, I will sing a new song and I will trust Him. I encourage you to do the same. Stop looking at what’s going on around you and look up, don’t look down and around but up. He’s still God!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 146