Following God’s Schedule

 

Twisted Tree and canopy. This is one of the many beautiful trees in Cheam park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Most of us enjoy feeling in control of our own schedule and grow frustrated when things don’t go according to plan. Yet if we truly desire to walk in the center of God’s perfect will, we must become willing to cooperate with His time frame.

Consider how you pray about situations in your life. Without realizing it, you may be demanding that God follow the schedule you’ve constructed according to your very limited human wisdom. Yet if we believe He is who He says He is, how can surrendering to His way not be to our benefit? Think about His unique, praiseworthy qualities:

• His all-encompassing knowledge. Unlike us, the Lord has complete awareness about our world and the details of every individual life–past, present, and future.
• His complete wisdom. God understands man’s every motive, whereas none of us are able to accurately discern people’s intentions. We make choices based on partial information, whereas He has the wisdom to take action based on truth.
• His unconditional love. Our Creator is always motivated by love and constantly has our best in mind. Unless we trust His heart, our view of reality will be distorted.
• His perfect sufficiency. At just the right time, God will provide us with everything we need to carry out His plan.

Submitting to God’s timetable requires faith and courage. Believe in the goodness of His heart and His plans–and determine to wait until He gives the signal to move forward. Then, as you follow His schedule, you’ll experience the joy of watching Him make all things beautiful in His timing.

Dr. Charles Stnaley

 

God Hasn’t Even Fainted

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? 
The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of
the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
There is no searching of His understanding”
(Isaiah 40:28).

There is an ignorance of God
That supposes He no longer reveals Himself
To mankind in his crises and needs—
That He is either dead or asleep,
Unable to monitor or guide the steps of man.
But who is man to measure God?
To whom will we liken Him
Or compare Him?
Hast thou not known?
Hast thou not heard?
The everlasting Creator,
The God of the ends of the world,
Neither slumbers nor sleeps.
He fainteth not,
Neither is weary,
But they that trust in Him
Shall renew their faith and strength
They shall fly as eagles:
They shall run and not be weary,
Nor shall they faint.

The Love of God

1 John 4:7-21 

Most Christians agree that God loves them. We hear catch phrases about this in the church today, and believers often recite Bible verses on this topic. Yet do we really grasp what it means to be cared for in this way by the Creator of the universe?

Let’s explore three aspects of God’s love. First, it is uninfluenced by anything within or around us. We know that even while we were still living in sin, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8); there is simply no greater sacrifice. Nothing we do can hinder God’s love for us—and coming to that realization should lift a burden off your shoulders.

Second, divine love is eternal. Believers will never be separated from it. In fact, Ephesians 1:4 tells us that the Father chose us before the foundation of the world. We know, therefore, that His care for us has always been a fact—and always will be.

Third, we know that God’s love is part of His character (1 John 4:8) and directed toward all people (Matt. 5:45). Yet believers experience it differently from those who do not follow Jesus. Consider what would happen if a patio umbrella shielded part of a garden. When it rains, some flowers might be surrounded by water without actually getting wet. Similarly, a person who doesn’t have a relationship with God isn’t impacted by His love, though it exists and is available.

We can trust the One who loves us intensely and completely. Jesus proved this by dying in our place to spare us the consequences of our sin. He promises to stay with us always and redirects us when we stray. Though we do not always feel His love, it surrounds and protects us forever.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Waiting on God

Image via Wikipedia

ISAIAH 30:21 

Almighty God formed you. He knows your talents and weaknesses, as well as every detail of your situation and potential results of any decision you might make.

Your Creator knows what is best for your life. His plan for you, which is motivated by wisdom and love, is executed with perfect timing. This last part can be hard for us to accept, especially when it involves waiting.

But patience is often part of the plan. In some seasons of life, God teaches us to trust and to yield our longing for immediate gratification. We demonstrate surrender and humility before Him when we submit to his timetable.

Of course, there is another option. God gave us the free will to choose His plan or step away from it. When life does not follow the desired path, we can try to make things happen in our own power. But this never works as we hope. In fact, it always leads to disappointment and difficulty, causing us to miss God’s best for our lives. Though this choice is tempting at uncomfortable times, the results are undesirable.

Scripture contains rich promises that we can claim throughout life—and God always keeps His Word. As His followers, we are to believe with faith, anticipate with hope, and wait quietly with patience (Rom. 12:12). In the meantime, we listen and obey.

Embrace whatever “season” God has you in right now. If it’s a time of waiting, choose to learn patience, trusting that His plan for your life is beautiful. Walking in His will requires us to remain sensitive to His voice. Our loving Father protects us from making mistakes when we readily listen to Him.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Our Glorious Hope

1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-58

When we hear the word resurrection, most of us instantly think about Jesus rising from the dead, but His victory over the grave shows what will happen to us as well. One day every believer who has died is going to experience a bodily resurrection like His, and those who are alive when Christ returns will be changed from mortal to immortal in the twinkling of an eye.

One of the first questions that spring to our minds is, What am I going to look like? I can’t answer that specifically, but all I know is, you’re going to look as good as the Creator can make you. And that’s pretty good! These humble earthly bodies will be transformed into glorious bodies like His—minus the divinity, of course. Paul’s writings provide some hints about their characteristics: they are imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. As such, they will be fit for life in heaven. We’ll never again experience sin, sickness, pain, suffering, weakness, exhaustion, or death.

At times people ask me if we’ll be recognizable—that is, will we know our loved ones, and will they know us? Consider this: How could such powerful, glorious bodies be limited in this area if they are so much more advanced in every other way? I’m fully convinced that all our senses and mental abilities will be enhanced, not diminished.

A glorious future lies ahead of us, but the joy of a new body and a reunion with loved ones will be surpassed by the thrill of seeing Jesus. He is the One who made all this possible. Out of gratitude, let’s faithfully love and serve Him while we remain on this earth.

Dr. Charles Stanley

All I can add is Amen,Hallelujah!!!

 

 

The Moments that Sustain Us

Psalm 145:1-5 

   

When life falls apart, how do you cope? All of us face circumstances that challenge our peace—and some of these situations are very painful and prolonged. Unless we have purposeful focus, joy fades and hope seems unattainable.

 

King David experienced extreme hardships, including the profound grief of losing a child and a best friend. And King Saul, for selfish reasons, pursued him in an attempt to take his life. Later, David’s own son led a rebellion against him. As drastic as these trials are, they were just four of the many difficulties he endured. Yet even in times of deep suffering, David found hope and peace in God.

How was his soul sustained when others in similar situations would have drowned in despair? David knew how to meditate. He focused his mind and spirit on God—His character, ways, and will—in order to know the Lord better and to obey Him.

We should be following David’s example. Our role during difficulty is to set our eyes on our heavenly Father and meditate on His Word. The Psalms document the depth and passion for which the shepherd and soon-to-be king delighted himself in God. By continually pondering the attributes and ways of the Lord, he found solace in the midst of turmoil.

What subjects consume your thoughts during the day? Do you have time set aside to dwell solely on the Lord? Perhaps you can remind yourself periodically to bring your attention back to your Creator—one way is to read several of the Psalms and notice how the author refocuses on the almighty God.

 Dr. Charles Stanley

Will God Give only Good Things

 

Another very good sight filled with helpful devotionals.

http://devotionalchristian.com/will-god-give-you-only-good-things/