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Worship While You Wait

jDevaun / Music Photos / CC BY-ND

 

During my recent trip to visit my sister and her family, I agreed to download a free game app on my phone for my then 7-year-old nephew. He was super excited that he was going to get to play the new game.

However, my phone was really slow so it was taking a long time for the game to download.

Thankfully, instead of getting impatient or complaining about the delay my nephew simply said, “Let’s sing a song while we wait.”

I was so impressed by his great attitude. I was also a bit convicted.

How many times have I had to wait on God for something and have not kept the right attitude?  Sometimes the last thing I think about doing is singing!

Anyone else find it easier to complain, lament, doubt, get angry, frustrated, impatient, worry or become fearful, etc…Go ahead, be honest.

And yet lately, God has been impressing on my spirit that He wants me to rejoice even while waiting. In fact, in a sermon I heard recently the Pastor encouraged the congregation to “Praise Him through the process!”

Right! Why didn’t I think of that! There is so much power when you praise God despite what your circumstances look like! By faith, you can thank Him even before you see the victory.

There are so many instances in the Bible where the praise came before the win. I’m reminded of King Jehoshaphat. He had a vast army advancing towards him. After He fasted and sought the Lord, God assured Jehoshaphat that He would fight for him and His people.

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

How did Jehoshaphat respond?  He and the people bowed down and worshiped God and the next morning, “After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21)

Notice, the worshipers went out ahead of the soldiers! As they began to praise and sing to the Lord, God sent ambushes against their enemies. (2 Chronicles 20:22)

I’m also reminded of Paul and Silas who were stripped, beaten with rods, flogged and shackled in prison. They had every reason to have a supreme venting session, pity party or to be downright depressed. What were they doing while they were waiting?

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” (Acts 16:25-26)

There’s no telling what God will do as a result of hearing you praise Him!

So next time you find yourself waiting, I hope you will remember to sing songs unto the Lord, keep reading the Word and count your blessings, etc.. If you’re having trouble, ask God to help you be patient and grateful.

Keep your heart right and before you know it, you will be enjoying the fruit of your patience!

Let the rejoicing begin!

If this encouraged you, feel free to leave a comment below.

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Pretty Pleeease

juni xu / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

 

The other day during lunch, I swung by McDonald’s for a quick bite (no judging please). As I started to walk to my seat, I noticed a girl glued to the display case where that week’s toys were showcased. The girl, probably around the age of 7 or so, was mesmerized by all the dolls smiling at her.

After staring down the toys, she went straight to her dad who was on the line and began declaring, “A Happy Meal. I want a Happy Meal. Pleeease. I want a Happy Meal. Pleeease.”

Her dad calmly said yes, but she was so busy begging that she didn’t hear him. She made one final plea, “Pleeease, a Happy Meal.”  Then it must have dawned on her that he had already agreed to her request. Finally, there was silence.

It’s easy for us to feel aghast over how she reacted, but if we’re really honest aren’t we all guilty of sometimes acting that way with our Heavenly Father?  We get enthralled by something and get fixated on it. We go to God and in essence whine just like that little girl. “Pleeease God. I waaant, this…. Pleeease…”

It’s ok to say, “Ouch,” and then, “Amen.”

Yes, I’m thankful that we can go to God with any request we have.  And I’m so thankful that He is patient with us. But next time we’re obsessing over our petitions and laying out suggestions (or demands) for how we think God should answer our prayers, let’s stop and remember to worship the Giver and not the gifts!

Our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we even ask. And He knows how to give good gifts.  Next time you catch yourself focused just on that “Happy Meal” and perhaps whining like a little kid,  I hope you’ll take a moment to stop begging and start thanking and praising God instead.

Who knows, if we stop and listen to what God is saying to us we might be surprised to hear that He’s already said, “Yes,” to our request.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:13-15)

 I hope you were encouraged. Feel free to leave a comment below.

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Heads up!

Lessons from window washers

photo (50)

Ah, New York City. The concrete jungle where skyscrapers abound. Of all the different ways that people can make a living in the Big Apple, I’m always quite fascinated by the window washers. Yes, those brave souls that enter into those suspended work platforms that slowly inch their way up and down some of the world’s tallest office buildings!

I look at them and I am amazed that they have the courage to do that kind of job!

Did you know that there’s a lot we could learn from those daring workers? For instance:

Trust: Being suspended in midair in midtown (or anywhere) is no easy task. They have to trust that the platform will hold them. They have to believe that they will be kept safe.

Patience: The workers are painstakingly lowered floor by floor. They have to clean window by window. Row by row. There’s no shortcuts when you’re cleaning the outside of buildings that stretch up into the sky.

Teamwork: Many times there are two workers in one platform. They need to work at a similar pace. They also need to look out for each other. Hopefully, they enjoy each other’s company.

Perseverance: They’re working outdoors, so they’re battling the elements on a daily basis. The sun must beat down on them on most days. Other days, they must contend with the wind or even rain.

Now let’s take a moment to compare some of the above characteristics of good window washers with our walk with the Lord:

Trust: How is your faith today? Are you leaning and resting in the palm of God’s hand knowing that He is in Control?

Patience: How are you handling God’s timetable? Are you still getting frustrated that things are not moving faster, or are you at peace with God’s pace?

Teamwork: How well are you getting along with others? Are you working on resolving conflicts or are you battling right and left with family, friends or co-workers?

Perseverance: Are you committed to sticking with it no matter what? Or are you ready to quit and give up in certain areas of your life?

I know it’s not always easy to trust, be patient, be a team player or to persevere. I hope the photo above will help remind you of these important characteristics and will encourage you to keep allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you.

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”      (Galatians 5:22)

Were you encouraged?  Feel free to leave a comment below.

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Not so Fast

photo (34)

I recently noticed this picture by one of the fire exits at my job, and it made me chuckle. Ever feel like dropping whatever you’re doing and just running for the nearest exit and not looking back?

Ever just want to hop on the next train, plane, taxi (enter your ideal escape vehicle here _________) and just go anywhere but where you currently find yourself?

I think we’ve all been there at some time(s) in our lives. While it’s tempting to want to run away when life’s problems and circumstances are weighing you down, many times it’s wiser to stay awhile and to get your bearings before you make any sudden moves.

There is something to be said about not rushing out of situations (unless they are life-threatening) and just remaining where you are for just a bit longer.

“Be still and know that I am God,” is what we’re told in Psalm 46:10.

Yes, sometimes God wants us to rest and be still for awhile. As our Good Shepherd, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.” (Psalm 23:22-3)

Some of us are so good at running away that the thought of slowing down can seem so foreign and even dreadful.

But it’s only when we slow down and get quiet before the Lord that we can hear Him more clearly.

When was the last time that you spent time being silent before the Lord?  Could you hear God speaking to you in the midst of the chaos you were in? What did you hear Him say?

I’m reminded of Elijah and how he literally ran for his life, got exhausted and depressed, and how God in His mercy met him right in the middle of that trial. How did God present Himself to Elijah? It wasn’t through the rushing wind, the rumbling earthquake or raging fire. It was in a gentle whisper. (I Kings 19:1-13)

If Elijah hadn’t slowed down, he could have easily missed his divine appointment with God!

Let’s try not to be in such a hurry.

If everything in you is itching to run, could I encourage you to take a moment and wait upon the Lord? His timing is perfect, so try not to go rushing ahead of Him. Enjoy the quiet time with the Lord as you would if you were spending quality time with your friend or loved one. See if that doesn’t give you a healthier perspective about your situation and give you that peace that only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can give you. (Isaiah 9:6)

That time of refreshing will strengthen you for the next leg of your journey.  I guess that’s why we’re called to “walk” with the Lord instead of to “run” with Him!

Did this help you take your running shoes off for the moment? Feel free to leave a comment below.

 

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Help is on the Way

ATM screen

 

I once heard a sermon where the pastor mentioned that we pray one thing and God does 10,000 things in order to bring to pass the answer to our request. The photo above helps to remind me that God does hear my prayers and that His answer is on the way.

Just because I don’t see an instant response to my prayer request doesn’t mean that God is asleep, has forgotten me or is ignoring me.  It just means that some prayers take a longer time to get answered. God’s answer could be yes, no or wait.

During that waiting period, God is growing us, maturing us and testing us. He’s also bringing people and circumstances into alignment.

The Bible says,“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; He who seeks finds; and to Him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7)

We obviously need to be praying according to God’s will for our lives and should repent of any unconfessed sins. As Christians, we can then leave the rest to God.

The Bible doesn’t say how long it takes for the answers to come. It does say we are to be persistent in our prayers and we should pray with faith.

God is not a genie so He doesn’t just automatically give us everything we want exactly when we want it. However, He does like to give His kids good gifts so get ready!

If you’re waiting on some of God’s promises to be fulfilled in your life, I’d like to encourage you by reminding you that God is working behind-the-scenes.  At the appointed time, you’ll receive your answer! When you do, make sure to come back and share about it here!

 

 

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No Peeking

Lessons from Baking

MissionControl / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

 

I finally started exploring the world of baking. To my amazement, I actually like it!  I thought it would be stressful because I’m the type that doesn’t like following recipes or waiting for water to boil, but it’s actually rather relaxing.

I’ve always been intimidated by the oven so before I baked my first set of brownies ever, I had fun watching videos online to see how the pros do it. I also read an article about oven settings.  Both times I read the tips, these lines jumped out at me:

“While your food is baking, try not to open the door too often to check for done-ness.  Every time you open the oven door to see if your food is cooked, your oven temperature will drop and extend the cooking time.”

I was happy that the disclaimer was there and even happier to think there must be other impatient, novice chefs out there like me. But there was something about those simple instructions that got me thinking about my prayer life and times that I have gotten impatient while waiting on God.

At times in my life, I have been like an anxious baker opening the oven door to check if my “treats” were ready. In my eagerness to find out the status of my treats, I didn’t realize that I could actually be interrupting the work that God was doing and delaying the process even more!

What about you?  Have you ever prayed for a situation, said that you’ve left it in God’s hands and then done something that was the equivalent of opening the oven door to peek if the “goodies” were ready?  Were you then discouraged to find out that you had to wait even longer?

If your answer is yes, then I invite you to join me in heeding the advice to keep the oven door closed until God says it’s time to open it and enjoy dessert!

God works in seasons. He isn’t in a rush. As His Word declares, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

 

 

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