The other day while I was running, I began to see a person who had light shining from their body.  Their eyes had a bright clear light shining through, as well as their hand and feet.  Even their torso was shining.  God showed me that was His light inside of us.  When we ask Jesus in our heart, we radiate His light.  Then I heard the children’s song, “This little Light of Mine”….I am sure you remember that one.  I kept hearing the part that said, “Hide it under a bushel? NO! I’m gonna let it shine.” And then “Won’t let satan blow it out! NO! I’m gonna let it shine.”

I couldn’t shake this vision or the song for a long time.

Then God showed me that once we carry Jesus in our heart, we radiate that light no matter what.  This particular light was one we can’t contain because it belongs to Him, not us.  I first asked Jesus into my heart as a young child, and even though I struggled to walk with Him for many years, there were people who saw a light inside me.  I was held.  I was protected.  I couldn’t hide the light no matter how hard I tried.

You also have this Light. I hope that, like me now, you chose to let that Light shine bright and try to never hide it.

Right now, though, I feel a stirring in my spirit and God is showing me that the devil has been trying so hard to blow out some of your lights.

If that is you, then God wants to let you know that He would never let that happen.  The enemy of your soul can try as he will, but God’s light within you is eternal.  You have not lost God’s light.  For some of you it may be hidden a bit, but you can always remove the covering and let it shine brightly again.  Has life dealt you some tough blows?  Are you weary?  Do you feel like no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to get ahead and stay ahead?  Do you feel like every time you stand up and try to move forward in life and in Jesus, you get knocked down again?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, then this message of hope is for you.

God wants you to know that you are not forgotten, over looked, buried, cast aside, unable to succeed, unworthy, unnecessary, born for poverty, or created to live a trial laden life.  No, you, my friend, were made to thrive! You were created to shine a light into this world that no other person ever created has been able to shine!  You were made specifically and for a purpose.  You are valued.  You are treasured.  You are a jewel in His crown.  The apple of His eye, remember? You are loved.

I pray, if this message reaches someone who is walking through the desert, then you will feel God’s Presence fall on you right now, in Jesus name.  I pray you will feel His tender touch in your heart.  I pray you would hear the love song He is singing over you right now.

The war is not over, and the battle belongs to the Lord.  Pick up the sword of truth and fight another day.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.  Matthew 5:16

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  John 1:5

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

Sometimes, forgiveness looks like letting go.

During a season of deep healing that I walked through, God used an altar call at a church I visited while in Arkansas to work on one of the deepest wounds I carried.  My value, or lack thereof.  I was treated with such kindness at this church, and the welcome I felt there was honestly, second to none.  I’ve visited lots of churches and you never know if anyone will speak to you or not, so I was pleasantly surprised to be embraced right from the start.  The worship was fun, and I enjoyed being able to sing my heart out. A church member was asked to share a recent vision she had and then she gave her interpretation.  It was then I saw the true beauty and benefit of different perspectives.  When she described what she saw, I interpreted it a more ominous way, but as she spoke, her interpretation was so positive and encouraging.  It moved me so much, I began to re-visit several vision’s I had received in previous years to examine them and ask God if I had also mis-interpreted them.  I realized at that point in my life, saw God as quite the disciplinarian.  The sermon began, and I really loved it.  The pastor spoke with true anointing and when the altar call began I was compelled to go forward.  So did about 20 others. We were lined up at the front and the pastor went down the row and spoke prophetically over each one, praying for them along with 2 others who stood near to “catch” the ones who were slain in the Spirit.  I was probably number 8 or 9 in line, and I sensed this would be far more intense than I had imagined.  The Lord said to me, “Get on your knees.”  So, even though everyone else was standing, I obeyed.  I began really pressing into the Lord and focusing on the reason I had come to the altar.  When the Pastor made it to me, he bent down and began to say, “Someone stole your innocence when you were young, and you feel like you have no value.”  Like an arrow sent straight from Heaven, his true words pierced through my heart.  I simply nodded and cried quietly.  He said a few other things and then he stood and said, “I believe that as a prophetic declaration, you are ready to move on from this, you need to take my hand and stand up.  Now, only stand when you’re ready.  We will wait.”  I sat there kneeling and telling God, “I will not stand unless it really means something.”  Everyone was silent.  No impatience was felt.  Everyone was watching to see what God would do. I wrestled through a few things with the Lord and took my time.  Finally, I took the Pastor’s hand and stood. The whole room erupted in cheers!  Everyone rejoicing that me, a stranger, was finding freedom in Jesus.  The Pastor prayed over me and I fell to the ground.  When I got up and headed back to my seat, I had a vision of myself holding a red balloon and as I walked, I let it go and felt such a release and such freedom.  This was a true milestone moment in my life and walk with Jesus.  For that church and it’s body I will be eternally grateful.

I bring this story up for many different reasons.  Number one, I cannot get the memory of it and that red balloon out of my head.  But also, because I want to stress the true blessings of being completely open to however God chooses to bring healing to your heart, lest you miss a golden opportunity.  I could have chosen to remain glued to my seat because I was a stranger in that place.  I could have refused to let my heart be moved by a Pastor I didn’t know at all.  But because I trust God, I knew I could trust when I felt His Spirit move and all I wanted to do was participate in whatever it was He was doing.

It doesn’t matter where you are.  Or who you know.  You know God.  Do you trust Him?  He will work out the matters of your heart when you stay in a position of surrender and openness to letting Him move.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been leading worship and have felt His Spirit move over the body and even over specific people, only to watch them resist for one reason or another.  It’s so deeply saddening to watch anyone resist God’s hand moving in their life.  I don’t care who is preaching, or leading worship, God can and does speak to me because in those moments, it’s not about anyone else but me and Him.

Will you walk in total surrender?  Will you die to pride and let God lead you to the altar?  I challenge you to pay attention to the moving of His Spirit and right now to commit to following that lead next time it comes.  It’s a decision you can make right now.  Today.

God, I will not resist Your Spirit moving in my life.  No matter where I am or who I am with, I will respond to You.  You are worth it.  You are worthy of me dying to my pride.  I surrender all over again.  I love You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.  James 4:10

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  Proverbs 11:2

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.  Psalm 55:22

I keep having a vision of the Lord standing outside of a tomb, like the one belonging to Lazarus.  I hear Him saying, “Lazarus, come forth!”

During these past several weeks, I hope you have begun to feel alive in places where you, maybe, haven’t felt alive in a long time….or possibly ever.  But have you started walking out life differently yet?  Have you taken steps to spread your new-found wings and explore the freedom of being awake?  Are you fully embracing the healing work God has been fashioning inside of you?

I feel the Lord saying that it’s important to begin this new week with an acknowledgment of His goodness and take some time to enjoy what He’s done so far.  Throughout this coming week, we will again move toward different facets of forgiveness, those days can be hard, so let’s just bask in the Light of His good works for today.

“Lazarus, come forth!!”, I hear the Savior calling.  I see you stepping out of the cave and into the Light.  You place a hand above your eyes because the Light is so bright. It’s time to let your eyes adjust.  Stretch your legs and begin to explore the newness.  He has a lot in store for you.  He’s ready to help you learn how to walk now.  Running and flying will come.  Isn’t it exciting to know you have a renewed future to match that renewed mind?! Don’t worry that the work isn’t completely done, He knows how much renovation you can endure at one time.  It’s different for each person, but one of the keys I have learned is, we are to fully enjoy and be thankful for all forward motion in our lives.

Come alive sweet one!  Let yourself take a minute and embrace what it is to feel again.  Where survival had numbed your spirit, let full life and feeling wash over. It’s OK to feel.  We were created to feel.  Don’t be afraid of it.

Now, let’s turn our eyes and focus on Jesus.  What has He done for you?  Even in the smallest details of your life…..count your blessings one by one.  Taking time to fully acknowledge His hand in your details.

Keeping an attitude of gratitude is paramount in our walk with Jesus.

God, thank You for the redeeming works your doing in my heart.  Thank You for working in places I had not thought of in so long.  Thank You for working all things together for my good.  Thank You for being my Faithful Father.  I adore You.  Look into my heart and let us rejoice together over Your good works!! Thank You Jesus.  I love You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.  It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.  “Take away the stone,” He said.  “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there for four days.”  Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  So they took away the stone.  Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  I know that You always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.”  When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”  John 11:38-44

The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.  Psalm 145:9

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night, to make music on the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.  Psalm 92:1-3

I want to wrap up this week with time in the secret place.  I hope after reading this you will find that quiet place where you meet Him and take some time.  Leave your phone, watch, and cares behind as you simply come to Him.  Let’s reflect on how much God has revealed to us these last few weeks.  Think about areas of your heart that you didn’t even know existed until we started exploring His heart for us.  Thank Him for shining His light in the dark places and drawing you into a deeper relationship with Him.  Hasn’t it been so so worth it?!

Has He revealed deep pains inside of you during our time together?  If so, are you still faithfully walking out whatever your healing looks like?  Never forget where you are in your process.  Don’t get caught up in life again.  I encourage you to continue meeting with Him until you feel release over any and every hurt or stronghold He reveals to you.

I have a vision of someone who just had a surgery, and they have come for the appointment when they will remove the bandages and see how healing has progressed.  Let God tenderly remove the bandage and inspect the wound for any signs of infection.  Hopefully, you will only see that you are indeed moving into total healing in that place, but if not that’s totally ok.  Some healing takes time.  God is not in a hurry.  You are not behind.  As you lean into His chest again, listen for His heart beat and re-establish His tempo for your walk through life.  He will repeat this process as many times as you need.  He knows exactly what you need.  He loves you enough to take His time walking through life, healing, and relationship with you.

In our time together did you discover you needed to learn how to let go?  How is that going?  Have you surrendered?  Or are you struggling to grasp for control again?  If so, let go again.

Surrender can often feel like the most unnatural thing to do, but with God it’s almost always the answer.  Countless times I have taken my problems to the Lord only to hear Him remind me that once I’ve brought it to Him it’s time for me to let go.  My trust level with God has recently increased so much because I have chosen to take several different steps of obedience and the only way for me to survive is to stay in a position of surrender.  It sounds scary, but I’m discovering it’s a truly wonderful place!  Now that I’ve embarked on several journeys that only God can end, it really takes a lot of pressure off me.  I won’t succeed by my own performance, no I need Him to show Himself over and over again for everything to work out….and I’m finding so much freedom in this place.  Have you discovered the freedom of surrender?

Now that we’ve taken an inventory of our heart, lets just thank God for His love and faithfulness.  Take some time and let yourself simply feel affection for Him.  It’s so important to feel.  Let a feeling of gratitude wash over you again.  Surrender to feeling.  Be swept away in a current of His grace and mercy once again.  He is a good good Father.

This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, You make the way of the righteous smooth.  Isaiah 26:7

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:2b-5

For a long time I never considered my motivations in life.  I didn’t always see that “why” I am doing something is just as important as “what” I am doing.  Even when I began to walk closely with the Father, I would pursue Him without searching my motives.  Then in one instance after another, God began to show me some places where I was striving.  Since that moment I have frequently gone before God and asked Him to search my motives so that I remain pure of heart.  I want to want God simply because He is God and I love Him, not because I’m afraid He’ll stop loving me if I don’t behave properly.  I needed to experience unconditional love.  I truly believe we all do.

As a person who is very performance driven, I am now learning new ways of connecting with Him.  I constantly hear Him reminding me again, I don’t have to strive for His love.  Well, honestly, I’ve never known things that I didn’t have to strive for before.  So, the journey into His heart is a constant revelation for me.  Letting go and just receiving is so foreign to me.  Is it to you?  I was raised watching my mom be a very hard worker.  Day in and day out she served our family and my dad’s business and her parents and the list goes on and on.  So, when I became a woman and started a family, I carried on that dedication.  It’s not a bad thing at all.  I just need to keep it all in perspective.  The “why” for all my efforts needs to remain very clear.  My “why” should never be the feeling that if I don’t work hard then nobody will love me.  I’ve often felt that.  My “why” shouldn’t be the feeling that I have to work hard or nobody will think I’m valuable as a person.  I’ve also struggled with that thought a lot.  But now that I am constantly re-evaluating my “why” it is becoming….I work hard because I love.  I work hard because God loves me, and I just want to share that.  This is a very different motivation.  Now I search out God’s heart simply for the sake of relationship, not because I’m afraid of His punishment if I don’t.  Now I love Him from a different place in my heart.

What brings you to the Lord?  Take a minute, and even if you’ve never even considered that you are striving, ask God if you are.  Sometimes striving can cloak itself in something that looks like good deeds, but deep within it there is fear of rejection.  You will only see it if you take a moment and really let God search your heart.  There is no fear in perfect love.  Has His perfect love taken such a deep root in your heart that you can now grow from that solid foundation?  If not, it’s ok.  Today, you can ask Him to deepen your “love roots” and water you with affection.  It’s nothing we’ve ever deserved, but doesn’t that make it even better?!  Undeserved affection is the sweetest fruit.

Lord, I ask You to lavish me with Your love this morning.  God, my affection for You grows deeper and deeper every day.  I love to serve You from the foundation of that love.  Abba, search my heart and weed out any fear of rejection that may have crept in.  I want to love You with a pure and holy love.  Thank You for loving me so well.  Thank You for always having time for me.  Thank You for always being patient with me.  Thank You for being You.  I desperately love You.  In Jesus name, Amen.

And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him.  There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  We love because He first loved us.  1 John 4:16-19

Not long ago, during the youth Sunday school class that my husband and I teach, I was describing how great a long-term marriage relationship can become.  How it’s so amazing to know a person so well that you can communicate without words.  I talked of knowing Chris so well that I can feel his mood before he enters a room and he knows my feelings with just a touch or a glance, and how amazing it is to have someone respond to your slightest nudging.  Then I felt the Holy Spirit move in the classroom and begin to show how that’s the way God wants to be with us.  This leads me to ask you…..

How well do you know Him?  Can you recognize His presence in the slightest movement?  Can you feel His gentlest nudge and if so, do you respond?  Do you recognize His voice over all others?  Do you know enough about His character to assume the best in any and every situation?

There is no substitute for time and attentiveness when relationship is concerned.  We have to be intentional.

Recently, my oldest was accused of a wrong doing, or rather he was actually set up to take the fall for something he didn’t do, and I immediately knew he didn’t do it.  How did I know?  Well, it was because I have studied him and know so much about his in’s and out’s.  Several indicators were there to prove his innocence to the discerning eye.  It was a truly moving moment when I realized I knew he was innocent because I have invested in relationship with him.  It was a banner moment for me, as his mom.  To know my son.  To have invested in paying attention to his every movement.  That feels like love to me.

God is the same way.  I have spent so much time searching Him out and letting Him search me out, at this point I am fully confident that He knows me and I know Him….Of course I will never know Him completely, but I know Him so much more than I did.  I can see when He’s moving in a situation no matter how uncomfortable or stretching it is for me.

I ask you today, how much time have you spent searching out the Father?  How often do you go to Him, leave your list behind, and simply seek to know Him better?  Let today be a day that you search His heart.  Let yourself wander into His presence and discover more about His love for you.  I promise it’s always worth it and it is always beneficial.

Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  John 15:4

O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory.  Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.  Psalm 63:1-3

Oh my Strength, I sing praises to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.  Psalm 59:17

Today I had a vision of a letter.  This letter had been sent in the mail, but the intended recipient did not want to sign for it, so it was returned with a red stamp on it that said, “Return to sender”.  I immediately thought of all the negative things the enemy sends our way. And how we need to learn to stamp “return to sender” on all those thoughts and suggestions that he tries to pour over us every day.

I think we can all agree that as scripture states: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12

So, if that scripture is true and also this one: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:5

Then, we have all authority and capability to take charge of our thought life and make it “obedient to Christ”!! Wow!!

Today’s devotional will be short because it is my hope that you will take a thought inventory.  I pray that you will spend some serious time in the quiet place and search out what thoughts you hear all the time.  Are they encouraging?  Is you default thought one of poverty or blessing?  Is God and His presence your first response to daily happenings?  Is your mind set on the “things of above” or are you a slave to the spirit of the earth?  No matter where you find yourself right now, it’s the perfect time to clean out your mind.  Stamp “return to sender” on all thoughts that are not from God and ask God to release His thoughts over your mind. He will change your thought patterns, but it will take some deliberateness on your part.  You can do it! You can have victory of your mind!  He is a God of victory.  He can never lose.

Go and find your quiet place and let Him order your thoughts, I promise you won’t regret it.  And tomorrow when we meet, you will have a renewed mind.  How awesome is that?!

But we have the mind of Christ.  1 Corinthians 2:16b

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

 

 

The other day during my run, I suddenly had the clearest vision….I saw Frodo from the movie Lord of the Rings, he was in the middle of a battle and he slipped the ring on his finger and could then see things in a very different way.  God then told me He was ready for me to begin to explain what it is like when I see the things He shows me.

I’ve had many people ask me what I mean when I say, “I saw (such and such thing) and God said…..”  Well, I mean that I had a vision.  At any time during my day, I can see things.  When I was young I was around a certain woman who spoke the same way that I do.  She would say, “I see this (picture) and God is saying….”. And all I knew was every time she would pray for me and then see something, it would impact me greatly.  Honestly, there was a season when she was really the only person I wanted to have pray for me.  I could feel God so much in those moments.  I felt known by Him.  Those were the first moments I realized God saw me.  Those were the times I realized He was actually interested in knowing me.  When I went “all in” with Him, I immediately began asking Him to give me visions.  I longed with a holy and deep longing to see more of what He sees.  I continue to pray that prayer.

It is so helpful to see things that most people don’t.  It gives me a pulse for the atmosphere of a place or situation.  It gives me focus for my prayers.  It keeps me more deeply connected to the Father.  I also see things in people’s eyes.  I see things they are battling with, or I see the really good things inside of them.  It helps to safe guard myself, and shows me when I can let my guard down some.

God longs for us to see more.  His word tells us to eagerly desire the gifts of the spirit. (Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.  1 Corinthians 14:1)

When I gave myself fully to Him, I knew I was welcome to and even encouraged to dig deeper.

Today, I wonder, are you following the way of love and eagerly desiring the spiritual gifts?  If you never have, then I encourage you that today could be the first day of a very exciting and fulfilling journey!  I never want people to listen to me speak and for them to think that I am special or something.  For people to think they can’t have what I have and even more.  No, I long to share all that I have and know.  I am so encouraged when I see others begin to move in those things too!  God has more than enough for us to all move in these gifts.  If you are stirred by this and feel that longing deep in your heart, then I encourage you to go before Him and simply ask.  You may be surprised at how quickly He answers your plea.  He’s been waiting for you to know Him better 😊

God, thank You for the gifts of the Spirit.  Thank You for having such a desire to include us in Your ways! What a privilege.  What an honor.  Lord, pour out Your Spirit over me today and let me be full of You.  Lord, let me abound in the gifts of the spirit, and in the fullness of knowing You better.  Use me to reach those around me.  Let the gifts of the spirit be a way of breaking down the distance between their hearts and Yours, Lord.  Use me.  I am willing.  I am in love.  I am Yours.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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 7:7-8

Where are we going?  Are we there yet?

If you’ve ever been on a road trip with kids, then you know the above questions are repeated over and over.  I wonder, did it ever occur to you that we are often this way with God?

I’m taking two days to search out these 2 questions……..

Are we there yet?

There have been times when God has taken me through seasons that feel so long.  My perspective has changed over the years though.  I used to feel like praying and then waiting even a week was a long time.  That was until I had the following interaction with God.

I was talking to God about something that I had been praying over for 10 years, and I exasperatedly said, “God, I have been praying and waiting for this to be answered for a DECADE! Seriously, a decade.”  Immediately I heard the soft response of my Father, “Oh, is that all?”

With a gentle word of discipline, He reminded me that to the One Who is eternal, a decade is not long at all.  And I didn’t deserve anything simply because of time spent.  He was working it all out but wouldn’t rush it just because I had grown impatient.  In fact, I discovered that He was using the length of the waiting to mature me and strengthen my resolve.  He was making the most out of that decade.

Is there anything in your life for which you have been contending in prayer a long time?  Is there a promise that God has spoken to you, but you feel increasingly impatient in the waiting?  I urge you to not lose hope! Stick with it, and allow God to grow and mature you during the wait.  Instead of being like an impatient child during a car trip, let the time be profitable for your own personal growth.

He is IN the waiting.  So much of life is not about the destination, rather the journey.  Learn to appreciate a good journey.

God thank You for being a god of adventure! Thank You for tailoring our lives to be exciting and fulfilling journeys.  You are wise.  So much wiser than I could ever even hope to become.  You know exactly what it will take for me to mature.  Thank You for having me walk out things that are uncomfortable.  Thank You for loving me so much that You will not cave to my selfishness and resistance.  I need You.  I need Your guiding hand and instruction.  Thank You for loving me so well.  Teach me to love You better.  I am honored to be Your daughter.  Help me to always treat You with the honor that You deserve.  Here I am, looking for You in the wait.  I love You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”- and You forgave the guilt of my sin.  Psalm 32:6

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.  Psalm 33:11

Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.  Psalm 9:10

Where are we going?  Are we there yet?

If you’ve ever been on a road trip with kids, then you know the above questions are repeated over and over.  I wonder, did it ever occur to you that we are often this way with God?

I’m taking two days to search out these 2 questions……..

Where are we going? 

I frequently have people talk to me about how they are waiting on the Lord to tell them where to go next.  I watch as they often grow impatient and unfortunately sometimes make a hasty decision simply because their comfort level in the waiting has become nearly unbearable.  Impatience seems to reign in our society these days.  We’ve all been guilty of it.

When someone asks me what they should do once they’ve asked God for direction and He has yet to give any, I simply respond, “If He hasn’t given you any direction then stay where you are until He does.”

It sounds simple, but we all know that it isn’t.  But that doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing to do.  If you are a passenger in a vehicle, and you are waiting for the driver to get into the car and they are not coming fast enough would you get very far sticking one leg over to push the gas?  I imagine that’s a pretty fast way to wreck.  Yet, in essence, we do this very thing over and over again to God.

We proclaim that God is King and give our lives to Him, yet it often only takes a little discomfort for us to start reaching over and trying to take the wheel from His hands.  I can’t count how many times I’ve been guilty of this.

It’s never too late to change.  So today I challenge you.  Are you trying to take the wheel from God’s hands?  Are you passionately impatient about your season or receiving an answer to what’s next?  Just take a minute and be honest with yourself.  If you see yourself wrestling with God for control, then I challenge you to go before Him and lay it down.  Ask for His forgiveness.  If you need to, ask Him to show you how to let go and how to wait.  I have had to ask Him those questions many times, and He is always eager to answer.  Next, cut yourself some slack.  If you find yourself grabbing for the wheel again, it’s ok, just follow the steps of repenting and letting go again.  He knows that learning this will be a process and He is a very patient Teacher.  Breathe in the love of the Father and breathe out the release of your control.  You can trust Him.

God, please forgive me for any time I have wrestled You for control of my life.  You gave me this life, and I give it back to You as an act of worship.  Lord, You alone are trustworthy.  Help me to always be very aware of Your hand moving in my life, and equally aware when I begin to try to take back this life I’ve surrendered to You.  Help me to stay constantly surrendered.  I am Yours, forever and all time.  I love You. In Jesus name, Amen.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.”  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:24-26

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  Psalm 40:1