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For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! Isaiah 64:4
Unrealized dreams. Unfinished work. Unmet expectations. Disappointing results. You’ve been there. We all have. Those times when, hard as we try, life doesn’t work out as planned.
Our efforts, or the efforts of others we put our trust in, turn out to be an epic fail. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative.
The voices of criticism and mockery tend to remind us of ways in which we fall short. Have you ever noticed that the harshest voices tend to come from your own mind? I do. I’m my own worst critic.
Maybe it’s time to step back and remind ourselves of what’s really important and who is really holding this all together.
Isaiah reminds us that while our human efforts may fail, the works of our God last forever. He’s never late. He’s never overwhelmed or surprised.
When we’re learn to wait on him, we’ll see his power unfold in front of us.
Ask for his leading. Wait for his timing. Act in his power.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1
Throughout the Bible, we are commanded to pray. Prayer is the power behind our living for Jesus. It’s been said, that even atheists pray when the plane is going down!
Sad to say, I think we believe in prayer far more than we practice prayer. If we’re honest with ourselves, it’s easy to pray for loved ones, for ourselves, and maybe the occasional prayer for the stranger on the Internet.
What about people, that we know who dislike us, abuse us or ridicule us for our belief in Christ? Hard as it is, Paul challenges us to pray for them. Later on, he’ll say pray for our leaders as well. Not to pray for their demise, but to pray and intercede on their behalf, before God.
Paul urges to should pray for their good, not for their evil. and then he says something really hard. We should thank God for those in leadership no matter how godless they may seem.
Remember, Paul wrote this during one of the most cruel, godless, violent governments in the history of the world. The same government that would later have him beheaded!
Throughout history, God has proven that he can even use godless leaders to accomplish his will. Make it a habit to pray for those who are different than you. Ask the Holy Spirit’s help in knowing how to pray.
The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7
Where do you turn when trouble comes? Who do you call on for help?
When relationships go south, some turned to new relationships, hoping to find relief.
When finances are hard, some borrow money which only increases their debt load and anxiety.
Loss of a loved one can lead to years of grief, depression, and mental health issues.
God has never promised that life will be easy. In fact, He promises us that we will have troubles. He also promises us that he will always be there to work with us through every storm we encounter.
The closer you draw to him, less impact the storms in life will have on you. You can trust in him in whatever storm comes your way!
What storm are you in today? What struggle is keeping you from seeing the good things in life? Lean heavily on God and he will bring you a peace that passes all understanding.
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:12
The legalists of Jesus day (like the ones in our day) overloaded people with a bunch of do’s and don’ts. Not Jesus. He had one command. Just one rule to live by that can change the world, at least the one you live in. Love like he loved.
How did Jesus love? He saw people not problems. He saw opportunities not obstacles. He valued others not vilified them. He was passionate yet purposeful. He remained true to himself rather than losing himself. He remained faithful to Gods word, not fickle by following culture. His true identity didn’t hinder his sociability.
Loving like Jesus did is impossible without the Spirit within Him, the same Spirit that lives within every believer. Love like Jesus did in the power of the Spirit Jesus had.
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Philippians 2:6
You walk into your bosses office one day. He tells you he has an amazing opportunity for you. It’s something he knows you will love! It doesn’t involve a raise in pay. It doesn’t come with more status or stature. In fact, some would call it a demotion. But he promises you a retirement plan out of this world. Would you take the job?
That’s what Jesus did for you. He had a corner office. He had all eternity in front of Him. He was Lord of the universe. There was nothing He could not have.
But He gave it all up for you. Most would consider what He did a demotion. Going from living as a king to being a despised pauper. But not Jesus!
Jesus didn’t take the demotion because he wanted to feel the rejection of his creation. Jesus do not step down because he look forward to being ridiculed. Jesus did what he did for you. He did it for live. A live he knows could not be returned at the level He gave it.
He knew the only way for you to experience forgiveness was by his sacrifice. He know the only way for you to see how much he loved you was for him to live among us. He knew the only way that he could experience eternity with you was to die for you.
Jesus also knew another thing. Between his birth, and offering you eternal life, was the cross. The painful, shameful, despised cross. But he did it for you.
He did it because he loves you. He did it because he knew you would fail. He did it because he knew you could not do what needed to be done on your own. What an amazing Savior!
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 