Wait for God's Moves

By Pat

I have just recently begun playing an interactive word game very similar to Scrabble, with my phone, that I just love. My opponents and I take turns making our moves against each other at our leisure, each trying to out-score the other. It's great fun for me. I love the challenge and I go to great lengths searching for just the right spot for my letters, especially the high point ones.

There have been several times I have had my eye on a particular spot, one that I am determined to use... lots of points! I wait, just like a spider for the perfect time to move in for the kill. I want that spot! I wait for just the right letter. And wait... sometimes in vain. The opportunity never pans out. But if I move my eyes around and check to see what else is available, many times I see chances for my words to be made in different spots, maybe not exactly what I had in mind, but even better! If only I would just shift my focus.

I have been the same way in my day-to-day living and I know I'm not alone. I see my life and the moves I should make MY way, while more often than not God sees it entirely differently. What looks perfect to me becomes my focus, and God has to remind me to shift my focus and allow Him to make the moves. His ways are always better. He knows just where to place me, and when. It's not always easy to let go of my focus, but if I allow God to move me, I win every time-for Him.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Waiting

By Michelle (Graceful, Faith in the Everyday)

"Last year I used to think that maybe I didn't believe in God, but now I know I do." He announces it at the dinner table, and I pause, a spoonful of lentil curry soup poised halfway to my mouth.

"You thought you didn't believe in God last year?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light and bouncy.

"Yeah, but I'm good now. I feel better again," my ten-year-old son Noah says.

"So what made you change your mind?" I ask, soup spoon still steady in mid-air. "How did you come back to believing in God again?" I need to know how he did this. I want to be reassured it won't happen again. I need to know that my son won't spend his childhood mired in fear and unbelief, like I did.

"I don't know. I guess I just sort of waited," he answers. "And then, after a while, I felt like I believed again."

There is much wisdom in that little-boy answer.

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God Says... "It will be worth it."

By Jason S (Connecting to Impact)

We all have situations in our lives that bring up the question of cost vs. worth.  Nearly every day, there are big concerns and little ones; ones we weigh carefully and others we decide in split seconds.  We don't want to be caught spinning our tires or wasting our time.

Sometimes we decide we've paid enough and walk away, but when we are walking away from something God spoke to us or led us into, we are guaranteed to miss out on something wonderful.

I like how the Amplified version puts Romans 8:28:

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose."

God gives us a part in all this. We aren't simply waiting around, but He partners with our labor in this work of restoration. That's restoration for ourselves and those around us.

We may be ready to bail, saying, "it's not worth it." Meanwhile, God is trying to get our attention to reassure us and tell us, "Just hold on. I know you can't see it now, but it will be worth it."

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God Is Paying Attention

By Pat

Sometimes it's really hard to get through each day maintaining our diligence in serving God. We see so much pain in the world around us. We hear so many cries for help, for healing. We see terrible injustice. We ourselves struggle with our own burdens and problems, and we yearn for God's answers. We beg for His mercy. We are impatient. We want God's immediate intervention, and we want to know when it's coming. How long must we wait? It's easy to become frustrated, and Satan whispers into our ears that God isn't paying attention, doesn't care. but He IS paying attention and He DOES care and He WILL take action...in His time, not ours.

We live in such an "instant" world these days that it's becoming more and more difficult to wait, and our patience fades quickly. But as we grow older, we learn that those things we wait for are usually the ones most worth waiting for. God never promised there would be continual perfection in the world, but He did promise that His word is true, and He knows what He's doing, even when it seems He doesn't. We must remain steadfast in the struggles and bring His light into the dark corners of the world so that He can allow us to be the change He wants to happen. His word is true, His timing is perfect. He wants us to have faith that, in HIS time, He will prevail.

"As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Learning To Wait

By Pat

I have often wondered what my life would look like today if I had been more attentive, careful and steadfast in listening for God's instructions. Would I be where I am right now, doing what I'm doing, or would God have me in a completely different place?

I am not always the most patient person in the world, especially when it comes to waiting. I am very diligent about giving my cares to the Lord, but not so great at deciphering what God is telling me. Therefore, many times I have taken matters into my own hands, thinking that God is taking too long to answer me and give me the guidance I need. Or worse...maybe decided that my solution is a little better than God's. That's a hard thing to admit! I'm sure more than once I have been disobedient to God by not waiting for Him.

In 1 Samuel 8, Samuel, by God's authority, told Saul, "Go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do." Saul, now anointed king of Israel, assembled his men and went to Gilgal as Samuel instructed. But as we read on we find that Saul took matters into his own hands..."He waited seven days, the time set by Samual; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. So he said, "Bring me the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. "What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offerings."

Saul's impatience cost him favor with God, and under pressure Saul's lack of faith was revealed, as mine has been many times. When we stay in God's will and wait for His answers in His perfect timing, we will be blessed so that we can be a blessing to God. Hang in there...He's worth the wait!

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.