Keep Praying, Keep Watching for the Son to Rise

The weather forecast has most of us holding our breath. For the south, we’ve had a pretty hard winter. The cold temps have dipped and stayed low for a long time. Not much clear bright sunshine to speak of. 

When winter first comes we meet it with excitement. We can do this. The wood pile is full, the jackets and boots are taken out of storage and we anticipate changes of snow to play. But eventually winter is just winter. No longer fun, no longer tolerable, we’ve had it. Snow is messy, the wood pile is waning and the sun hasn’t shined much at all. We need spring. We need some sunny days and warmer temperatures. We’re tired of bundling up everywhere we go. 

Just as we prepare for winter, we also prepare for hard times. We know the Word and we speak it into our own hearts with confidence. We can do this. We can get through it. Sometimes though, the hard, cold reality is the chill of hard times gets to us. Spring gets delayed and our hopes get delayed. We were willing to believe God would get us through, that we’d have enough spiritual insight to get by, but now we’re done with it. Chilled to the bone, we want the Son to shine again. We want Jesus to come and take away the pain and make things new. The anticipation has given way to heartache. 

Maybe you’re there. You prayed, you quoted Scripture, you held tight to God’s hand and you bundled up in His love. But you’re tired of it. The prayers are waning, the hope is diminishing and even though the Word forecasts that better days are ahead, you’re beginning to doubt it all. You put all your hope in the forecast, but it’s not happening and you’re weakening. Where is God when the winter times linger, when the answers to prayer don’t come quickly and the chill of the present situation is starting to cause frostbite to your heart and mind?

Oh beloved, this is the time to hold tighter to God’s unfailing promises. His forecast is the only one you can rely on. He promises that better days are ahead, but we think that means everything is going to be fine quickly. Sometimes winter lingers far into the days that should be sunny. But God says you will be better. You will overcome. You will be victorious. You will live in the warmth of His light and His love. Keep praying, keep quoting Scripture, keep looking for Him. He’s your answer to hard times, bad outcomes and worse weather. He is the One who makes all things new. Even when the spouse stays gone, the money stays low, the friends stay gone and the child stays wayward. Even when you see no sign of the Son. Especially when you grow weak and weary and unsure if spring’s answer will come.

Whatever you are hoping for, praying about and trying to get through, God will see you through. Don’t give up now, for just as the forecast says warmer days are ahead, you know that the answer is just ahead. Just as you cannot choose the exact day that warm weather and sunny days will return, you cannot choose when God answers or how He will answer, but answer He will. The situation you are presently in is just a passage where your faith is growing and your knowledge of God is growing and your hope is becoming more steadfast. 

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can endure the winter of waiting, knowing that God has an answer to your heartfelt cries as you look to Him.

Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

James 1:6 But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

Isaiah 60:19 No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

God Answers in Agape Love

 

This morning I am reminded of conversations heard throughout the generations, including conversations I had with my own children. Can you remember your parent being so busy that when you finally got their attention they shot out, “What do you WANT!?” with a good dose of irritation they would turn their attention away from whatever to you.  I can remember feeling a little ashamed of interrupting. I’m sure at those times I was short with my own children they felt something other than love and care as well. We are human parents and we occasionally get it wrong. It’s just one of those things. Fortunately most parents aren’t always distracted by life and we all know how we love our children and desire their best.  As mine are now older I cherish a heartfelt conversation with each of them.

Sometimes we think God is like an earthly parent. He’s too busy. He has too much on His mind. Others are more in need of His time. He doesn’t care, He isn’t available, it doesn’t matter.  We’re concerned that He will rebuke us or get angry with our interruption of Him.  We often put earthly personality issues into our relationship with the Lord.

God speaks to my heart: Precious child of God, when you call out to Me, you will never hear that harsh voice that is irritated at the interruption. You never have to worry that I AM not going to answer you with Agape Love, for I AM your Father and I AM love. My essence and very nature are perfect love. So when you call out to Me, because I AM God, I hear you. Not only do I hear you precious one, I already have the answer in My hand, formed from the foundation of the world. Before the world was, My answers were available. Before you were a glimmer in your parents’ eyes, I was holding you in My heart.

Oh beloved! Do you understand? Do you know who you are IN CHRIST? Do you realize that God is a loving Father, He makes no mistakes, He misleads no one, He never lies, He’s never too tired or too distracted. He is here, right now, for YOU.  You may not know where you are, you may be in very unfamiliar territory, you may feel that you are walking in a dark cave with no light whatsoever, but you are walking in the presence of God – you walk with Him if you are IN HIM.  And you are IN HIM when you are born again. We leave behind the country of humanity – short tempers, distracted minds, busy lives – and travel into the spiritual country of God’s welcoming arms.

Go ahead, reach out and talk to the Father, for He delights in hearing from you and talking with you. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s what makes a relationship with Him so absolutely wonderful all the days of your life!

Psalm 116:1-2 I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. (NAS)

Psalm 118:21 I thank You for answering my prayer and giving me victory! (NLT)

Ephesians 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (NAS)

Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. (NLT)

Isaiah 30:19 O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. (NAS)

As Long as I Have Breath

A couple of weeks ago we traveled with one of our grandsons, a granddaughter and her friend to a nearby festival. We decided to ride up the scenic mountain near there. We’ve driven up that mountain for quite a while, but the last two times we’ve gone on the scenic tour, we’ve had the same granddaughter and grandson with us.

Some of you may remember the story of the prayer for a bear. How I prayed out loud for God to let us see a bear and there she was right around the next corner! I shared that day with my grandchildren how they had living proof that God answers prayer and that will need to remember that all of their lives. If they ever had a need they knew that God would answer, because they experienced it!

Well, up we were on this mountain again. As the teenagers in the back seat were yacking and laughing, I was having another talk with the Lord. I wanted to ask to see another bear, but I didn’t want to be pushy. After all we’d seen one. Did I really want to ask to see another one? Did I really believe He might answer the same request twice?

I asked our granddaughter’s friend if she’d ever seen a bear in the wild and got a resounding no. They kept yacking and I kept wrangling with myself and with the Lord. Finally I leaned towards my hubby who was driving and prayed, “Lord, I know I’ve asked before, but we’d like to see a bear again today. Taylor’s never seen one.”

You guessed it! There he was right in the middle of the road! How good is God!? Taylor got to see a bear in the wild. God answered the same prayer again! I had been bold enough to ask in faith and God provided the answer.

How do I feel about it? I felt God speaking: you can always ask Me for anything because I AM the answer to your prayers. Even if you’ve asked for it and gotten it before, I still answer the same prayer over and over.”

Did I get instant answers to prayer? Twice? Yes and no. Here’s the thing most folks don’t know. I’d been looking for a bear on that mountain for over 40 years. That’s right. Praying, wishing, hoping…since the first time in 1973 we went over that road, I’ve been watching.  Why now? Why twice in two years?

Because God wants to show His children that they never have to shy away from asking, they never have to say they’ve asked enough, they never have to quit asking, quit seeking, quit knocking. In this case an instant answer was also an answer to continual requests for many years.

Oh beloved, the Lord loves you! And because He loves you He delights in giving you the desires of your heart. He won’t ever disappoint you, even when it seems your prayers go unanswered. Keep seeking His face, for it is the face of love. Keep looking for the answer! Keep waiting for the miracle, the provision, the blessing, the redemption…Whatever it is beloved, whatever you need, wherever you are, God hears you. He’s not deaf, He’s not indifferent, and He’s not aloof. He’s your All Sufficient Lord and He’s got your prayers in His hands and the answers on the way.

Rejoice when you talk with the Father, because it’s His good pleasure to converse with you and to bless you beyond your wildest imagination. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s what makes all the difference when you pray.

Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.  Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

Psalm 18:6 But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.

Matthew 7:7-8 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.  For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Are You Wondering if God Even Hears You?

Heading down the interstate, I was praying for someone I’ve been praying for a long time. I was asking the usual petitions. “Lord, speak to their heart. Lord, come into their home and be the Lord of their life. God, speak and move and change things for them. Send salvation and sanctification and regeneration into their home and their family.”  I heard a voice from Heaven speak, “What makes you think I have not already been speaking to their heart?”

I was surprised and relieved. I felt a very calm spirit relaxed over my heart. I realized I had been praying as though every prayer was just reaching the ears of God. Almost begging God to do something! And then through that still small voice I realized that God is speaking and calling and urging the one I am praying for to return to Him.

It changed how I pray. I now pray in more faith.  Lord, I know that you are speaking to their heart. I pray that their ears will be open to your call. Thank you Lord that you are calling them to You.  Thank you Lord that You love them and are working out Your marvelous plan for their life.

If you’re like me you may not be sure who prayed for you to have a walk with Jesus. I just know that from my earliest childhood I was always thinking about God and always asking Him for things that were beyond me. Because of that I believe someone in my family history interceded for me.  If you’re like Danny you can point to at least one person in your family who was a true intercessor. In Danny’s case it was a godly grandmother and she prayed both him and several of his closest friends into the Kingdom and into service for God. (that’s a whole other story I’d love to share with you)  Most of all I believe it is God who calls and God who wills humanity to believe and live for Christ.

Oh beloved are you having a hard time seeing the results of prayer? Are you wondering if God is listening or if He really cares? Have you been praying consistently for a long time for a loved one? Maybe you’re dealing with personal issues. Have you been asking God for His help and don’t feel like you’ve seen the answer yet?  I can assure you that He surely listens – you can believe this morning that He hears you and He cares. One is His Word. He says so and His Word is His Bond.  The other is practical application – I’ve seen Him work and I’ve heard Him answer. God is no respecter of persons – He hears all His own when they pray. He even hears the penitent prayer of those who have wandered off from His will.

Listen quietly this morning and take ALL your needs to Him. Thank Him for His answers even before you see them.  Praise Him for His marvelous work in your life and the life of those you pray for. Never quit praying and seeking and asking for God rewards those who seek Him. He responds to those who are persistent. Never quit praising Him for God inhabits praise.

I John 5:14 And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.

Psalm 66:19 But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.

Colossians 4:2 Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Amplified Bible

Matthew 7:7-8 Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Isaiah 65:24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

Prayer is the Ultimate Anti-Spyware

Over the week-end my computer got very slow. Even typing and using the word processor program got laborious. I did a system restore and that didn’t accomplish a thing. I also downloaded new spyware applications and got rid of a few spy programs that were hidden in the system. I finally changed the batteries in the wireless keyboard and mouse. It seemed to work a little better, but who knows which change made the difference? It wasn’t fast enough though. Finally I resorted to what I should have done first – I prayed! Yes, I prayed for me and my computer. I asked God to help because He knows the computer is important to me and I am important to Him. 

Pray for a computer you say? Pray for yourself? Yes! If you’re like me your time is valuable and short. There are many things vying for every hour of the day and if one thing runs down it all comes to a halt. So I prayed.  Spyware abounds everywhere. The enemy of our souls wants nothing better than to derail and dislodge our walk with God.  First he attempts to distract us with pressing events and issues. If that doesn’t work he’ll try to disarm and disengage us. His spyware is very sophisticated – so much so that we often don’t even see it until we’re bogged down with rage or fear or worry or frustration.  

Prayer is the ultimate anti spyware. Through prayer we can do a thorough system restore. We can go back to our Father and restore the things we left behind while we were getting busier and busier.  Praying His Word dislodges bad programming that threatens our hearts and minds.  We need time talking with the Lord to restore our spiritual batteries and make our hearts stronger and more effective. Prayer for ourselves is the first line of defense-as we pray for God to restore us and renew us, He gives us a clean heart and fresh mind for the day ahead. As we ask God for the very things we have tried to fix ourselves, He gives us His design for repair and we find ourselves feeling rejuvenated and better able to hear from the Lord.

Oh beloved, are you having a hard time hearing from the Lord? Has your heart been loaded with weariness, guilt, insecurity, comparison, and perfectionism? Are you wondering what’s going to happen next? The Lord knows your weaknesses; He knows the enemy’s first line of attack to your system. He knows you personally! And because He knows you, He has a plan to thwart the enemy’s plans. When you seek Him first, for yourself, your loved ones, your life and your plans He will steer you in the right direction! He will speak love words over your entire being, so that you will be so filled with His love that nothing else can come in! He will speak His care over your life so that you will be so filled with the knowledge of His mercy and grace that nothing can come in to bog your life back down!

Oh how He loves you! Wherever you are and whatever situation you find yourself in, God is with you and as you turn your heart to Him in prayer He will do whatever it takes to restore you so that you can praise, honor and glorify Him!

Psalm 5:2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but You.

Psalm 142:5 Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.

Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

Isaiah 55:6  Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near.

Have All Your Keys With You Today?

The littlest grandson was having a conversation with his mother. He'd seen his daddy with a set of keys.  The conversation went something like this, “Daddy has keys” to which momma said, yes, Daddy has keys. “Momma has keys” and again she said yes, Momma has keys. Then he said, “Jesus has keys”.  Yes, again, his mother agreed, Jesus has keys.

Where would we be without keys?  I’ve misplaced mine before, haven’t you? I’ve gotten to work a couple of times and found that I arrived without my office key. Thankfully the office across the hall from me has a key to my office as well.  Every key is for a certain purpose. It’s not possible to use a car key to open the mailbox at work.  The office keys won’t get me into my house.  The house key won’t unlock my display cabinet at home and so on.  Every key has its own target and cannot be used for anything else.  We can be locked out of our car, our office, our home, our shop, our garage and more. Without the right key for the right door, we are totally locked out. We cannot get in.

Jesus has keys, Caleb said. Yes, He does. He holds the key to heaven and he took away the keys to hell. But it’s more than that – Jesus IS the key! He is the KEY to everything we need. Through Him heaven is unlocked and we can know we will make it through the door.  Through Him the Bible is unlocked and we can know the will of the Father and understand the great mysteries of all that He says and all that He is. We are able to follow His instructions and live a life of assurance. He is the key to forgiveness. He’s the key to love, faith, purpose, redemption, regeneration, new life, devotion, direction and oh so much more! With most keys you get one purpose, but with Jesus, He is the key that unlocks EVERYTHING for life and godliness – life here on earth, so that we can live in the light of His love having purpose and success beyond our wildest imaginations. Not only that we can know His direction and plan so that we can follow Him wholly and always.

Are you struggling with the key to life this morning? Are you feeling locked out and left alone? Maybe you were promised things that never materialized – love, dedication, fidelity, care.   Perhaps you have come to the end of your own plans and you’re weary of it all and ready to start fresh. You may be facing a hard battle, a sickness or a trial. Maybe you have hopes and dreams, you want God to use you and your heart longs to minister and do the things that Jesus did.  Let Jesus meet you at the door of your heart! He will let you in for He is your Key!

Oh beloved, run to the Lord this morning and enter in! Enter into His loving care, His incredible riches and His faithful Word! He loves you for He is Love! He’s for you – for He is your Strong Tower! He will never turn you away, for He is the Key to all of this life’s needs and blessings as well as the key to heaven’s gates and glory. Pick up His book of Keys and read – every single door you need opened is there for you to find and learn and enjoy! He holds back not one key from His beloved and offers them freely at His feet. Try the lock and see – He will answer you when you call and you can rest in His promises and live in the light of His Word! What a blessed life oh beloved, to be a child of the Master of the Keys!

 

Deuteronomy 30:20  You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly to Him. This is the key to your life.…

Proverbs 4:13 Take hold of My instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.

Revelation 1:18 [Jesus said] I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.

Jeremiah 33:3 'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

Hebrews 13:21 may He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Luke 12:31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.

Who Are You Following? God Leads His Redeemed!

The ornaments went on the tree last night. Among them are a rag tag angel from 1956, a plastic Rudolph from 1957, ornaments from each year our children were born, a key ornament given to us from my mother the year we bought the house we live in, motorcycles of all varieties, birds, crosses and more.  Each one is significant in that it holds a special memory in my heart.   Occasionally I’d just like to start from scratch, do something different, make a new memory and decorate the tree totally different. But each year I mention it, someone will invariably say, “Noooo, we have to have it the way we always have!” I understand. I want things to be the way they were when my kids were little. When they just believed what we told them, knew we were right and followed along willingly. We can’t take credit for it, because we didn’t choose Him, He chose us. But we have chosen to follow God, imperfect though we may be - we have chosen to follow Perfection. 

There’s a lot you can follow in this world. You can follow the headlines. Follow the stock market. Follow cattle and timber prices. Follow Paula Deen, Martha Stewart, actors, singers and more. You can follow your own instincts, follow your heart, follow your dreams. You can follow the flesh, follow your cravings, follow the crowd. Everything you follow will end up somewhere. Every person you follow you will end up being taken to an undisclosed destination.  That is until you arrive. Do you know where you’re going?

The wise men followed the Star. They looked up into the sky and set their eyes on that one thing and let it guide them to their destination. Maybe their motives weren’t that pure, after all they were sent by Herod to spy things out for him. Why indeed would a King of his stature be worried about a baby born in Bethlehem? 

We follow Christ all the way. From the Babe in a manger to the Teacher on the hillside, to the Crucified on Golgotha’s hill. But we don’t leave Him in the manger… We follow His beatitudes but we don’t call him Teacher… We follow the cross, but He’s not dead….We follow Him past the grave for He is Risen…we follow the eastern sky…for we look for His return.

Oh beloved! Who are you following and where do you want to go? If you are looking for a different destination then you’ll have to change your course. Follow Christ! Perhaps you have a loved one or loved ones who are following things that will hurt them, destroy them, or take them where they don’t need to go. Pray for them to follow Christ! Keep praying, keep seeking, keep asking! For Christ Himself has promised He will answer when we call! No one else may believe that God will answer, but you can be assured that when the course is changed the destination will be changed as well.  

He says to you this morning, Behold I AM the One Who is Risen and Coming Again for you and for all who put their trust in Me! Look for Me in every aspect of your life! Watch for Me in every situation of your life! Rest in Me for every heartache and pain in your life. Look up! As you follow Me with your whole heart I will show you great and magnificent things you have only longed for and dreamed of!  You may not have seen all the answers to your prayers yet, but I AM the One Who hears you, Who answers you and Who blesses your life. Every one of my Promises is truer than the stars in the sky and the moon in its orbit. Nothing is too difficult for Me. Follow Me and together we will redecorate your life for My glory! I love you and I AM for you and on that you can depend.

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

2 Peter 1:19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

I Timothy 2:1 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.

Colossians 1:3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Exodus 15:13 With Your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In Your might, You guide them to Your sacred home.

Psalm 43:3 Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You live.

Micah 4:5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever.

Listen! God Hears and He Answers You! Trust Him.

As our oldest granddaughter and I went to pick up chicken the other night, I received a phone call/prayer request. Talking with my friend on the other line, I finally just pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and sat there a few minutes. As we finished our phone conversation  I prayed for my friend.  When we were through, I hung up the phone and prepared to move into the drive through to retrieve our supper.  My granddaughter began, “I have two problems with your prayer…” I said, okay, what’s up? She responded, “You said tah-morrah (instead of tomorrow) and you used the word folks. Who says folks?” I laughed as I asked her if she was a prayer “critiquer”. She laughed too! She said, no that it was just funny to hear the way I talked. We both laughed as I said that I was thankful that although we might speak in dialects that someone else might not understand or might think is funny, God hears and understands every word we speak to Him even the different common terms and enunciations throughout the world.  She agreed and off we went with our chicken back to the house full of family.

I don’t know about you but I have prayers that really need an answer. My friend on the other end of the line that night really needed an answer. People throughout the world need an answer. Whether they are foreign speaking maids, international dignitaries, northern farmers or southern wage earners, everyone is hoping and praying for answers. We might not all have the right jargon, the right posture, the right inflections but God hears us all. His desire is not that we come to Him “correctly” but that we come to Him!  He hears the heart, adjusts the desires and soothes the pulse of all who talk to Him.  He knows the desperate cries of the deepest hurts, desires, hopes and more. We are most fortunate that we don’t have to bow a certain number of times, walk backwards, be in fear or reprimand or worse…we just have to ask.

Oh beloved, if you’re like me, you have deep, deep concerns that only a Savior can understand. You may have been put on the chopping block of someone you love, the cinder block of he refiner’s fire or the cold hearth of the rejector’s rebuke. But God hears. He speaks to you and to me this morning and He says, “Are you going to trust Me? Are you going to let Me work this all out? Are you going to give your loved one, your trouble, your situation to Me so that I can do what only I can do? I AM trustworthy, faithful and true. What I said I can do I will do. Just lay it all before Me, turn completely loose of it and watch as I make it all work together for your good and My glory. I love you, I love to lavish My Answers on you because you are Mine. You may have to go through things that are unjust, unfair, unwarranted and unimaginable, but together we will be more than conquerors. Watch in peace and rest in My promises as I unfold the real story, answer the true prayers and give you more than your wildest imaginations can comprehend. I love you and I AM on your side – what else do you need to know?

Isaiah 59:1  Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call.

Psalm 91:15  When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

Psalm 4:3  You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for Himself. The LORD will answer when I call to Him.

Psalm 62:8  O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge. Selah

Jeremiah 32:17 O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

Isaiah 65:24  It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Zechariah 13:9  “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

Genesis 22:14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Keep Asking - He Delights in You!

We will have new neighbors this week. The house across the street has been empty for several months now. It was full of life and fun just a year ago, before the owner’s wife passed away.  Then he moved back home to Tennessee.  It’s going to be nice to have someone in the house.  There’s more to that story…

I got some news recently that did not line up with what I’ve been praying. I was frustrated and hurt.  I thought I had seen signs of the prayers beginning to be answered, but with this recent turn of events I was floored.  In fact I was sure that God just wasn’t going to answer that particular prayer. 

I was sharing my dismay with the new neighbor, who just happens to be Stella’s mom and my daughter. She said, “I’ve got a devotional for you.” And this is what she related: “I prayed to get an opportunity to move to Arkadelphia.  All the time I griped daily. I would say to myself you’ll never get to move. Things will never change. Gripe,  complain, etc. But here we are moving into a big house with a great yard and two bathrooms.”  She continued, “God answered my prayers even though I was saying it just won’t happen. Even though I was complaining pretty much every day”.  Well? You guessed it.  I will continue to pray, no matter what my eyes see, no matter what the circumstances are. I know I am praying according to God’s will, so whatever comes I’ll keep praying.

Oh beloved, what have you been praying for? What is that heart’s desire that you just keep hoping for?  I want to encourage you this morning to keep asking, keep knocking, keep seeking! Don’t look to the circumstances or the situation, but look to the Lord! Remember that satan can throw roadblocks at you, things that seem to say there’s no hope, but he can’t stop God’s will.  There’s nothing God loves more than to answer His children with good and wonderful answers!   Press on to the One Who loves you; press in to the One Who delights in answering your prayers; press close to the One Who is for you. How blessed are you who speaks with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord about all your troubles, trials, hopes, fears and desires – knowing He always answers in His time and right on time!

Psalm 6:9  The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer.

Psalm 118:21  I thank You for answering my prayer and giving me victory!

2 Corinthians 10:4  We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Luke 11:9 And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.