Too Soon Old

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10 Amplified

 

God does not waste your time.

Sometimes we doubt that truth.

We are anxious for an answer – now!

We are eager to see a resolution to our problem – now!

But there is value in the wait.

There is purpose in the season you are in now.

We can so look forward to the next season that we miss the opportunities that would otherwise present themselves.

Have you ever been so preoccupied in thought that you totally miss something right in front of your nose?

Been there, done that?

Me too!

But let’s not be guilty of that same preoccupation when it comes to the things of God.

Appreciate the season He has you in.

Do not neglect to stop and enjoy the now in spite of the many later pressing matters.

Someone once teasingly said:

We are too soon old and too late smart!

Don’t let that be you.

If Only I...

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10 Amplified

 

If only I...

...were married

...were single again

...had a different job

...didn’t live in this town

...could choose my boss.

Have you ever said “...if only...”

Sure, I think we probably all have.

But what does living in a dream world of “if only” do for our present circumstances?

Not much!

It saps the energy and joy out of life in the here and now.

God wants us to have dreams, plans, purpose and vision.

But He doesn’t delight in us living in the “only ifs” so that our joy in the present moments is lost.

Jesus said he came so that we could have and enjoy life.

Set the ‘if only’s’ aside and enjoy the moment God has given you today.

Beyond a Meager Life

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10 Amplified

We all have days that are winners.

We all have days that are losers.

But, as believers, we are gifted by God with the opportunity for a full, abundant, overflowing life.

I deliberately chose the word ‘opportunity’ because that is exactly what it is.

We can live beneath what is available.

Like a King who lives like a pauper we can live far, far beneath the abundant life Jesus offers us.

When we choose the abundant life we may still have some winning days and some losing days but they no longer define us.

We recognize that we can live life to the full and see it overflowing form us to others.

Jesus lived an abundant life.

Yes, you heard me right.

He did.

Calvary did not steal from Him the joy and the love of the Father.    

Calvary did not erase the overflowing and abundant life that He brought for us but also demonstrated and lived out Himself.

You and I may still have a few ‘loser’ days yet to be realized.

But that does not make me a loser.

I receive the abundant and overflowing life that Jesus brought.

Will you receive it too?

Wait and Work

“...because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:6b-8

Let’s suppose a farmer sows the seeds for a crop in April.

As he walks away from his planted field he doesn’t simply say:

“See you in September.”

He doesn’t abandon his labors at the point of sowing them.

In dry weather, he will irrigate the crop.

He will work through weed and pest control issues.

He will monitor the crops progress and when it is time to harvest he will work sun-up to sundown to be sure the harvest is brought in before it rots on the vine, the stalk or in the ground.

If you are standing in faith and expectation for anything from God,  

don’t walk away from the initial request expecting it is all up to God.  

Persevere in prayer and do what you can to align your life with that answered prayer.

Like the farmer you anticipate a crop but you work until it is harvest season!

Expect an Answer

“...because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:6b-8

 

“That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

What a sad commentary that would be on any life.

But how much more so for the man or woman who prays but lives a life, outside of their prayer closet, of doubt.

They ask but then they doubt.

They believe God can answer (and will answer) any prayer but theirs.

But God is prepared to answer the prayer of faith.

When we call on Him, He is quick to answer, if only we believe.

There was a man in the Bible who spoke words we all have probably uttered at one time or another.

He said: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”

Have you been there?

I have.

But it is not a place to live.

When you struggle with believing God can or will answer your prayer, confess that to Him.

It may even help to enlist the help of others who can stand with you in prayer.

Let them know of your difficulty and struggle to believe God to answer but that you want to overcome that doubt and unbelief.

We do not need to battle this alone.

God delights in answering your prayers and He will not turn a deaf ear to one who cries out to Him for help!

No Hemming and Hawing

“...because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:6b-8

“...is like a wave of the sea...”

Sea waves cannot be controlled.

They are wind-driven and tempestuous.

I served in the US Navy and saw my share of raging seas.

What I remember most is how vulnerable and small I and the ship I served on seemed in comparison to storm-tossed waves.

There certainly was no controlling them.

If you were caught in an Atlantic storm you did your best to ride it out.

We are not to be tossed to and fro by double-mindedness.

We are to anchor our faith and our thoughts in the Lord and His Word.

The double-minded person is unreliable and fickle at best.

Their inability to make a decision and stick by it spreads into every area of their lives and often impacts the lives of others as well.

We need to be single-minded, not only in our devotion to the Lord but in all areas of our lives.

We need to be men and woman who can be relied upon.

Leave the hemming and hawing to others!  

Unwavering, Not Staggering!

“...because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:6b-8

“...because the one who doubts...”

The one who doubts is double-minded and unstable.

That is to say, they are giving the enemy of their soul fuel for the fire.

Yes, we do have an enemy whose goal is to take us out.

Sometimes we may even be in cahoots with him.

“How” you ask?

By praying in one way but expecting results different than how you prayed.

You stagger through life like a man with divided allegiances.

You believe one thing in prayer only to doubt when your present circumstances don’t seem to match your expectations.

When things change don’t let them alter your expectations from God.

Stick with it and don’t relinquish that hope you have.

To be sure your faith and your expectations will be tested.  

Joseph found that out in the pit, Daniel in the lion’s den and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had their single-minded expectation tested in the fiery furnace.

In every one of these stories they held fast to their testimony and their promise form God.

Their confidence, their faith, their expectation was unwavering and they did not stagger.

Their hope was not ‘all over the map’.

They rested confidently in Him because, like Abraham, they were:

“...fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

Romans 4:21