Waiting on God

By Dr. Charles F. Stanley

Waiting on God so we can discover His will is an essential discipline of the Christian life. Once we learn His plan, we must be careful to implement it in His time frame.

Following the Lord's schedule is always to our benefit because of His . . .

• All-encompassing knowledge. Unlike us, the Father has complete awareness about our world and the details of every individual life—past, present, and future. (Acts 17:26).

• Complete wisdom. The Lord understands man's every motive (1 Chron. 28:9) and acts accordingly. Our decision making is flawed since we cannot clearly discern people's intentions. We make choices based on partial information, but God has the wisdom to properly interpret the facts and then take action based on truth (Rom. 11:33)

. He never makes a mistake.• Unending love. Through His Son, the Father offers us unconditional love. By sending Jesus to die in our place, God proved the depth of His everlasting love (1 John 4:10). He always has our best interest at heart.

• Perfect sufficiency. The Lord offers us all the resources we need to carry out His plan—wisdom, strength, and skill (2 Peter 1:3).

Adhering to God's timetable requires both faith and courage. We must believe that He knows how we should live, trust that His plan is right, and have the determination to wait until He gives a signal to proceed. Those who follow the Lord's schedule will experience the blessing of watching Him work things together for their gain and His glory.

Scripture Of The Day: "Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day." - Psalm 25:4-5 (NKJV)

How do you want it?

You know life has not always been easy for me. I don't claim for it to be easy now but many people comment on how I am always so positive.

I have my days that I deal with insecurities, fears, doubts and uncertainties but I try to see the better part of things. Hard times come in and out of our lives at different times but how we perceive them determines the outcome of them.

If we chose to look at them as something that came to destroy us then it will. BUT if we see it as a challenge as something that came to teach us and strengthen us then it will.

After years of dealing with adversities and trying to learn how to deal with them I learned that my mind controls so much of what goes on in my life.

If I learn how to discipline my mind and keep it on things up above rather than on this Earth I can survive anything God brings before me.

I admit that I make certain things in my life worse than they have to be but mostly because I allow the weight of them to drown me.

Instead of allowing the currant to carry me I struggle to swim against it. Only leading me to frustration, defeat and depletion. Things don't have to be so hard if we surrender to them and allow God to handle it for us.

That doesn't mean that we accept turmoil and sit back and watch things fall apart. It means that we surrender to God and put our faith in action rather then our doubts and fears.

So next time you find yourself facing a troubling situation ask yourself.."How do you want it?"

You can either make it difficult or sail through with the grace of God. It's up to you.

I USED EVERYTHING

Each time I read this it gives me a lump in my throat. My number one goal in life is to serve God in any capacity that He wants me to. My hearts desire is that I would use every talent He has placed within me to help others become better and help them live a more enriched and fulfilling life.


I understand that every struggle I have had to endure was designed to strengthen me and set a fire in me. My heart, body, mind and soul are all surrendered to God.

I would hope that at the end of my life here on Earth He would be proud of all that I have done and accomplished.

I CAN DO IT

What keeps you from achieving that thing that you can't go a day without thinking about? We all have aspirations to be something we aren't or achieve a goal or dream that tugs at our hearts. I have those same dreams and aspirations for myself. Days, months and years go by and I have yet to achieve them. I get so close and make the steps towards them and then "BOOM"....I stop the progress.

Can it be that I am afraid to fail? Can it be that I am so used to compromising and settling that I don't know how to press through the barriers in my mind?

Whatever it is I am going to blast it out of the water now. I can not and will not allow my past, my present or my fear of the future keep me from reaching my goals...seeing my visions manifest or becoming the woman I know I can become.

You see everything you were meant to have....the desires of your heart....God placed them there. He already pre programmed you to be who you dream of being. He made you strong enough to endure what ever adversity comes your way.

Whether it be your own sabotaging thoughts that constrict the life from your dream or the doubts and comments of others.....God says it's possible. You can overcome and conqueror every thought, every emotions and every obstacle along this journey.

I am laying my fears, insecurities and doubts at the altar. I am fasting from the thoughts that make me believe that I am not able...that it's not possible or it's too difficult to achieve.

I am drowning out the voice in my head that says...."they will judge you"..."you aren't strong enough"...."you don't have the resources"....."you don't know enough"...."it is too hard".

I will fill my mind with the truth that says "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST THAT STRENGTHENS ME". He has equipped me...He has created me....and He has ordained me to be all that I dream of and envision myself to be.

Survival Kit

^{Matthew 6
25}Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
 ²⁶Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
 ²⁷Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
 ²⁸And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
 ²⁹And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
 ³⁰Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
 ³¹Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
 ³²(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Along this journey of life we tend to get knocked down at times. Many of us live day to day just trying to survive after heartbreak or disappointments. Whether they be from failed relationships, economical issues, unemployment, or other adversities. We tend to have our way of coping and dealing with these issues.

At times we may feel like we struggle to breathe or find a way to keep going. We search for ways to strengthen our faith or look for something to give us hope.

We often ask "when are things going to change?" "When will my promise come to pass?" "Can my dreams or the visions I hold close to my heart really manifest?"

I have been there. I have struggled to live each day while holding onto my faith, my mind, my heart and soul. At times I have considered letting go and just forgetting everything God has promised me.

At times I feel like the dreams I have for myself will never come to pass. I worry, I stress and sometimes I am down right angry and frustrated. I have served God with all my heart and I wonder at times if my labour..my pain...has been in vain.

I have built up walls, dug trenches, and created coping mechanisms to get me through some pretty rough times. I have used food, relationships and emotions to fuel my journey.

I have been in survival mode. Maneuvering my way through life just trying to make it day by day. Not really sure of what is coming but just walking by faith.

I had my go to bag...or what others might call a bag of tricks. I call it a survival kit. I have carried this heavy bag for over 10 years.

I am letting it go. I no longer hold onto the fear of being hurt, rejected, disappointed or failing. I live for the now. I live in the very breathe and heartbeat of God. I am dependant on His word to get me through the day. I am nourished by His truth and sheltered by His love.

I am no longer just trying to survive. I am living and loving this life that God has designed for me. I now realize that everything I need to make it through this journey is inside of me.

I have been equipped for the journey. I am not just meant to survive but to live abundantly and forever live in the promises of God.

God is my "lifeline".

Defined

Define

1. to state or describe something exactly

2. to show something clearly, especially in shape or outline

3. to mark a boundary, edge, or limit

4. to give the precise meaning of a word or expression

I was defined by emotions....by the things I had gone through. I allowed the past define me...mold me and conform me. My spirit, my potential was hiding beneath layers of past hurts and feelings of worthlessness.

Now I stand here in a different form still unsure at times of what the future holds....yet determined to be transformed as my mind is renewed. I have let go of the pain, made a mends with the past and surrendered to all possibilities of hope.

I have awaken to my true self. With each breath I am inspired to be my best, to reach my fullest potential . I live now with a sense of peace that only comes from resting in God.

I am transforming as I now let discipline define me and sculpt me. My outer appearance is reflecting my inner being.

I am a reflection of the transformation that has taken place within. I let go of the expectations and just allow myself to take form.

I stand on the promises that I have made myself. I am faithful to myself because the first relationship I must heal is within me. I must reconnect my mind, body and spirit and let it work in unison.

Married to the promise, faithful to the promise.....I now  become what I was created to be....what I was supposed to be all along........

A TEMPLE.

Not constructed with hands but created by the Spirit of God.

Molded and shaped by the belief that I am worthy, I am strong and I am powerful.

Broken down by the struggle but defined by resistance.

I stand here strong, disciplined and ready to face my destiny.

Wait On HIM

What is your interpretation of waiting on the Lord?

Many of us believe it means to do nothing but wait on the expectation of something.

To expect something for nothing.

For me it means to serve God. To surrender my will to fulfill His will.

To surrender my expectations to fulfill His plan.

To live my life unto Him and bring His name glory.

Waiting doesn't mean to go about living your own day to day life and expect Him to reward you for your disobedience.

I have spent years waiting on a vision that I have yet see come to pass.

Why?

Because I was busy living my life.

I was busy trying to satisfy my flesh and not fulling living to bring glory to God.

In my heart I wanted to serve God completely and fully surrender but my emotions got in the way.

I was more concerned about my feelings and how people felt about me rather than realizing that everything in my life was orchestrated by God to fulfill His plan.

So now that I am awaken to the truth I fully surrender my heart to Him.

I am waiting on Him...serving Him in my heart, my mind and body.

I have released my expectations and I stand on His promises...His words.

I stand steadfast and hold on to the vision He has given me.

It is not about how or when but rather for WHO.

Who am I doing this all for?

GOD!!!!!! I serve Him alone.

I can not serve my flesh and Him at the same time.

I must remain in Him and allow His truth to penetrate every area of my life.

That truth with set me free (on Earth) and bring forth the vision ( from Heaven).

AMEN!