Quiet Moments With God -- Take A Risk

While preparing to leave for town today, my mind went wandering. It often does. I got to thinking about all I need to accomplish in the coming months. The list is long and I started to feel overwhelmed. I reminded myself that God is able. And yet, worry niggled though my mind. God is able . . . but am I?

My thoughts turned to scripture. Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Clearly God is way ahead of me and my worries. So the question hangs in the air -- Why do I worry? What is at the core of my doubts?

I have to go to a familiar story. In the midst of a storm Jesus approached the disciples in their boat in a most unusual fashion. He walked on the water. He said, "Don't be afraid. Take courage. I am here." Peter responded by saying, "Tell me to come to you, walking on water." Jesus answer was simple and straight forward. "Yes. Come." Peter climbed out of the boat and stepped onto the water and walked toward Jesus. And then he made a fatal error. He saw the strong wind and the waves, became terrified and sank.

When Peter first stepped out of the boat the storm was all around him, it didn't suddenly appear after he decided to walk to Jesus, but he walked anyway. It wasn't until he looked at the storm instead of Jesus that he got into trouble. That is so like me. I believe. I'm filled with hope. I step out. And then I take my eyes off Christ, off the prize and I sink.

Jesus response to Peter is stunning. Though he reaches out and saves Peter, he says, "You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?" He didn't give Peter any slack. He got straight to the heart of the problem--faith. Who or what was Peter placing his faith in?

Society tells us to rely upon ourselves, our gifts, our strengths or on those things that are offered to us by the world. However, David states the answer to our problems in Psalm 63:8 "I cling to you, your strong right hand holds me securely." Only God has a firm hold on us. There is no security in the world.

Sometimes Peter was impulsive. He jumped to conclusions. He even denied Christ. But with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit he became a man of great faith. He was bold. He took risks. And his eyes were on his Lord and on his calling.

I want to be a Peter. I long to be unafraid. To be bold. And to find tranquility in the presence of my Lord, who offers peace and power. What I must do is keep my eyes on Him and accept His offering.

Have you had a Peter moment, stepped out in faith and then faltered? If we took a survey my guess is we all have. And even when we "fail" Jesus reaches out and lifts us up. Don't let one falter, or a hundred of them, leave you weakened and afraid. Get up. Try again. Take a risk.

Grace and peace to you from God,,

Bonnie

Tips For Triumphant Living -- Left Waiting?

Do you have someone in your life that you've been praying for, but there seems to be no change, no leaning toward the Lord? Is there a need in your life that's gone unanswered in spite of fervent prayer? Or an affliction that perseveres although you groan with the longing for release? Perhaps you've prayed for a situation for years and received no indication of change.

It's likely we've all been in this place. When prayers go unanswered, or seemingly so, it may feel as if God doesn't hear or doesn't care. Of course if we believe God's Word to be true, we know He always cares and always knows. So, what should we do when we are left waiting?

God's Word tells us to persevere, to push on, to run the race . . . to believe. In 2nd Corinthians 5:7 it says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

If we're to rely fully on God we must choose to do so. In the midst of a storm or confusion our only hope is to fix our eyes on Him. When we do, our faith is strengthened and we will be able to stand and to wait. Faith almost always requires waiting. We need to remember that God can move mountains. We can rely upon Him.

If my heart and mind are set upon the Lord then my hope is in Him. I can believe and trust. The kind of strength that brings about change comes from God not from man's fragile unsteady self reliance.

Believe. Trust in God, not in circumstances. Be strong in the Lord. He hears our cry and will not turn away from us. Never give up hope. And if God's answer is not the one we expect trust all the more. Rest in his will, for He sees the beginning and the end. And it is in His loving arms that we will find peace.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie

Tips For Triumphant Living -- Don't Quit

Mother Teresa once said, “God didn’t call us to be successful, just faithful.”

Her words are an encouragement to me. It’s exactly what I believe . . . and yet I sometimes lose site of God’s plans because my own get in the way. Being a writer means I work a lot of hours for very little pay. This doesn’t apply to all writers, just about 98% of us. :-) And in light of Mother Teresa’s work my contribution seems insignificant.

I’m sure God doesn’t see it that way. Writing is what He asked me to do, along with a variety of other tasks. And so I persevere in an effort to be faithful to Him. I love to write, but . . . there are times the work seems endless and the compensation meager. And I lose heart.

When I’m thinking about the “work” and lack of reward it’s a dead giveaway that I’m not tuned in to God, but rather I’m thinking about me. When I set my heart on God He reassues me that He’s working in me and through me—using my efforts in His great plan. Just the idea of being included is mind boggling. I feel humbled and grateful and can barely believe that the God of the universe wants me to be part of what He’s doing. I feel swamped in His love and am honored to be counted as one of His children.

There are days, for us all, when we simply endure, push on, and obey. It is these times when God does His best work—refining us and stretching us beyond ourselves. And although we may not see the fruit of our labor it’s there. And a day will come when we stand before our Lord and we’ll see the wood, hay and stubble, but we'll also see the fruit and receive our reward.

If God calls us to something, we need to do it. The difficulty lies in believing in Him rather than in ourselves. It’s all part of growing up. Growth requires courage. Sometimes it hurts. It always requires endurance. The good stuff never comes easily.

My dear friends push on, be faithful and trust God, then wait expectantly for what He has in store for you. I’m sure it’s something spectacular.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie