Category: Devotions

Faith to Believe in a Delay

 

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."  James 1:6 NIV

 

Over the years that I have been experiencing health problems, I have worked to taper down the number of days each year that I get overwhelmed with sadness about my circumstances.  I spent a great deal of time going to spiritual groups, counseling, and just in prayer to reconcile my feelings about my life.  I even barely think about it now as I methodically put the pills I take day and night in their respective boxes each week.  But for some reason, I was just overcome with sadness this morning, not wanting to accept this as the plight for the rest of my life.  I read scriptures daily to reaffirm my faith and healing and I know that God is still healing people.  I have been praying for my healing since the day I was diagnosed with kidney disease, and with every subsequent diagnosis after that.  It is my avid daily prayer that God takes away all of the things I deal with.  I was reminded this morning of both David and Job, who endured trying situations at the hands of others, and in David's case, some of his own doing.  In both of their relationships, God allowed them to cry out to Him…and God proved Himself faithful, because He restored them both beyond belief.

 

David was chased by King Saul for many years, having to live in exile with his men.  It was during this time that some of the most heartfelt Psalms claim their origination.  I cannot imagine the emotions David felt at that time as he fled to cave and remote village alike in fear for his life, but I'm sure like me he cried out to God and said he could not take anymore.  All I know is that God restored the order in David's life–He brought David back to Israel and made him king!  That's better than restoration–God brought David from the bottom to the top!

 

Many of us know the story of Job…he lost everything including his health.  Even his wife wanted him to give up and curse God.  I felt like I could most closely relate to Job, because most of my problems I did not realize what I had done to contribute to their happening.  I often felt like there was some health miser that has a lottery ball full of issues that he randomly picks to pick on me with, hahaha.  But Job defended his innocence to his accusing 'friends' and even had the favor of hearing from God.  In the end, God restored everything Job lost times two…making him a 'greater man' than he was before (Job 42). 

 

James 1:6 above says "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."  The one thing I can say is that neither Job nor David wavered in their faith.  They believed beyond all reasonable doubt that God would hold true to His word and promises.  We are reminded of God's faithfulness in Numbers 23:19–"God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?"  God cannot tell a lie!  If He made a promise, it is what He will bring to pass.  So knowing this I hold on to the truths He gives me about all I have lost.  Even in Jeremiah 29:11, He says He has good plans for us–plans to give us hope and a future…and I know that does not only apply to eternity.  The enemy only inflicts us with memories of our afflictions and circumstances to defeat us right when our breakthrough awaits.  Just like Job's wife, he wants us to curse God and die, give up without realizing dreams, promises, and our futures.  I also know that God is not a respecter of persons, and can do the same things He did for both Job and David in my own life, if I just remain firm in my faith and hold on to the promises.  So when I get to the point of 'no more,' I can trust that He will very soon bring me justice. 

 

'Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.  God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.'  Hebrews 6:17-18 NIV

Saved by the Prayer

 

"But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer."  Psalm 66:19 NASB

But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.  Luke 23:34 NASB

 

I know that everyone has woke up on the wrong side of the bed once or 10 times lol.  And to tell you the truth actually I didn't this morning.  I was in a great mood; I had been playing my praise and worship music, singing as I got ready for work.  Then one thing after another started to make me angry.  My own lack of awareness and clumsiness caused me to hit the corner of my eye really hard against the molding in the linen closet…which, by the way, still hurts, ouch.  Then the usual horror played out as I dodged someone turning into oncoming traffic causing me an early morning shake-up and my other personality took over, enraged at the driver's miscalculations.  I took the time then to pray and ask God to forgive me for not praying and started the day over while I was on the highway.  Then I was angered once again when I realized I left my ID card to get on the base and on my computer.  By sheer favor, I got on base.  However I wasn't sure if I had left my ID at the gym the previous day or in my clothes.  So I searched my purse and gym bag…I think by then the anger was nicely boiling over.  Fortunately, thanks to God again, it was in my clothes and my brother sat it out for me.  So at my desk, I started the day over for the third time.  And shortly thereafter, I started to notice some blessings God sprinkled along the way. 

 

But I remember this poem about how rotten the person's day was when they did not pray.  It seemed like everything that could go wrong, did…and that is how I felt this morning so fortunately I did not let it go too far before I fixed my error.  It made me think, thank God for reminding me to pray because I could only imagine how much worse my day could have gotten.  Prayer has a way of framing your mindset, regardless of when you take the time to utter one.  Prayer does many things, most importantly having a life-changing impact on the user.  Prayer can ease physical pain, emotional distress, and spiritual anguish.  Prayer, when done correctly and repetitiously with fervency, even gives you great things like unbelievable blessings, favor, and peace.  The key is to recognize that when we pray, we are communicating with God.  We have to wait to hear back from Him, and be sure to not run ahead and do our own thing.

 

I know there have been many instances in my life when my day and nerves for that matter have been saved by the prayer.  Today could have been down right rotten had some of the blips along the road actually been worse.  If it were not for prayers of our own or of someone else, most likely we would not even be here.  Ironically, if it were not for God ignoring Jesus' prayer the night before He was crucified–had God decided to spare Jesus' life instead, levying the weight of all our sins upon us, we very well may not even be here.  But God chose to redeem us once and for all, forgiving us for things we are unaware of and restoring us to our place as His children.  If you have nothing else today, and you feel like you have tried everything and it did not work for you, try praying to God for His help.  He sure saved me today!

 

"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.  Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live."  Psalm 116:1-2 NIV