Category: Devotions

In Due Time

“Just keep your faith in me
Don’t act impatiently
You’ll get where you need to be, in due time
Even when things are slow
Hold on and don’t let go
I’ll give you what I owe, in due time” OutKast f/ Goodie Mob In Due Time

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

I love OutKast! Yeah, I listen to rap. I have always listened to OutKast. Since I have gotten older, I listen to the words of the songs I listen to because you cannot just let anything or anyone plant seeds in your mind. OutKast is pretty good, Goodie Mob too. But the chorus of this stuck out to me when I was thinking of what to talk about today. In due time all things will work out, all situations will resolve themselves–this applies to a lot of things.(Romans 8:28) Primarily waiting on God to act on a situation. One of the issues I have been dealing with is my desire to be challenged and grow in anything I involve myself in. Currently, I am having to search for projects to work on, looking all over for different projects. However, it gets discouraging because I want to do something I like, something that I can learn from, something that will continue to give me flexibility and room for growth. I have even gone as far as looking for things outside the box but to no avail. Sadly I went through this same ordeal before I had my surgery last year and became very disheartened. But I will be humble and patiently await what He has in store for me. We can trust that if we desire to follow God’s will for our lives that He will make it plain for us.(Psalm 27:11)

When you feel like this, stop and think about these things: God loves you , He and Jesus want us to trust them, and God does not want your heart to be troubled.(John 14:1) But thinking about God and His plan, He always gets us where He wants us, which is where we need to be. He always promises to give us strength, encouragement, or anything we need in order to fulfill His will for our lives.(Philippians 4:13, Colossians 1:9) Hebrews 13:20-21 says “May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” The thing to do in situations like this is to submit to God and trust Him.(James 4:7) You can also know that if you do not give up, you will reap the harvest for everything you have sown.(Galatians 6:9)

I say this to you because regardless of what you may be facing, it will eventually be over. Regardless of whats going on at home or if someone has done something to you, you were allowed to go through it for a reason and to get you to a particular place. Don’t give up and don’t let go because God promises to complete His work in you!

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

In The World

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17 NIV

I do not believe in hate. There are many things I do not agree with, but I respect differences. However, in the world we live in, there are two extremes, extreme acceptance and passivism, and extreme hatred and disdain for differences, for instance skin color. In fact, a huge reason that slavery was legal for so long was because slave owners bended God’s Word to make excuses for it! Now people do the same thing, just to condone whatever it is–being selfish, abusing others, stealing, cheating and adultery, lying, alternative lifestyles. Yes God forgives, but why do it in the first place if you know its wrong! When I do something wrong, well first I try not to think about God which makes me think about Him more–go figure, second, I’ll immediately ask for forgiveness and then try to shut it out of my mind. I’ll give a lightweight example. I am a recovering road Rage-R–I used to be a lot worse, threatening to throw rocks at people or cursing them out in my car. Of course, it was nothing drastic–I value my life!–although I know people that have followed people or gotten out of the car. I think one time I flipped somebody off. Then I realized how angry I was getting and how bad I would feel later. I started praying that God delivers me from it–I still battle with it DAILY because these country bumpkins are not used to gravel haha, and I have gotten better. I take that approach with all the things I struggle with.

Sometimes we forget why we are here. We are here to tell people about Jesus and guide them in the way to receiving Jesus and salvation.(John 6:40) Yes we all have our weaknesses and shortcomings–we all have things that we do that are wrong. But think about it, who better than imperfect people are best to rescue other imperfect people! The problem lies in our refusing to admit our wrongs and turn away from them.(Acts 3:19) We must continually turn away from them because Satan will continue to attack us through our weaknesses.(1 Corinthians 15:58) Ask yourself, is your act of condoning or if it’s a personal situation, accepting certain things really helping? Do you say, “That’s just how I am.”–NOT! That’s who you CHOOSE to be. Is that obedience? Instead of avoiding and ignoring a problem, as Christians we are responsible for trying to save our brothers and sisters–extend that to members of the Body of Christ, who are our brothers and sisters.(Matthew 18:11-14) So when you/they do wrong, do not just overlook it, instead pray without ceasing that God guides you/them in the way He would have you/them go.(Romans 15:30-33, 1 Thessalonians 5:11-18) If we practiced living in God’s love, caring for the wellbeing of others more and being obedient to Jesus’ instructions instead of living selfishly, we would make a major impact and bring millions to Jesus.

I SHOUT TO YOU ALL, I’m not perfect; in fact in an imperfect, sinful world, who can be perfect but Jesus? In fact I have many weaknesses and things that I struggle with daily–personal imperfections that we all have; but I or others remind myself of my salvation and not to fear or doubt God. I then come before God whose power is perfected in my weakness and repent, even when I don’t want to.(2 Corinthians 12:9) This is open to you as well and God can right those wrongs. I apologize if it seems judgmental, but it was just heavy on my heart. Be blessed and may God cover you and carry you through it all!

These people belong to the world. That’s why they speak the thoughts of the world, and the world listens to them. 1 John 4:5 NASB
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” John 15:19