Wait?

On July 17, 2023   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 25: 4 – 5          God’s Word

Make your ways known to me, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me because you are God, my savior. I wait all day long for you.

For many years now, this has been my prayer, that the Lord would teach me and show me his ways. Like many lovers, Yahweh and I have “our” song and its lyrics are these very words. Father has been faithful to lead me by His wisdom. None the less, I don’t know His ways and His thoughts as much as I would like. Today, I have found the reason. I have quoted the fourth verse for many years but for those with eyes to see and ears to year, there is a kicker at the end of the fifth verse; “I wait all day long for you.”

I remember the year I joked with my pastor that I was going to give God a watch for Christmas. Father God does not live on the same time standard which I do, and yet, His time is always perfect. I live on USA time. What is that? It is hurry, hurry, rush, rush, rush. It is impatient and NOW. What is this “wait all day long” business about? Are you kidding me? We want our answers now.

I will confess that this has been one of the biggest challenges of my spiritual life. I experience so much revelation when I take a week away from my “real” life because I take the time to sit outside, decompress and listen to the voice of my Father. It’s not truly that He is late, it’s that I must slow down enough to hear.

Do you know that everything has its own vibrational frequency? Your internal organs each have a specific frequency. I wonder if the frequency of my Father’s voice, frequency being the rate of the sound waves, is slower than the rate at which I run. Perhaps we need to slow down and match His vibration so that we can hear His voice. It’s like my life runs at a speed of 50 but His voice is 25. Does that make sense? Can we see that our pace of life can outrun the leading of the Lord? On the one hand we pray, Father, show us how we should proceed, show us your path, but then we start running so fast that the answer to that very prayer gets swept up in our wake; never heard, never attended.

I am not trying to fool anyone. I don’t like waiting any more than anyone else, but when I want to complain that Father has not answered my prayer or hasn’t given me direction, I realize that He has been speaking, but I did not hear.

My life is probably not that different from yours. It is a cacophonous barrage of things to do, calls to make, responsibilities, etc. The noise of my life is deafening at times. You are busy too! I have learned one thing though, busy is a four-letter word!

God is faithful. He is answering us right now. Maybe we both need to learn to wait a few minutes to get divine direction before we get lost in the tall weeds again this week. Maybe if we pause, even for a moment, we will hear our beloved’s guiding words. Will you join me in halting briefly this Monday morning as we begin yet another week, to wait and hear the voice of our God and Father? Can we show enough honor to our own lives, and for our personal value, to wait upon the Lord? Isn’t He worth it? Aren’t we?

I pray, in the name of Jesus, that you hear His voice today, that you hear the words of guidance and instruction as you begin a new week, and that in waiting you are blessed, encouraged and profited. In His name, Amen.

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The catch

On May 4, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

John 21: 3 – 6

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish.” So they cast it, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish.

The back story is that as far as the disciples were concerned Jesus was dead and this whole revival was a washout. Even if they believed he had arisen, they didn’t know what that meant for them. What were they to do now that the Lord was gone? So, they reverted back to what they knew. They went fishing. Fishing is what they did before they met Jesus.

The disciples fished all night and caught nothing. How exasperating that must have been. They went back to what they knew and failed miserably. The next morning as they were returning to shore, they encountered Jesus standing on the beach. They didn’t know who it was though. He called out to them telling them to cast their net on the right-hand side of the boat. Amazingly, they did as he said which resulted in a great catch.

Imagine their situation though. These fellows knew how to fish. It was their area of expertise. Here they were returning with an empty boat after a long night of fishing. What would your reaction have been if some joker on the shore who probably got a good night’s sleep told you to cast your nets yet again and specifically to cast them on a particular side of the boat? I mean who is this guy and why is he getting in their business?

As you see, they did comply, and the quantity of fish was so great that they couldn’t even haul it aboard. They had to drag the net to the shore. As soon as John saw the enormous catch he said, “It is the Lord!” (v. 7). John knew the blessing of the Lord when he saw it. He knew that catch was the manifestation of Jesus on the scene, so he knew at once who the man on the shore had to be.

What a tremendous story this is, but it also teaches us something. It represents doing things our way versus doing life according to Jesus’ instructions. I will tell you plainly, I am like the disciples. Let’s just figure out what to do and get on with it. However, if we will wait on the Lord and inquire of him, we will receive a tremendous haul rather than having to wash a bunch of nets which netted us nothing. How much energy do we throw at something only to get minimal or even no results? If we would but check in with Jesus first, we can be eating fish instead of washing empty nets.

It also seems that when we do business, ministry, or whatever according to Jesus’ leading and instructions, we get more done in less time. Those boys could have saved themselves a whole night of fishing. One gets the sense from this passage that as soon as they let down their net according to Jesus’ instructions, they immediately took in a great haul. Whatsmore, they did not have to let down their nets multiple times. Just one cast got them a catch so large that they could barely tow it to shore.

So, what sounds better to you, toil or results? Here is what I am saying to myself. Get up in the morning and read my Bible and pray first. Check in with Jesus about the day and let him guide my steps and work. Frankly, my plate is full enough that I don’t need to waste my time on useless enterprises. Jesus, just tell me what to do that I may bear fruit! Now, what do you say?

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Night and Day

On November 20, 2018   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 16: 7 – 8

I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

I have to dedicate today’s Word of the Day to my friend Dr. Charity Kayembe (https://www.glorywaves.org/) who has taught us to pay attention to the guidance the Lord gives us in the night. God uses dreams to communicate with us at night as Dr. Kayembe explains in her book, Hearing God Through Your Dreams.

I think this shows God’s passion for leading us. He doesn’t leave us out in the cold, on our own, trying to forge our way through life’s blizzards. He wants to make our lives less challenging by directing our footsteps. Jesus lived every day of his life walking in step with the Father. The reason this ministry’s slogan is “Intertwined with Jesus” is because I believe it epitomizes this synergy between our lives and Christ’s. In these two verses, David points to a life which exists, at all times, intermingled with the Holy Presence.

Our beloved is with us day and night. He speaks to us in our waking hours and whispers in words and images in the dreams of our sleeping hours. He is before us continually, at our right hand. We choose to put Him in the frame of every picture of our lives. David says, it is the Father’s presence in his life which makes him unshakeable. The God’s Word translation reads, “When he is by my side, I cannot be moved.” David’s level of resilience came from keeping Yahweh present at all times. It is not a skill everyone developed but you can certainly see the fingerprints of God on the lives of people who have chosen to live in stride with Christ every hour of the day, and night.

Let the Lord be your constant companion. Listen to the still small voice speaking in your ear daily and be attentive to the messages in the night. This I know and can attest to, God is speaking to you. The needful thing is to learn how to listen.

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Delightful

On November 1, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 37: 23           (GW)

A person’s steps are directed by the LORD, and the LORD delights in his way.

The good news of this verse may not jump out at you right away. Read it again. Now what do you see? I think we read verses about the Lord leading us but don’t really see them. Imagine yourself a small (or large) business owner. Now imagine that every day the Lord directs your steps, your actions and all of your decisions. Doesn’t that give you a sense of peace? Now here is the really good news. God’s direction and assistance does not end when you close the shop door for the day. Every part of your day, and indeed your life, can receive the benefit of the Father’s guidance. One benefit of receiving God’s insights and advice is success. I like the benefit this verse points out. The person who allows God to speak into their life also receives the delight of the Lord. You’ve gotta love that. How would you like going to bed every night knowing that the Lord is delighted in you? Do you think it would affect the quality of your sleep? Would your heart bask in peace?

It should be obvious that the Lord wants to guide your day. Why else would He take delight in the ways of people who allow His directions? Life always runs more smoothly when we listen to the directions of the Lord. In these perilous times, there is another important reason to hearken to the voice of the Lord. He leads us in the paths of safety and protection. He will actually direct your footsteps so that you do not go in the way of danger.

Our relationship with God can be as active or passive as we choose. I personally feel that the time has come for us to enter into a relationship with Him such that He is in every minute of our day. There is too much to gain and too much to lose by having a Sunday relationship with Him. If you agree, ask Him to speak His wisdom into every facet of your day and every minute of your life. Allow Him to direct your steps and be the delight of His heart.

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Humbly Led

On June 23, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 25: 9

He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way.
You can hang out in the twenty-fifth psalm for a long time. There is much nourishment for the soul here. So how did I choose verse nine? I am often attracted to the verses that promise God will lead me in His paths. I want to know His ways and walk according to His instruction. One of my very favorite verses, in fact, is in this psalm. Verse 4 is a prayer, “Make me know Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths.” This is a psalm of David. By the time, he reaches verse 9 he has switched into teaching mode. He has gone from request to assurance. David knew that prayer to our benevolent Father results in answers. Therefore, he confidently assures us that our God and Father will lead us onto the divine pathway.

There is a stumbling block here, though, and that is what caused me to stop on this verse. There is a humility requirement. Perhaps, Father does not lead me as much as He might because I am so impressed with my own wisdom. Maybe, just maybe, my arrogance and independence prevents me from walking in His ways as well as I could. I wonder.

As you continue through this psalm, you discover that God’s instruction and guidance is for those who revere Him. Perhaps some of us get so caught up in trying to come up with answers that we never actually humble ourselves before the Lord and ask for His wisdom. And you know something else? Sometimes you don’t even have to ask. I find that if I will quiet myself down, He will offer His guidance free of charge. Maybe it doesn’t seem like arrogance for me to work so hard searching for answers but if we are truly humble and we revere the Lord won’t we allow Him to speak to our needs and questions? What is it, if not pride, when we are so caught up in our thinking that we do not appeal to His wisdom? Is this not putting our own intellect and problem solving skills on the throne?

We have a promise from the Lord that He will lead us and teach us His way. Let’s make ourselves available for Him to fulfil that promise in us.

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This Way ->

On April 4, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 30: 21            Index Card 15

And your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Well, today is the last index card but it really is a good one and certainly one which I have relied upon extensively. This is a promise from God and you can hold Him to it. First it means that we will hear God speak to us (See Word of the Day – Opened Ears, 3/24/16). That is a great promise all by itself but let’s not stop there. It also means that He will give me direction, He will guide me in the way I should go. God has opened our ears and is using the communication lines between us to show us the way (read all the puns into that you want). His voice guides us daily. If at any time we do not hear Him leading us then we have only to stop and recall this verse. Then we set our intention back to hearing His voice and there He is, still on the line talking.

Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit would be our guide (John 16: 13). He also revealed that the Holy Spirit would take whatever He hears and disclose it to us and believe it, the Holy Spirit keeps pretty good company. So, we really have it made. God the Father has promised to speak a word in our ears and Jesus commissioned the Holy Spirit to speak to us and guide us. Now we know the way.

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Inquire of the Lord

On December 7, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

1 Kings 22: 5

Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the Lord.”

The king of Israel, Ahab, had asked the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, to go up with him against another army to take some land that he thought belonged in the kingdom of Israel. Jehoshaphat answered that they were as brothers, that his people were Ahab’s people and his horses were Ahab’s horses. He was practically committed to helping Israel just by their closeness, but still, he required Ahab to pray about this war before he went up against the army.

We could all stand to take a page out of Jehoshaphat’s book. We should pray about everything before we give our answer. Before we undertake anything, even our drive to work, we ought to say a prayer. Every time even a small decision is required, stop and ask the Lord what he advises. He cares about everything in your life; even the things that you think are small and insignificant. He has great insight and can save you a lot of time and effort. Remember Jehoshaphat and when you have a decision to make call on God for direction and assistance.

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