Acts 1:4-5

While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jerusalem was the center of worship for the Jews and for the new followers of Christ. Jesus commanded His disciples not to leave the center of worship but to wait for the Father’s promise. They would soon receive the power they needed to accomplish their mission.

Waiting for the Father’s promise can be difficult when everything inside us is urging to move. Just before Jesus had told them to stay in Jerusalem, He told them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). In effect, Jesus said, “Go…” then He instructed them to “wait…” How confusing and frustrating it is with a call to “Go,” and an instruction to “Wait.” For what were they waiting, and how would they know when it happened?

While the disciples had a call to “Go,” they did not yet have the power of the Holy Spirit to embark upon their task. They had to wait for the anointing to come upon them so their preaching would be effective. This is exactly what happened at Pentecost when a rushing, mighty wind invaded the room where they were gathered in prayer. Tongues of fire fell upon them, enabling them to preach the gospel in other languages so everyone who had gathered in Jerusalem was able to hear the gospel in their own language. They had no power to do this until the Holy Spirit fell. The Holy Spirit made their preaching and witnessing effective.

God will always give us a call before He empowers us to carry it through. We may know deep inside what we are to do, but we simply don’t have the power to make it happen in our own strength. We need a move of God to make our ministry effective. How will we know when it happens? Like the appearance of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, there will be no denying its presence! We fail when we try to minister in our own strength, but we cannot fail when the Holy Spirit works through us.

If you find yourself somewhere between, “Go,” and “Wait,” perhaps you should do the same thing the disciples did. Stay in the center of worship, and pray. You will simply exhaust yourself trying to do something in your own strength. God will give you the power to do whatever He has called you to do. Wait for His promise, and find yourself catapulted into effective ministry when the Spirit moves. He has not forgotten you. He just needs you to be ready to move when His Spirit takes over. His promise and power are worth the wait.

Have a blessed day!

Genesis 29:31-35

When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now.”

She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The LORD heard that I am unloved and has given me this son, also.”  So she named him Simeon.

She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore, he was named Levi.

And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore, she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

God saw that Leah was unloved, so He showed her His favor and made her fruitful. In those days, the birth of a son indicated God’s blessing upon a marriage. The birth of four sons made quite a cultural and religious statement of God’s favor. While Rachel had Jacob’s heart, she was barren and childless. Her shapely form may have gained Jacob’s attention, but Leah produced children in abundance for him.  How embarrassing for Rachel! She was Jacob’s true love, but God seemed to favor Leah – the wife of obligation. How could this be fair?

Leah mistakenly thought that giving Jacob sons would win his heart. She named the first Reuben, meaning, “see ye a son,” illustrating the continuation of the lineage through that son. She knew God had seen her misery and had blessed her. Surely Jacob would love her now that she had blessed him and God had shown His favor on their union. God even sent more sons. She named the second Simeon, which means, “hearing.” She realized God had heard she was unloved. This makes me think Leah must have heard people talk about her situation, knowing Jacob’s affections were fully focused on Rachel.  Perhaps, she had even heard Jacob assuring Rachel that he loved her, regardless of Leah’s child.

Jacob’s heart, however, was not moved by sons. He continued to be devoted to Rachel. God gave Leah a third son. She named him Levi, meaning, “attached.” It seems she had given up on love altogether and now hoped that Jacob would at least be attached to her through three sons. With the birth of the fourth son, Leah did not acknowledge Jacob at all. She simply praised God and named him Judah, which means, “praise.”  She might never gain the love of her husband, but she would praise God for His love toward her.

We cannot make anyone love us. Love is a voluntary action of the heart that cannot be earned. While Leah would never earn Jacob’s love, she finally realized that God loved her, and she chose to praise Him.  We should follow her example. When those we love do not seem to love in return, we can praise God, who loves us unconditionally. He shines His favor upon us, making us fruitful in the areas where He has called us. His favor can do things for us that we could never do on our own, and we do not have to earn it. He freely grants it to us through Christ. 

Leah praised God at the birth of Judah. God chose Judah’s lineage to birth His own Son into the world.  No son born to gain Jacob’s affection would produce Christ. When we can praise God for His blessings in our lives and not see them as a means for personal gain, He can use those blessings of praise to do mighty things! Praise God for what He has done in your life today, and turn your heart toward Him. His blessings were not meant to make others love you; He blessed you to demonstrate His love for you. Let go of any desire for man’s love, and relish God’s undying and unrelenting love for you. Praise the God who grants favor to the unloved and makes them fruitful!

Have a blessed day!

1 Chronicles 16:11

Search for the LORD and for His strength; seek His face always.

Does Scripture ever seem to contradict itself to you? Many atheists, agnostics, and scientific thinkers would agree and discredit the Bible altogether. Why would God say one thing in one place and something just the opposite in another? These are invitations to read further and dig deeper, so grab your shovel.

This verse encourages us to search the LORD for strength, and most of us can readily admit we are weak in some areas. We need His strength to carry us through difficult or challenging times, and we can count on His strength in our weaknesses. This verse, however, also instructs us to seek His face always. Yet, in Exodus 33:20, God told Moses that no one can see Him and live. He would allow Moses to see only his backside after He had already passed by him. If no one can see God’s face and live, why are we instructed to seek His face always?

In reading both Scriptures, the word, ”face,” is used to describe two different things. Moses asked God to show him His glory. He wanted to see what God was doing and what would come of it all. God would not show Moses exactly what He was doing, but He agreed to show him where He had been working. We will never be able to see exactly what God doing while He is in the process. He is working according to His plan, and He works in the hearts of men. If we could see His holiness and His power up close and personal in action, it would be too much for us to handle or comprehend. He does, however, allow us to see the results of His handiwork. That way, He can accomplish His goals without our interference!

The use of the word, “face,” in 1 Chronicles 16:11 is different. Here, we are instructed to seek God’s presence. By seeking His face, we are seeking to have relationship and communication with Him. To turn His back would indicate God had left. We never want to find ourselves in a place where God has left. His blessing comes with His presence, and unless He is in it, we don’t want it!

It always helps to dig deeper when we don’t fully understand something. God promises to give us wisdom if we will ask. Sometimes, we might have to wait on an answer, but He is faithful. I firmly believe that He gives us questions and leaves things in mystery at times just so we will grab our shovels and dig for some buried treasure. We find such things when we seek His face and are willing to remain in His presence a little longer. Oh, the things a Father will do to keep His child’s attention!

Have a blessed day!

His Eye is on You

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.

Have you ever received counsel from a friend or even a professional that seemed “canned?” Perhaps, it sounded well but seemed vague or impersonal – like a one-size-fits-all statement not custom made for your situation. Shortly after my husband died, I remember opening up to a close friend about some anxieties I had about being a widow and an only parent. Her immediate “Christian” response was, “Just trust God.”  From what I could tell at the moment, I was trusting God with every fiber of my being, but I still had questions and pains that were calling for clarity – or at least someone who understood. While my friend meant well, she was a woman with a full family intact, and everything in her life was thriving at the moment. She could understand my situation about like I could build a rocket to Mars! Yes, I needed to trust God, but she had no credibility in making a blanket statement. What I learned from our conversation is that trusting God requires seeking Him with diligence with the understanding that He understands us like no other.

There are some things that only God can show us. While we may seek answers from others, no one else can give us an answer that God has specifically for us. We are to seek Him and not His provision. This verse assures us that God will instruct us and show us the way to go. Our path may be very different than that of someone else in our same situation. God’s plan for you is unique and personal, and what worked for someone else is not necessarily a formula you can apply with any amount of success. God has His eye on you and knows just what lies ahead of you. He will give you wise counsel on the specific path you are to take. His word to you is not some one-size-fits-all blanket statement; it is designed specifically for you with your needs and purpose in mind.

Are you struggling with questions today? If so, spend some time just seeking God’s presence. Learn to hear and follow His voice. He has His eye on you, and He will give you counsel designed specifically for you. Don’t expect someone else to show you what only God can reveal to you. A good counselor will always point you to Christ, rather than try to be Christ for you.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 80:3

Restore us, God; look on us with favor, and we will be saved.

When tragedy, loss, or sin has ravaged our lives, we have a need to be restored. Our lives are not fully functioning with large, gaping holes left from the storm that hit us, and we need God to restore us where we are broken. Regardless of what the world may tell us, we cannot restore ourselves. We require the healing touch of God that can make us whole and give us life again.

This verse reveals the key to our restoration – the favor of God. With God’s favor on our lives, we can do anything. We can accomplish things we never dreamed possible or fulfill lifelong dreams. God’s favor blesses us to overcome adversity and opens doors we could never open in our own strength. His favor also directs us in the new plan He has for our restored being.

When God restores, He does so with a new purpose in mind. While our old self is shattered, God re-purposes us and creates something brand new from the fragments of the old life. Just as we might restore an old piece of furniture for a new use, God can restore our lives to change direction. If we insist or expect the old life to return, we will fail to function in the new life He has for us. With restoration and God’s favor upon us, we must be willing to leave the past behind and operate in a new dimension and a new purpose.

If you are still shattered from loss, ask God to restore you. Begin to expect His favor upon you to do the things you must now face. God may not show you what He is doing up front, but He will reveal things to you along the way that clearly give you new direction. Just follow those guideposts, and allow Him to work in your life. You will be pleasantly surprised with what He can do with your fragments as He makes you whole again!

Have a blessed day!

Philippians 4:8

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things.

Paul teaches us in this verse to always expect the best. Our natural tendency may be to expect the worst of things, but God always gives us His best. He proved this when He sent His only begotten Son to die for us on the cross. While others may very well let us down at times, we should concentrate on the good and believe God to act on our behalf.

I must admit that I’m guilty of looking at the worst possible scenario at times and planning how to handle the disappointment. This is not how God wants us to walk through life. He wants us to look at every situation with the eyes of faith that nothing is impossible with Him and trust Him with the result. I’m also guilty of expecting the worst in my own child, and I should not be surprised if that is what I get. God, however, always expects the best from us, and I’m learning to expect the best from my child. God is with me in my parenting, and He has a plan for us. I must trust Him with that plan. Where I am weak, He is strong. My son needs someone to believe in him and to encourage him to trust God. I can’t do that for him if I’m always expecting the worst.

If you are guilty of looking for the worst to happen, stop and repent today. Concentrate on the good in every situation, and expect God for the best. Whether our glass is half full or half empty depends upon our own perspective of things. Even if we do see our glass as half empty, God only fills empty places. Expect the best from Him. Life is too short to focus on what might go wrong when we serve a God who can make everything right.

Anxiety occurs when we try to figure out the future. God has a plan, and we should trust Him to do above and beyond all we could ask, hope, or imagine in our lives. If we focus on the good things He has already done, we can have faith that we will see good things in the days to come.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 5:12

For You, LORD, bless the righteous one. You surround him with favor like a shield.

Jesus Christ is the righteous one, and we are given His righteousness in exchange for our sin when we surrender our lives to Him. If we are in Christ, we are protected as the righteous in Christ. As long as we are in Christ, we can count on God’s blessing and His favor to protect us.

God’s favor acts as a shield of protection around us. While the Devil may attack and throw flaming darts of temptation and trouble our way, his weapons are no match for God’s favor. In fact, God often counters the enemy’s attack by blessing us. He can put us in just the right place at just the right time to avoid the enemy’s destruction or to create good from the evil intended for us. Romans 8:28 assures us that all things work together for the good of those who love God, so every attack from the enemy only serves to move us into a greater blessing when surrendered to God’s sovereignty.

If you sense the enemy trying to attack you today, understand you have a shield of favor around you. Anything the Devil throws at you can be turned to good in God’s hand. Focus on your favor – not your frustration. Fix your eyes on Jesus and move forward. Blessing and favor are yours!

Have a blessed day!

Proverbs 10:3

The LORD will not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the wicked what they crave.

We all have a hunger inside of us. Our bodies crave food when we are physically hungry. Our flesh or carnal nature craves temporary satisfaction from a deeper hunger of the soul, which only God can fill. God gives us a godly hunger for the things that will draw us closer to Him and a craving to be satisfied by fulfilling our purpose in Him. We are all hungry for something, and that craving can only be properly met by God.

God will not let the righteous continue to hunger. He uses that hunger to draw him/her into the place where He can best fill the aching void. Then, He begins to pour His blessings and provision into the empty place that was created specifically for His filling. When God gives the hunger, He already has the provision for it waiting an appointed time.

For the wicked, however, God has no provision. When the wicked get what they think they want, they are still hungry. God does not satisfy evil desires that oppose Him. Godly hunger is designed to teach us reliance upon Him and submission to His will. If we could satisfy our inner needs by our own hands, we would not need Him. The creation is and always has been dependent upon the Creator.

If you have an inner craving that you cannot satisfy, turn it over to God. He has given you that craving to draw you closer to Him. He has your provision waiting. Stop trying to meet that need through illegitimate means. Proverbs 10:22 teaches us that God’s blessing enriches us and adds no struggle. If you try to soothe your craving with a temporary fix that you have to manufacture on your own, you will find yourself with more problems than you can imagine. Bring your hunger to God, and let Him fill your every need. He didn’t let 5,000 people go hungry on a mountainside when they came to hear Him teach, and He won’t let you go hungry when you long to hear from Him. He will take whatever you have and multiply it beyond your imagination when you fully submit it to Him. Miracles begin with a hunger and a willingness to surrender all we have to God.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 51:1

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your compassion, blot out my rebellion.

I’m very thankful that God deals with us according to His character and not ours. He is love, and He will be gracious to us according to His faithful love toward us. Because of His great compassion toward us, He will gladly blot out our rebellion. He does this for those who repent and turn to Him. Everything He allows in our lives is for the purpose of drawing us to Him in relationship.

We must also remember, however, that God is just. For those who do not repent and turn to Him, He will judge. Turning your back on God is never a good idea because, frankly, you really can’t handle it on your own. Sooner or later, you will need a Savior, and calling to Him while He may be found is wisdom and humility packed together.

If you’ve come to the end of yourself and have realized your need for God, turn to Him today. He is not waiting to punish you; He is waiting with open arms to wrap you in His loving embrace. He will deal with you according to His faithful love toward you and not according to your sin. He dealt with your sin on the cross, and He is more than willing to blot out your rebellion and never remember it again. You can have a brand new start with Him and enjoy the richness of His grace and freedom from guilt and condemnation. That is a life worth living.

Have a blessed day!

Galatians 2:8

For He who was at work with Peter in the apostleship to the circumcised was also at work with me among the Gentiles.

Peter was the first apostle to preach after Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. Although he had previously denied Christ to avoid his own persecution, Jesus restored him to ministry and ordained him to lead the church after Him. After his first sermon, 3,000 people were saved – an undeniable anointing of the Holy Spirit!

Paul recognized that the same Holy Spirit that worked in Peter to minister to the Jews worked in him to minister to the Gentiles. He did not envy Peter’s work nor try to compete with him. He simply preached the message the Holy Spirit gave him and moved in the direction He led him. The end result was an evangelistic explosion of new churches and the writing of one third of the New Testament, which still speaks to us today. God worked through Peter, and He worked through Paul to minister to different groups in different ways but with the same anointing of the Holy Spirit.

That same Holy Spirit works in us, by the way. He still anoints people and moves them to draw others into God’s kingdom because that is His job. We do not have to compete with other people, other ministries, or other personalities. We simply need to trust that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it, according to Philippians 1:6.

Do you see someone else being blessed in their personal life or in ministry? The same Holy Spirit that works in them also works in you. Don’t focus upon that person or the blessing. Focus upon what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. He will guide you into His place of anointing, where you will be able to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. God is working in your life, and He has much planned for you. Don’t miss it by concentrating on someone else’s blessing. Grab all He has for you, and move forward with purpose and calling.

Have a blessed day!