Expected Expectancy

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3 NIV).  

When you and I wait with eager expectation it’s because we know something is getting ready to happen. The requests we make known to God are to be made with a child-like eagerness that our Heavenly Father is getting ready to move in a mighty way to show forth His glory!

I’ll be honest with you. I prayed earnestly yesterday that our area would not be affected by tornados. I made my request at the feet of Jesus that devastation would cease, desist, and dissipate in east Texas. I reminded God that He is the one who keeps us from evil (Matt. 6:13, Luke 11:4) and in my heart of heart I expected, believed, and trusted in the Lord to do this.  I’ve exercised faith in the area of bad weather before and know that God calms big storms regardless of where we are in the world. I prayed to this end with my boss.  Then my sister called and asked how she could get in agreement. The she prayed as well.  There was agreement in both instances for God to move mightily (Matt. 18:20, Mark 4:39).

There was a peace about this answered prayer that surpassed my understanding (Phil 4:7). I knew God had answered these prayers even though circumstances did not change quickly. The weather forecasts showed some interesting things hovering over Hopkins County and surrounding counties. Did that change my belief in God? No, I stood knowing that Jesus would move for the glory of God. The weather kept getting worse, thunderstorms were rolling in, and schools were dismissing early for safety purposes.  Did this change God’s answer to prayers that lined up with His word? No, He is not the author of devastation and destruction, that is the enemy (John 10:10) Where we still under a tornado warning? Yes we were. Did tornados manifest themselves? No, they did not. Why not? God is faithful to perform that which we ask when we abide in Him and His word abides in us (John 15:7). 

Pray – Father, thank you for reminding us of the importance of abiding in You and Your word abiding in us. This is truly the place where we ask what we will and it will be done.

What Are You Expecting? – What storm needs to be calmed in your life today?  What can you expectantly believe God to do in this moment?  Determine where you can begin to exercise your faith in God. This starts with abiding in God and His word abiding in you (John15:7) Spend time with Him.  God wants to show you great and mighty things that you do not know (Jer. 33:3).  Live with expectation and watch God be true to His word.  Delight yourself in the Lord. He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

 

2013 © - Sherry Chester – Radiant Life Publishing™

 

Infecting or Affecting

I apologize for this not getting sent out earlier. It went out over the air but not on the email or blog…

And He said to them, “Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear” (Mark4:24 AMP).

Jesus is giving such explicit words, be careful what you hear.  For the amount of time you spend hearing God is the measure in which God’s word will come back to you. The amount of time you focus on what the world is saying is also the measure that will come back to you.  Are you dwelling on faith or fear filled words today?

Maxie, my husband, enjoys watching a show on Monday and Tuesday evenings called ‘The Voice.’  If I am going to watch TV with him, I will sit down and tune into a little of this.  I was somewhat taken back by what the judges seemed to have heard, or not heard, with the first of ten contestants last night. 

Holly Tucker, a Texas country gal and a student at Baylor University decided to sing a song that represented her Christian roots and heritage.  She sang a well known and beloved hymn entitled “How Great Though Art.” She did well I might add.

One judge did not seem to particularly care for the message.  Another judge kept talking about the “purity” of her voice yet missed the absolute purity of the words in which she sang about our great, awesome, and wonderful God. Another judge appreciated the show for its diversity of music which could be sung. Her coach found the song fitting and appropriate in hopes of it giving people in Oklahoma and their relatives strength in whom to look to after the devastating tornados. 

It reminded me of what we read in Luke 8:10, “And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

‘Seeing they may not see,
And hearing they may not understand.’”

Pray – Father, oh that our hearts would be moved toward two things.  One, spend more time basking in Your presence God.  We want Your heart and mind on things.  Secondly we desire to be moved with Your love and compassion to help a lost and dying world.

Keep it Real – Seek to know the heart of God.  Guard your time in what you will listen to from the world versus faith filled words of God. Make the choice to guard your ears.  They are precious commodities that make deposits straight to the heart.

The Curse without a Cause

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come (Proverbs 26:2NLT).  

A friend and I had been standing on and agreeing for something together for a while. In recent weeks I heard her say a verse that would catch my attention. I wasn’t familiar with its location. In listening to her minister yesterday, this verse came up in conversation again.

When the quickening remains about a verse of scripture go study it, learn its context.  Ask God to show you how it is applicable to your life on both the giving and receiving end.  In other words has this happened to you or have you caused this to happen to someone else knowingly or unknowingly? Has a curse been spoken over you or have you spoken one?

This verse about “a causeless curse will not come to pass” is nestled in the midst of 11 other verses that talk at length about a fool and his or her actions.  It is important to see the definition about the fool because it is the same word used over and again in Hebrew. According to Strongs, the Bible definition of the word fool means, “stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one”

When someone has spoken something negative over your life that does not line up with what the word of God says about you it does not take root. Don’t receive this. This is a “causeless curse.” You do not have to receive things spoken over you by a boss, a family member, or someone who is hurting or wants to cause you pain when it does not line up with the life giving words God speaks about you.

Pray – Father, show me where I have spoken something over someone’s life that was contrary to your word so that I may repent and speak blessings into their life. Father, shed your light on things I have believed that others said about me that were not of you.

 

Don’t Receive Everything That comes Your Way – Curses are spoken over our life for several reasons.  The primary one is to consider the source.  The word fool is defined as someone who is stupid, which means they lack knowledge.  Another part of the definition said that it is someone who is simple minded therefore, they lack real understanding.  Notice the other part of the definition regarding a fool, they are arrogant.  When people want to speak ugly, cruel, and demeaning things over you, speak kindness to them instead. Bless rather than curse.  Your Heavenly Father is not raising “a fool.”

 

A State of Preparedness

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return (Matthew 25:13 NLT).

This verse is not meant to panic us about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is meant to keep us on a heightened state of preparedness. One in which we keep our focus centered on God and our relationship with him.

Think about how it is when someone is coming to your home or work place for a visit or meeting.  When someone comes to your home, even for coffee, you will make sure you have coffee readily available.  You will check the milk, creamer, sugar, and or sweetener(s) to make certain you have items readily available for coffee. You may very well set out coffee cups, spoons and napkins or a small tray depending on what works for you.  If you like saucers or coasters you have probably even checked to make sure those are readily available.

Similar steps take place for a meeting.  You will have done your homework or research in advance.  You may very well have notes and/or handouts available as the need dictates.  In some instances you may have a dry erase board, charts, a Power Point or even a You Tube video to help illustrate given points. In both instances steps were taken to ensure that you were adequately prepared for what would happen next. Another way of stating this could be, you were readily and expectantly waiting for what would happen next.  You would have done things on your part to be prepared for either type of meeting.

The same is true in preparing for the return of Christ Jesus.  We are to stay in a prepared state of readiness.  This means we talk to God.  In turn we listen to Him and adjust our lives accordingly, depending on the types of circumstances He desires to immerse our lives into at any given moment.

When you stay in a state of preparedness, you will not be scrambling to get ready.  You will look forward to His return knowing that you have done the things that were needed all along the way.  If you are not currently in a state of preparedness, stop right now and get that way.  Then talk to the Heavenly Father throughout the day and listen.  He has called you friend.  Much like having coffee with an earthly friend or a meeting with a colleague, God wants to let you in on what He is doing through His word. He desires to lead you by the Holy Spirit and quiet communion with Himself in the midst of days that can be loud and busy at times.  

Talk to God – Father, I do not want to be caught off guard upon the return of Christ.  Show me how to keep watch better every minute of the day.  I love you Lord and want to please you now and later in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Being in a State of Readiness – Let’s not make this hard or a religious practice.  Being ready simply means talking to God, getting His heart and responding accordingly.  This means we get alone with Him and study The Bible for ourselves.  Don’t expect others to spoon feed you.  There is a time and place to encourage one another in our most holy faith. However, God wants an intimate relationship with you.  That is great news!  It is also wonderful news to know that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father making constant intercession for you.  Look at how time with you is treasured.  Respond accordingly.  Get ready and be ready, for your redemption draws near.

Responses that Demand a Verdict

…Why have you treated us this way?… (Judges 12:1).  

There are times when people are unable to enjoy a good relationship with one another because they let pride and anger dictate a situation instead of practicing humble self-control.

Such is the case between Ephraim and the people of Jephtah in the book of Judges.

The people of Jephtah completely mishandled some hot headed accusations from the tribe or group of family members from Ephraim. As a result of a disagreement gone bad the people of Jephtah ended up killing 42,000 Ephramites for lack of patience. Anger won. 

The story in Judges chapter 12 starts out very similar to the account of the Ephraimites and with Gideon.  The significant difference is how the circumstances where handled.  In chapter 8 verses 1-3, the Ephramites started out with an accusatory question toward Gideon because they were angry about how they perceived his treatment of them.

Instead of getting mad, even, or trying to explain the situation Gideon humbled himself and asked, “What were his clans’ victories in comparison to theirs?” He looked to keep the peace and diffuse the situation to where the outcome was to save lives of both those who were angry and the ones who were trying to accomplish God’s intended mission for them.

Pray – Lord help me to look to You in order to walk through situations with gentleness, self- control, and humility.  Thank you for pointing out the seriousness of our actions and their consequences.  Father, I want to be a peacekeeper.  Help me to love and respond to others in ways that please you in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Types of People - There are three types of people represented here.  First, there are the accusatory hot tempered people who don’t seem to know how to do anything else but cause strife. Secondly there is a group of people who are easily offended and will seek retribution.  In this case it was extreme with loss of life.  Then there is a third group who knows not to let anger suck them into a mess.  Humble self-control diffuses situations and leads to the restoration of relationships.  Truth be known, at any given time we have been hot tempered, revengeful, and other times able to function in humility and self-control.  Each of our responses demands a verdict.  Choose how will you respond today.