"Are You Listening God?"

I love the Lord because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath!

Psalm 116:1-2 

 

When tough times come and we pray, we have the tendency to expect (and even demand) immediate relief and answers.  When relief and answers are not immediate, we have the tendency to get mad at God and believe He's not listening, doesn't understand our situation, or just doesn't care.  Or maybe that's just me (but I doubt that).

 

Scripture tells us that God has plans for us that are for our good, not our destruction (Jeremiah 29:11).  We are also told that, even when we don't know what to say or how to pray, God still hears our hearts and since He knows ALL hearts, He gets it (Romans 8:26-27).  God has a plan for us and until that plan is completed His job in us is incomplete (Philippians 1:6).  God understands everything about us and has so orchestrated the universe that He will get you where you need to be right at the perfect time (Psalm 139:16).

My point is simple: Regardless what we go through (good, bad, horrible, fantastic, peaceful, unsettling) God loves you enough to get you through it and onto His mission for you.  The enemy WILL try to derail God's plan by trying to discourage us and demoralize us, but turn the enemy over to God and let Him deal with the enemy AND us!

 

 

We Are What We Allow.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

James 4:17

When I first read this verse, I thought it only applied to my actions.  As I grew and my curiosity became more intense, I realized that this verse has a plethora of meanings.
For example, if I know that I should not let someone take advantage of me, yet I choose the path of least resistance and tell myself (and others) "I just couldn't stop myself" then I have committed sin.

Likewise, if I see someone getting mugged and my thought is "Glad that's not me" then I have committed sin.

If I know someone will tempt me to do the wrong thing, and I still hang around with them, I AM WRONG!  It is better to lose a "friend" than have to deal with the consequences of being led astray.

You see, when we become lazy and chose NOT to think and NOT to act then we are WRONG!  Remember that God has given each of us a brain, and it's for more than just keeping our ear from slapping together.