Live unoffended

“You can give up or hang on.  You can let go or pray through.  You can get frustrated with God or choose to live unoffended.”- Mark Batterson

In Chapter 8 (“Persistence Quotient”) of The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson note various studies show that persistence quotient is strongly correlated with success.  There is no substitute for persistence in achieving mastery.

Pastor Batterson believes prayer is no different.  Prayer is a habit to be cultivated, a discipline to be developed, a skill to be practiced.  The problem is most of us give up praying because our eyes can see no tangible difference in our circumstances.  Giving up allows our circumstances to get between God and us.  Instead, we need to put God between us and our circumstances.

Mark describes how easy it is to throw in the towel:

“It’s easy to give up on dreams, give up on miracles, give up on promises.  We lose heart, lose patience, lose faith.  And like a slow leak, it often happens without us even knowing it until our prayer life gets a flat.”

When you’re tempted to throw in the prayer towel, there is one biblical promise Pastor Batterson suggests will sustain you- Luke 7:23 (ESV): “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”  That’s an important promise during times of waiting, especially when we feel God is answering everyone else’s prayer but ours.  Mark says that’s where most of us live most of the time- in the triple-dot punctuation known as an ellipsis (“Yet in our own lives, well . . .).  That’s when we need to make the choice to live unoffended.

Today’s question: What has helped you to cultivate the habit and develop the discipline of prayer?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: the new Short Meditation, “If God had a refrigerator”

 

Live unoffended

Waiting on God

Waiting on God (Howard Books, 2015)

Waiting on God: Strength for Today and Hope for Tomorrow is the latest book from Charles Stanley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA since 1971.  He opens his book with the assertion that the word never can stir the deepest fear in the human heart.  Thus, the challenge of waiting on God is “the ability to keep hoping when the nevers of life bombard us.”  Dr. Stanley’s definition of waiting on the Lord provides the basic outline for this book.  Waiting on the Lord manifests an “expectant endurance that is demonstrated by a directed, purposeful, active, and courageous attitude of prayer.”

Our focus must be directed toward God, our Provider, rather than the object of our desire.  We need to center our thoughts less on our questions and more on the Father’s ability to answer them.  Even though we are tempted to figure out God’s plan and speed it along, we are to demonstrate confident trust that God is committed to seeing us through every trial we face and is raising up an answer to our prayers.

The second characteristic of godly prayer in waiting is being purposeful in pursuing the Lord’s plan.  When our main objective is a personal and intimate relationship with God, everything else will fall into place as the Holy Spirit directs us- bringing out the very best of who we were created to be.  God’s Word, prayer, and godly counsel are an integral part of this process.

Dr. Stanley notes that waiting passively is not what the Lord intended for us as believers.  While we are to be still in allowing the Father to work through our circumstances, we must be active in growing spiritually.  Perseverance is the key to receiving the very best God has planned for us and helping us endure the delay.

The fourth characteristic of waiting on the Lord, being courageous, is stretched and refined during our darkest times.  Yet, it is when we feel most unworthy and defeated that the Father is closest to us.  We are in a spiritual battle with Satan.  Our weapon is the sword of the Spirit- God’s Word.  The Father is “moving us toward the light on the most efficient and effective route possible.”  Confidently wait on the Lord, for the best is yet to come . . . always.

 

 

Waiting on God

Omnipresence and omnipotence

As Charles Stanley continues Chapter 2 of Waiting on God, he focuses on God’s omnipresence and omnipotence.  Dr. Stanley states that God’s omnipresence is comforting because we can be totally assured that we always are with God’s reach.  Romans 8:38-39 reminds us that we never can be separated from God’s love.  It doesn’t matter where we are or what may be threatening us.

Dr. Stanley observes that it is “even more accurate to say that everything is in the Lord’s presence.”  This signifies that the Lord is where we cannot be, accomplishing what is of concern to us.  We may have no earthly idea where the Lord is raising up an answer to our ministry downsizing or vocation loss- but He is.  And the Lord is so intimately in tune with every aspect of our being that He is providing for our needs even before we’re aware of them.

The author also stresses that, during seasons of waiting, it is crucial to remember that God is omnipotent.  He is all-powerful and stronger than any forces opposing us.  Dr. Stanley explains:

“And because He is all-powerful, even the obstacles and trials in your life that seem to impede or thwart God’s plan are actually tools He uses to fulfill His purposes when you keep your focus on Him.”

Today’s question: How do God’s omnipresence and omnipotence comfort/strengthen you?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Perfect, unconditional love”

Omnipresence and omnipotence

Expectant endurance

Charles Stanley continues Chapter 1 of Waiting on God with the following concise definition of waiting on the Lord:

“. . . waiting on the Lord signifies an expectant endurance that is demonstrated by a directed, purposeful, active, and courageous attitude of prayer.”

Dr. Stanley goes on to describe how expectant endurance is exhibited.  Expectant endurance is:

a.  directed– our focus is on the Father, rather than concentration on what we’re waiting for.

b.  purposeful– our delay is meaningful because we anticipate God’s perfect direction, preparation, and provision.

c.  active– we trust God is working even though we cannot perceive it.

d.  courageous– in order to take hold of God’s very best for our life, we’re willing to forego less desirable alternatives.

Dr. Stanley then concludes Chapter 1 by discussing five lessons the anointed King David learned while he waited with expectant endurance on God.   The first lesson is covered today.

1.  To accept God’s direction.  It is important to listen to the Father in order to receive His clear direction.  Dr. Stanley notes that when we need to make important decisions, our natural inclination is to consult earthly sources of guidance.  These sources are extremely limited and faulty means of assistance.  Our trust must be in Jesus as our Source of instruction and direction.  Charles concludes:

“When you cannot see  your way clear, stay where you are until God answers you and trust Him to teach you the way you should go.”

Today’s question: Which of Dr. Stanley’s descriptions of expectant endurance do you currently exhibit?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: the new Short Meditation, “Anticipation and Electroburgers”

Expectant endurance

Intimate fellowship with God

Today Charles Stanley concludes his discussion of four aspects of waiting on God, found in Chapter 1 of Waiting on God.

2.  You are not just waiting around, doing nothing.  While we are waiting on God, we should continue to serve Him and carry out our daily business.  Even when circumstances don’t appear to be going our way, we must persevere in seeking and obeying God as well as maintaining intimate fellowship with Him.

3.  You are not missing worthwhile opportunities.  To our finite vision, it may appear that worthwhile opportunities are passing us by or that there are no better options on the horizon.  Now is not the time to force God’s hand.  As Dr. Stanley states: “Rather, count on His faultless wisdom to protect you from choices that would ultimately harm you.”

4.  You are not alone.  Even though we may not be aware of it, everyone we know is facing some type of delay.  When we entertain thoughts of humiliation and defeat, we must realize that the devil is the author of those thoughts.  He is out to isolate and destroy us.  Dr. Stanley reminds us that anyone in Scripture whom God used in a powerful way faced a long and difficult time of waiting.  Instead of giving in to despair, we should understand waiting as the Father’s special favor and guidance in our life.

Today’s question: which of the four components of waiting on God speak to you in a meaningful way?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Expectant endurance”

Intimate fellowship with God