Refining your faith

“Be still, and know that I am God.”- Psalm 46:10 (emphasis added)

As Charles Stanley continues Chapter 2 of Waiting on God, he urges us not to read past, but stop and reflect on the following statement: “You must fully accept that He is God.”  Saying we believe in Him, or that He is God, is not enough.  We have to know.  We must be aware of God’s constant and loving presence- then live in the light of that truth.

Dr. Stanley encourages us to remember that the Lord is committed to seeing us through every trial we face.  We can rely on Him and rest in His faithfulness.  Because God is omniscient, knowing everything about us, He lovingly trains and prepares us for what lies ahead, as Dr. Stanley explains:

“Knowing so much about you, the Father lovingly trains and prepares you for what is ahead- refining your faith and teaching you lessons that will eventually lead to your success.  He directs you wisely, helping your avoid the pitfalls and embrace opportunities that are important for your future.”

God has not forgotten us.  He has allowed our season of delay for a reason.  The Lord knows about issues that we cannot see.  He will lead us on the right path in His perfect wisdom and time.

Today’s question: How has the Lord been refining your faith during your desert, land between time?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “God’s omnipresence and omniscience”

Refining your faith

Directed toward God

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”- Isaiah 41:30

Charles Stanley begins Chapter 2 (“Assured in God’s Character: The Wisdom of Directing Your Focus to Him”) of Waiting on God by asking this question: “Do you know who it is you are waiting for?”  Dr. Stanley notes that our natural tendency is to focus on the object of our desire rather than God- the Provider.  But the bottom line is, no matter what we petition God for, God is the One we’re really waiting for.

That’s why Dr. Stanley’s first characteristic of godly prayer in waiting- being directed toward God- is of paramount importance.  While it may appear difficult for us to shift our thoughts to God, Dr. Stanley states “without a shadow of a doubt that with the help and power of the Holy Spirit and some godly principles to live by, [we] can do it.”  God may not provide according to our expectations, but Psalm 91:10 reminds us that God never will forsake the person who seeks Him.

We have no reason to fear because God is unaffected by obstacles that limit and intimidate us.  It is the Holy Spirit who prompts us to remember God’s promises and faithfulness.  The Holy Spirit gives us the capacity to remain faithful during times of waiting.

Today’s question: What Bible verses have helped you deal with your fears following your vocation loss?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog”: “Refining your faith”

Directed toward God

When God sifts us

“Delay never thwarts God’s purpose; rather, it polishes His instrument.”- Victor Raymond Edman

Today Charles Stanley concludes his discussion of five lessons we can learn while expectantly waiting on God.

2.  To value God’s timing.  Dr. Stanley defines God’s timing as “a tool God [uses] to effectively carry out His will and build dedication to His plan.”  Just like David, we can’t be driven by what others think.  God will take care of our situation in His perfect time.  We are simply to wait for His direction.  Dr. Stanley concludes:

“. . . the delays we face are not a denial of His promises; rather, they are an integral part of His strategy to arrange all the details and get us positioned for His excellent plan.”

3.  To prepare for His blessings.  Confining God’s blessing to our timing may be absolutely destructive to us today, but completely wonderful for us tomorrow.  Dr. Stanley adds that the Lord also cultivates our character to increase our commitment to the responsibilities and challenges of God’s gift.  Dr. Stanley states: “God lingers, develops you, and matures your character so you are fully equipped to receive all He has planned for you.”

4.  To strengthen our faith.  Our faith is tested and grows greatly when we only have God’s promise to rely upon.  For this purpose, Dr. Stanley stresses, “the Lord will intentionally put adverse conditions in our path so we choose to believe Him rather than focus on our circumstances.”  We’ll never go wrong waiting on God.

5.  To sift our moments and desires.  If our motives are wrong or our tactics sinful, God will work to align our hearts with His purposes for our lives.  Dr. Stanley encourages that when God sifts us, there’s no telling what “wonderful, exciting, energizing and fulfilling things He’s purposed to do through us.”

Today’s question: Which of the five lessons are most meaningful?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Directed toward God”

When God sifts us

Anticipation and Electroburgers

“Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.”- Psalm 5:8

“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer.”- Corrie Ten Boom

I raced up the steps to the Roosevelt Road Station of the North Shore Line in the Chicago Loop, hoping the next scheduled train was the stylish and comfortable Electroliner.  There it was, resplendent in its trademark salmon and turquoise color scheme!  I waited with anticipation for the doors to open so I could rush to my favorite spot- a single seat opposite the motorman, with an unobstructed view of the tracks ahead (right front window).  Along the way, familiar landmarks like the Great Lakes Naval Training Station signaled that the Hennings were getting closer to Milwaukee.  In open country, the Electroliner reached speeds of 85-90 mph.  And no ride on the Electroliner was complete without a pilgrimage to the dining car for the unsurpassed, beef tenderloin Electroburger!

Anticipation and Electroburgers.  An unbeatable combination!  Each step of my journey on the Electroliner brought increasing levels of excitement.  Ruth Graham observes that anticipation is built into us in her book Fear Not Tomorrow, God Is Already There:

“Our Creator made us to anticipate.  The act of anticipation is hardwired into the universe and into us. . . . We must learn to cultivate anticipation.”

Anticipating God’s plans, Ruth adds, means expecting God to show up in our tomorrow and to actively do His work.  To step boldly into God’s purpose, we must have hope.  We recall what God has done for us in the past so we can move forward with confidence, affirming the words of the psalmist David: “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation (Psalm 5:3).”

The anticipation of God’s plans we prayerfully cultivated prior to our ministry downsizing or vocation loss may seem impossible to resurrect.  Yet, our hope can be revitalized, revisioned, and transformed, as Ruth Graham encourages:

“If you just can’t see how God would ever want to affirm you or use your life, let me assure you that God does want to use you.  He is a restorer.  He is a redeemer.  He is a grace giver.  That’s who He is, and you are not exempt.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sG94EKGDcU

 

 

 

 

Anticipation and Electroburgers

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

God"s timing and wisdom

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”- Ephesians 3:20

As Charles Stanley continues Chapter 1 of Waiting on God, he states that “learning to be directed by God’s timing and wisdom- not our agenda- is one of the most important lessons we ever learn as believers.”  And one of God’s most effective tools for teaching us to wait on Him is time.

Yet, Dr. Stanley points out, while we are waiting on God it’s human to feel frustrated and anxious because we don’t have control over our circumstances.  Something or someone else seems to be impeding us from enjoying what we believe will make us happy.  Furthermore, we may view God’s delays as a waste of time- we’re doing nothing and missing opportunities while God ignores us.

Dr. Stanley states this is not the case at all.  Waiting on God’s timing and wisdom, he notes, has four components.  The first component is discussed today.

1.  The Lord is not neglecting you and has not forgotten you.  Every single moment, Dr. Stanley emphasizes, God is working in the unseen on our behalf.  As St. Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20, we can’t possibly conceive how God is working out everything for us.  Even if we could see it, we wouldn’t understand it.  Our responsibility is to set our heart on Jesus, trusting our life is safe in His hands.

Today’s question: What has enabled you to give up your perceived control and place your trust in God’s timing and wisdom?  Please share.

Coming Monday: the new Short Meditation, “Anticipation and Electroburgers”

Tomorrow’s blog: “Intimate fellowship with God”

God"s timing and wisdom