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Saturday, June 8, 2013

Problems and Predicaments can’t stand up to Prayer and Praise

Job 8:5-6 “But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, He will surely rise up and restore your happy home.
When problems come up in your home, or just in life, pray about them first.  Many of us go to our friends first for advice or comfort. Friends are important, and God wants us to have them, but He wants us to come to Him first.  Turning things over to God shows obedience to your faith, instead of obedience to your own desires. The Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years on what should have been an 11 day journey because they wouldn’t listen to God and trust Him.   Speak to God from your heart, totally open your heart to Him being fully aware that you are not worthy to ask Him anything, and ask to feel His presence.  Don’t be discouraged because you feel that you can’t live a pure life full of integrity.  Here’s the basic truth. We have the blood of Jesus Christ to make us clean.  Job  did not.
 Job was having a rough time.  He lost everything.  His children were killed, all of his money and all of his stuff was taken, his wife turned her back on him, and his health failed- all in a matter of days.  Job really had to trust God to make it through that time in his life.  The words in the verse above were stated by a friend of Job’s, named Bildad. After you’ve prayed about your problem, go to your friends.  When you’re choosing which friends to seek out for advice, go to friends that share your beliefs.  This helps avoid confusion and helps insure that God’s priorities will be in their advice to you.  Sometimes when friends are sought for counsel before bringing a problem to God, it ends up being a gripe session or a pity party.  Nothing is ever accomplished except for the temporary relief of feeling “Glad I got that off my chest”.
When we live in truth, God will lift the burden from our lives. It may not happen immediately..it almost never does.  One reason might be because you’re trying to force things to happen quicker.  He doesn’t need our help.  Our worst judgment of our great God is not believing what He says. You can’t ask Him to do something for you, and not believe that He will.  Now, it is important to remember that His restoration rarely looks the same as we imagine it.  Don’t miss His answer because you are looking for something in particular in return.  Restoration in Christ is always better, but not always easily recognized. 
                What can I do while I am waiting….
·         Write things down when you face challenges.  When something on the positive side happens in the situation, write it down.  It will help remind you that you’re on the path to it getting better.
·         Volunteer to help others or educate yourself on issues that others are struggling with.  This may help you to see that your problem isn’t as awful as it seems.  If everyone put their problems in a pile, and then we had to run and grab some..I’d probably end up grabbing my own after seeing others. (especially if Job was participating).
·         When the pressure builds, burst out the blessings that God has promised in His word.   If you don’t, you might cave into that pressure.  Here are some blessings to burst out. Just do it! Say them out loud and believe them!
o   For I hold you by your right hand- I, The Lord your God.  And I say to you ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’- Isaiah 41:13
o   In His kindness, God called you to share in His eternal  glory by means of Christ Jesus.  So, after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.- I Peter 5:10
o   The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm- Exodus 14:14
o   This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.- Joshua 1:9
 
Father, I ask you to bless the women that are reading this and help them to know that You are holding them by the hand and that you are here to help them.  Thank you that you will restore us, support us, strengthen us, and place us on a firm foundation after we have suffered a little while. While we are still going through our troubles, Lord, help us to remember that you are fighting for us, and that You want us to stay calm and seek Your face. Please give us the strength and courage we need as we wait for Your restoration.  Amen
 
Contributors:  Karen Bromby, Monica Brown, Kathy Derda,  Jamie Leary, Kim McClure and Kristy Tolley


2 comments:

  1. Love the post Kim, esp. the While you are Waiting part. That is wonderful advice. Another perspective to add to this, that only came to me later on, was this: If we are constantly worrying about our problems, going from one friend to another and complaining, etc., without going to God first, we are MAKING THAT PROBLEM OUR IDOL. I had never thought of that until I read it on one of my devotions last week. I know this will bless so many women.

    Marla

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    1. Marla- This is so true! I plead guilty. I have allowed myself to be consumed by a problem before, and it just made me miserable. Thanks for sharing!

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