Enjoy The Silence

Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.  Romans 12: 12

                                                                  

Being a bit active and quite talkative, I always struggle when making a presentation for work and receive little or no interaction from my listening audience.  The same holds true in my prayer life, especially when I am praying with passion and feel that God is not answering me or seems to be a million miles away.   I don’t believe that I am alone in the way that I feel, as many other Christians probably lack some anticipation of having their prayers answered.

Our society doesn't help us with being patient in our prayer life as we wait for God to answer us in His perfect timing, either.  We live in a society that due to modern technology expects instant results. 

We are to remain vibrant and faithful in our prayer life.  It is too easy to become discouraged and feel as though God is not listening when all we perceive is silence.  I am thankful for many unanswered prayers that I have petitioned God with and it has certainly helped to mature my faith by leaps and bounds.  We must come to a place of understanding His presence is always with us if we are grow our relationship with Him; in doing so, we will have a deeper relationship with God, despite our prayers not being answered.

Continue to pray and be hopeful even if you are suffering; God is always with you!!

The Best of What's Around

I will be filled with joy because of you.  I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.  Psalm 9:2

As a Christian, it is easy sometimes to view aspects of life with their appropriate seriousness-sin and its consequences, fighting against evil, etc., but sometimes we overlook some of the great delights of being a follower of Christ.

I have enjoyed running for several years now.  A few months ago, I began experiencing some painful discomfort in the heel of my left foot which eventually led me to talk to my doctor who informed me that I have plantar fasciitis.  My doctor advised me to take some time off from running to ease the pain.  This news was certainly disappointing to me as I had been training for the recent Knoxville Half-Marathon that took place earlier this month. 

I have been able to work out every day, but I have since incorporated different physical activities such as riding my bike and swimming into my routine.  At first, I was angry that I could not run as much, but now have really gotten into biking and weight training and actually feel like I am in better shape. 

The point I am trying to make is that life sometimes makes an unexpected turn, or things don’t always happen the way we would like for them to.  God, however, is constant in His love for each of us and regardless of our circumstances, has a plan for us.   He made this wonderful world for us to live in and enjoy and wants us to serve Him enthusiastically and filled with joy.

Let us not lose our perspective on being able to enjoy the journey that God has planned for us, even if it is not the way we would necessarily have it.

Trouble Me

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose… Romans 8:28

I read something that struck a chord with me just the other day in the excellent book, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  Friday’s devotional was about being thankful and praising God even we are facing difficulties. 

When we face turmoil, we begin to realize just how much we need God in our lives.  I firmly believe that God allows difficult circumstances to make us realize our dependence on Him.  You see, when things are going  well, we grow idle in our faith and falsely begin to believe that we are self-sufficient in our own minds. Our Father allows these times to shake our foundations so that we are humbled and reach out to Him in need and in love.

We must turn every aspect of our lives over to God-our marriages, our children, our relationships, our jobs, finances, health; anything that we try to manage without dependence on Him is prideful and will not stand the test of time.

Even if it feels strange and foreign to you, praise God even when you are experiencing trouble…it just may all be part of His perfect plan to bring you into a closer relationship with Him!