Pack an umbrella!

I woke up this morning and checked Facebook to see if there were any service changes for our home church. We've had snow and ice in the area so they decided to push the service back until this afternoon. Once I was awake I just sort of laid there and was thinking about different, random things. I was thinking about the future and things that might happen. Then I noticed something. In my mind when I would think about the future and the things that could unfold, I was playing out those scenarios as though things were exactly the same way they are now. In my mind my prayers still hadn't been answered and the situations were exactly the same. I was mentally preparing myself for what I would do in the future, but a future that looks much the same as the present. Now, let me say, my present is abundantly blessed. I could not ask for more than what God has given me. But, you know that we all have those "things" we wish were different. Maybe it's a relationship you wish would be mended, a job you want to be different, a financial blessing you've been seeking God for, a vehicle that doesn't break down all the time, a better school for your children - Everyone has a burden. What if we all had enough faith that when we thought about the future, we thought about it in "prayers answered" terms? Maybe your child has asked for something special for their birthday. In your mind you know you can't afford it right now. Instead of being discouraged about the fact that you can't purchase it for them, you could replace those thoughts with, "Thank You, Lord, for making a way for me to get that for my baby!" Maybe you and your spouse are on the brink of divorce. Instead of lying in bed wondering how you'll explain everything to your family and wondering whose house you'll spend Christmas at since you won't be together anymore, instead of assuming that's what your future holds, why not pray, "Thank You, Lord, that by Your grace, we'll work through things and this Christmas will be extremely special." I COMPLETELY understand that this is easier said than done. COMPLETELY understand. But, it's kind of like that story you've probably heard about the convention that was called to pray for rain. People from all over the nation were coming together because they were experiencing a drought. The crops were suffering, the people were suffering. They were all gathering together to seek the Lord for rain. However, only one lady brought an umbrella.

Sometimes, though you don't see it, you've got to bring out your umbrella. When you're at the job you absolutely ha...Well, we Christians aren't really supposed to say the h-a-t-e word, so let's say you STRONGLY dislike, instead of picturing yourself months from now in the same routine and the same, sad story, why not start thinking, "Lord, maybe by then You'll have put me in a different work environment that I can enjoy! I'll keep seeking Your face until You change the situation or give me the extra grace I need to make it through." I know this may sound elementary and just well, dumb. But, I've done this all to often. Thought about the future in terms of what I see now and that would control what would happen then. But when we do that we are completely taking God out of the scenario! WHAT IF God sends the financial miracle, what if by then God has led you to the home of your dreams, what if by then He's knitted the heart of you and your spouse back together, what if by then He's increased the size of the church you pastor by 40%. Let's start living, praying and thinking like we TRULY believe He's gonna do something! Not worrying about the future or certain circumstances doesn't mean you don't pray about them. That's been hard for me, well I should say it IS hard for me to learn. I feel, for some strange reason, that if I'm not worrying about it that must mean I'm not praying about it enough. But, we are supposed to pray without ceasing, yet never worry. So the two must not be intertwined. It's possible to see what reality is, see where the future could possibly lead, and know that you need abundant grace to get through it. That's why we pray. That's why we come boldly to the throne of Grace to obtain mercy to help in our time of need. That's why we seek Him for healing, deliverance and breakthroughs - BECAUSE WE NEED THEM. We should seek like we need them and live like He's actually going to give them! We can rest in Him because ALL that He does is good. Even when we can't see the good, it's still good. He can't be anything else but good, fair, faithful and just. When we pray with real faith, we can walk away unworried because we know God is handling our earthly affairs. We can still be concerned, but we don't have to be obsessed. We can still be aware, but not overwhelmed. Why? Because we trust Him. David said in Psalm 27, "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." Even though all of these things happen, I'm STILL trusting in the Lord! Then in verse 5 he spoke with confidence about the future, "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." Shall means "expressing the future tense." He knew there would be trouble. That was unavoidable. But, he spoke with faith. In that time, God IS GOING TO hide me! "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." Yet again, he speaks to the future, even the undesirable and discouraging situations, with knowledge that God's faithfulness would not be absent from the scenario! THEN the Lord WILL take me up! Then comes one of the verses that has ministered to my heart so many times - "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." He's referring to a time when he couldn't see the goodness yet. But, he knew somewhere along the way, it was there. If he had only focused on what he COULD see he would have lost it. But, he trusted that in the days ahead God was going to change his situation and shower him with goodness. He knew the future held blessings that he couldn't see just yet. He ends the chapter with one of the sweetest conclusions. Imagine sitting under a tree in the desert somewhere talking with David. He's just explained to you all that God has done for him and how he made it through. He places his hand on your shoulder and, knowing you're struggling, too, says with the all the faith and sincerity he can muster, "Wait on the Lord:" He pauses and smiles, "be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:" He pats your shoulder again and looks you in the eye, "wait, I say, on the Lord." - And make sure to pack your umbrella!

#Devotion #Jesus #miracles #answeredprayer #peace #trust #hope #faith