I hear You, Lord!

Have you ever been in a place where you just didn’t know what to do next? You know that you aren’t supposed to go backwards and you don’t feel ready to go forward? You just know that you have to do something. I had one of those type of weeks. I faced some tests that I wasn’t expecting and they left me questioning what my next move should be. I know that God has a purpose for my life and He’s shaping and molding me to walk that purpose out but sometimes…Sometimes I want God to just give me the paper with the bulleted list of points that tell me exactly what to do next. Wouldn’t that be awesome?! Maybe it’s just me but I hate guessing. I like to know what’s coming so that I can prepare myself. But today, God told me to STOP…LISTEN…and OBEY! Well then…what do you say to that? So here’s what He told me and hopefully you will be blessed.

One of the hardest things to do is stop doing something that has become a habit. Think about it. Complaining, talking to a guy/girl that you know you shouldn’t be talking to, eating and the list can go on and on. For me, it’s internal planning. I am constantly thinking of how to figure something out or make something work. That’s what this week was about. I hate waiting and I have been trying to figure out this place that I am in and instead of resting in who God is and His plan for me, my mind has been running a mile a minute. But I am reminded that God said in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” You see, in order to stop, you have to trust. You have to know that God has you in the forefront of His mind and He already has a plan for you and it is good.  You have to know that even though “a day is like a thousand years to the Lord and a thousand years is like a day, The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Pet. 3: 8b – 9, NLT) There’s a reason for God saying stop in your life. He wants to make sure that you are in the right position for the promise instead of destruction. Woooo…I hear you, Lord! STOP…

So, God really had my attention at that point but in true Ebony fashion, I asked what’s next?! He said to me, LISTEN! You see, how can you know what’s next if you’re too busy talking and not listening to what God is saying? Proverbs is full of powerful statements about listening but one jumped out at me in the first chapter. Wisdom is crying out in this chapter and says, “But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” (Prov. 1:33, NLT) This is God. Haven’t you noticed that when you take time to hear from God before making a decision or a move, you have peace with whatever you have to do? Doesn’t mean you want to do it but you have peace.  Sometimes, it’s hard because your voice sounds so inviting or your flesh is saying exactly what you want to hear and you get distracted from what God is saying. But John tells us in 8:47 that “whoever is of God hears the words of God.” That tells me that I have a responsibility as one of His people to listen to what He is saying because I am a part of Him.  Obviously, there can be a difference between hearing and listening but at the heart of it, you have to stop letting your flesh and your emotions tell you how to run your life instead of hearing God.  Okay…I hear you, Lord! LISTEN…

As I was starting to feel better with this conversation with God, He told me to just obey. He reminded me that partial obedience is not obedience. And then He gave me 2 verses that made me sit up and take a breath. The first one in John 14:15 is unfortunately often forgotten. Jesus quite simply said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” If that isn’t motivation, I don’t know what is! If you are professing to love Christ, then you have to obey Him. It was a powerful reminder but I think God wanted to make sure that it was solidified in me so that I can trust Him in this place. He sent me to Luke 6 to pull it together. “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.  It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.  But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6: 46-49, NLT) God is not going to instruct you to do anything that is wrong. He is building something in you that you may not understand but it will be well built and strong. You just have to do what He says. You have to obey. There’s really no getting around it. But the best part is that you will be better for having done it. I got it, Lord! OBEY…

God is faithful and loving and awesome but He doesn't need your help! That's what I came to realize through this conversation. He only asks that I listen to Him and obey what He says and that encompasses everything. STOP trying to figure out His plan, LISTEN to what He is speaking into your life and OBEY His instructions. You will find, as I did, that your peace increases. It doesn't mean that you won't still wonder at times about what's next but it does mean that you can live while you wait.

AMEN

Peace, I need you!

I woke up this morning to reports about a mass shooting at a church this morning and my heart sank. The idea that someone, a young person, would sit for an hour before opening fire on people gathered for prayer and bible study, completely tore my nerves up. I immediately started praying and asking God for help with understanding this type of sick hate and disrespect for His house and His people. And though I wanted to focus on the enemy’s actions, because let’s call it what it was, an attack of the enemy; God went in an entirely different direction. The scripture that immediately came to me was from the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9 NKJV) I was a bit confused because that’s not what I was thinking. What did being a peacemaker have to do with anything?  I wanted a plan of action. I wanted an explanation.  But He began to talk to me about being in His presence. He began to talk to me about peace. And I realized that in a tragic situation like this or some of the hard places that you may be facing in your life, the first thing you need is God’s peace.

Why did God speak that verse into my spirit when I asked Him for understanding? I believe He was saying something about how you respond to difficult situations in your life.  It would be so easy to stir people up for revenge and for answers. I mean, with all of the things happening in society today, emotions are on edge. But Jesus specifically taught that those that work to bring peace are God’s children. They are connected to Him in a special and meaningful way. How are you handling tragedy? How are you handling difficulty and hurt? Are you seeking to bring peace and reconciliation or are you stirring up confusion and causing discord? The Message translation of this verse says, “You are blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” (Matt. 5:9)  Isn’t that powerful? God wants His people to be ones that bring light and peace where there is nothing but darkness and confusion. Today, some peacemakers are needed.

I almost laughed when God showed me the other scripture to share with you. It just showed me how much higher God’s thoughts and ways are above mine. Again, I was coming from a whole other direction and God was still speaking peace. He led me to Psalm 4 and specifically verse 8. This is one of David’s psalms and he’s talking to his son Absalom and basically admonishing him about the pointlessness of attacking one of God’s servants and calls for them to repent. David says all this because he is confident in who God is. “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” (Ps. 4:8 NLT) This seemed an odd scripture to use in light of the situation that happened last night and I said that out loud to God. He answered by telling me to read the verse again. Then I realized that He was giving the peace that I desired so much in this situation. He was letting me know that those people, though attacked, were with Him. They were in His presence at the end of their lives, praying to Him, reading His word. They were truly in the best place that they could have been. And though I am sure that they were afraid, they were surrounded by a God that has a plan and they immediately went from this earthly place to His presence; for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  I wonder if you can say that you trust God so much that you can lie down and sleep knowing that He has you and your situation. I wonder if you can look to Him when things aren’t going the way you would like and know that He is watching out for you. You see, even in tragedy, the Lord is present and His word doesn’t change. Today, some peace is needed.

As I close out, I pray that God’s peace rises up in you today and surpasses all understanding. You see, God has a way that is mighty sweet and He can do for you what nothing else can. Don’t allow anger and fear to govern your life today, instead let peace and comfort reign. The enemy is not allowed to win in your situation because God is already victorious. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 NLT)

Amen.

You are not alone!

Have you ever had a day that you wanted to press rewind on? Today is that day for me! I fell asleep last night without setting my alarm clock and totally blew apart the plan that I had constructed in my mind for today. Everything just went left quickly and I have been praying diligently for a restart button. As I sat down to write, nothing was coming and I found myself getting more and more frustrated. I said, “Lord, what in the world?!” And do you know what His response was? Encourage the people…Ummmm? What? I’m really just trying to get myself together at this point. I’m just asking for a Rhema word for MYSELF! Again, I heard, encourage the people.  Don’t you love it when God asks you to minister to someone else what you need? If I’m honest, the answer to that question is no! Sometimes I want to say, what about me?! But I’ve learned that God knows best and if I just obey, He will give me what I need. So, I waited and waited and I heard God say…you are not alone. I wanted to cry because at that moment that’s where I was…alone in my frustration, in my challenges, in my worry. Up until that point, I couldn’t shake myself out of that place enough to encourage you but having God remind me that He was with me, woke me up! So, I’m going to give you the same message. You are not alone! God is with you!

Some of you have been dealing with some difficult situations in your lives. You have been asked to make some decisions, accept some assignments, and overcome some challenges that you don’t feel equipped for. Truth be told, you don’t even see how God would even consider you. But today, God told me to remind you that you are not alone. I opened my bible app and the first scripture I saw was “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9, ESV) Well, then! I guess it can’t get much clearer than that! You see, when God spoke this to Joshua, Moses had just died. Immediately, he was in placed in charge of the Israelites and the task of leading them to the Promised Land. Imagine the stress that Joshua was under. Even though, he knew that Moses was going to die, his entire life changed in an instant. It’s one thing to be the assistant but now he was in the position of leader. I would imagine fear and loneliness would be at the top of the list of emotions. But God speaks directly to Joshua and tells him exactly what to do.

“No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.  “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.  Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Josh. 1: 5-8 NLT)

Isn’t that comforting? God made sure that Joshua knew that he wasn’t in it alone. He gave clear instruction and assurance of His presence. God essentially says, don’t worry about this! I’ve got everything under control. You just have to study my word and obey and success is yours! In other words, God told Joshua that he was not alone.

Perhaps you are in the midst of a Joshua moment. You are looking at your life and it seems that everything has changed. You are right on the brink of a brand new assignment or transition, or a household change and though God has been speaking, you feel out there, lost, and alone.  You all of a sudden have to adjust to a new normal. But God wants you to know today that you are not alone. Just like He encouraged Joshua, He is present with you. Isn’t that good news?! Isn’t it comforting to know that you are not on your own in this? Doesn’t it give you a sense of peace to know that God is right there, covering you, strengthening you, speaking to you? You see sometimes, the voices of your circumstance and your struggle and your challenges are so loud in your ear that you can’t recognize the still small voice of God reminding you of His presence. You have complicated matters so much that you miss the simple fact that God is with you. But be encouraged today! God has not abandoned ship. He has not moved on to someone else’s issue. He has not forgotten about you. Nope, He is with you wherever you go! You are not alone.

 Amen

 

 

All things are working for your good!

Every week, I wake up with the belief that God has a right now, rhema word to share with you. It’s usually pretty fleshed out with examples and analogies and semi deep thoughts. But today, I woke up with the refrain of a song playing in my head over and over again. It’s pretty simple but immensely powerful. I kept hearing Travis Greene sing “All things are working for my good. He’s intentional, never failing.” It was on repeat and I felt immediately that someone needed to be reminded of that. You see, no matter what circumstance you are facing, God is working. Whether it’s grief, uncertainty, worry, sickness, divorce, God is One that cannot fail. So, lean in really close and listen carefully to what the Lord wants you to know today. Ready? Here goes…you’re going to be alright. That’s it! That’s what He said.

I imagine that when you read that statement, some of you rolled your eyes. Some wanted to slap me and some made some sort of grunting sound. I feel you! But let me explain it to you the way God gave it to me. What you are experiencing is real. That overwhelming tiredness that you feel from dealing with the same issue for so long is real. That underlying anger that you are dealing with because someone you loved is now gone is real. That nagging stress that you battle from waiting for your answer is real. It’s all completely understandable but what it is not, is the end. You see, God isn’t thinking on your level or anywhere near. His thinking is way above ours and it’s way ahead. He’s not looking at you and seeing your right now. He’s looking at you and seeing the finished product. He’s seeing how that tiredness transitioned into a testimony on how to overcome that blessed many others. He’s seeing how that anger shaped your compassion for others who suffer. He’s seeing how that stress shifted to a strength that encouraged someone else to wait.  He’s seeing His finished work in you!  You’re going to be alright.

Okay…let me give you the Word. I’ve written on Romans 8:28 many times before but that’s what God is saying today. I guess He’s going to keep giving it to me until you and I can stand confidently knowing that God isn’t playing with our emotions or making decisions haphazardly. Nope! He’s got a plan and He is working it even while we wait through our valleys and circumstances. See what Paul tells us. 

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (Rom. 8: 26-28, MSG) 

Are you hearing me, Pastor? The weight of carrying those people and sometimes feeling inadequate is real but you’re going to be alright. God knows even what you can’t speak out loud and is working all of those details out! Are you hearing me, woman of God? The pressure of being what others think you should be instead of what God has told you is real but you’re going to be alright! God is positioning you to do the assignment and working all of the details out! Are you hearing me, man of God? The stress of being the leader when you feel like giving up is real but you’re going to be alright! God is pruning you and preparing you for the next level but no fear, God is working all of the details out.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE ALRIGHT! God knows what He is doing and He is working things out for your good! Psalm 139 says that He knows everything about you because He made you! So, if He made you, don’t you think He knows what you’re made of? He knows what you can handle but more than that He knows where you will end up! Trust Him and remember that what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later! (Rom. 8:18 MSG) You’re going to be alright because all things are working for your good!