“The Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you. But the Lord your God will give them over to you…” - Deuteronomy 7:21b-23a {ESV}
Good morning, fellow sinners! Let us begin our day by some confession, some grace received and some commitments to the Lord. If there is a habitual sin that is common in the modern church it is the sin of impatience.We don’t think of our reluctance to wait upon God, His provision, His timing, and His deliverance as sinful.We see this type of behavior as a personality quirk more than anything.God sees it as mistrust and therefore I think we can appropriately label it as sin.So I’m giving a public confession today that I’m a repeat offender.Yes, I struggle with this sin.
Most of you who are reading this are honest enough to say that you are also a violator in this area.You have a set of desires which course through your veins.These wishes/wants/hopes/dreams/plans/prayers are established as parts of your life and they are not bad in and of themselves.You have even placed them regularly before the Lord in submissive prayer at times.You ask, you seek, and you knock.The door remains airtight.You ask a little louder, seek a little more closely, and knock a little harder.Still no response?You demand, you presume and you develop bruises on your hands from pounding on the closed door.Eventually you bring God a certified list of your rights, you begin to try to lead Him to what you want and you start looking for an open window to climb in through since He obviously is not interested in opening the unyielding door.One way or another you’re going to have your request fulfilled.Even if you have to do it yourself.
Welcome to the 21st Century brand of faith.
As I have been pondering some delays that God has determined for my life I have been made painfully aware of this potential in me.Bottom line?Results are important to Jeff Lyle and are usually necessary due to the demands upon me.God is not interested in entering into my stress.He refuses to rush through life with me.He never changes lanes without signaling and won’t show up early for appointments.God seems to meander at times; He really does stop and smell the roses that He made and I’m learning that I’m not the guy who can instruct Him otherwise.It really is His timetable that I have to conform to – imagine that!
So this week, in the midst of a lighter than normal schedule, I have become reacquainted with slowing down.I’ve sipped my coffee instead of hypodermically injecting it.I’ve meditated on a handful of Scriptures instead of ingesting passages and the mass quantity of study aids piled on my desk.He has enabled me to praise Him at length before petitioning Him.Lo and behold, I found myself listening to Him without getting fidgety for several days in a row.Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still allowed my voice to be heard in heaven as I’ve obeyed the command to let my requests be made known unto God.It’s just that I received some pretty personal instruction form the verses at the top of the blog and God has gained my attention by the three familiar words “little by little”.How God-like that He would ordain that methodology (little by little progression) with a Christian who usually finds himself sprinting through the day.He’s not merely patient, He’s powerful enough to cause be to me become the same.
May bosses be patient with employees today.May the sick patiently and expectantly wait on God’s reversal of circumstances.Let worried parents appreciate the progress which comes in their children little-by-little.The Holy Spirit is going to empower some wives to employ patience with difficult husbands.Husbands will gain mercy as they wait on God to bring endurance to the hearts of emotional wives.God will intimately encourage single men and women as He prepares their future mate…little-by-little -you don't want to get that mate before they have been made ready for you, do you?Closed doors may remain sealed as God allows some of His children growth opportunity in this area.Jesus said in Luke 21:19, “By your endurance you will gain your lives.”God is looking us right in the eyes with an infinitely reassuring smile upon His radiant face and telling us (not for the first time) that He has it perfectly in control.He’s got this one. His delays are not His denials.
I’m going to have some more coffee and encourage you to find something to slowly enjoy before bursting onto the landscape of today. For me, coffee is a morning pleasure. It tastes so much better when sipped.
I am enjoying my second cup as I read these encouraging words from my preacher boy. Love you much! "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Posted by deborah samples on 07/22/2010 05:55:18
Thank you Jeff, for reminding us and reinforcing what God meant in Psalms 46:10; Be still and know that I am God.
