WAIT...but...ACT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG2Xz8hMalU

Scripture: Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.”

Thoughts: There’s a paradoxical nature to the act of daily devotions. On one hand, there are multiple places in the Bible, like there in Psalm 37, that give instructions to wait on the Lord, wait patiently, waiting for Him to act… And sometimes we literally need to wait in his presence in prayer or Bible reading or worship and not rush, not push, and not insist that God act on our timetable. Be patient. Wait.

On the other hand, though, sometimes we think that it’s holier to have loooong prayer times and devotional times and that we should feel guilty if we aren’t good at those sorts of devotional times. A friend who’s walked with God for many decades longer than I have recently told me, “I was never good at those sorts of long devotional times…but then again, who says God can’t act quickly!?” For him, God made clear pretty quickly what he was supposed to do.

Action: Let’s pray a different kind of prayer today with this action. Point like your telling yourself which direction to go in, and during the first prayer move very very slowly, praying on something that God may be taking a long time to make clear to you. Then for the second prayer, move your finger very quickly back and forth, asking God to remind you of what He’s already told you to do that you need to get busy doing and stop waiting around – because God’s already made it clear! Stop procrastinating! DO IT NOW!

Prayer: “God our Father, help us to wait on your guidance…what are you revealing in YOUR time, slowly, and we just need to be patient.” BE PATIENT.

AND…“God our Father, help us to get moving and act on what you’ve told us to do? ACT NOW.

Promises Pt. 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKTMHn-hni4

Scripture: Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)  23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Thoughts: A friend of mine recently quoted the late philosophy professor and pastor, Dallas Willard, as saying something like: “I know what God’s address is: it’s at the end of your rope!” When we get to the end of our rope, and we’ve tried all of our ideas and exhausted our efforts, there God is…and actually, God was there all along willing to hold us by the hand and sustain us by holding us in His hand – if we’re willing to be held and led by Him.

This is related to the Promises idea from yesterday. We’re going along living our lives on our own power, sometimes sliding downward in failure...when all along God in the Scripture has given us promises that the Spirit of God might remind us, “Hey! This one is for YOU right now!”

So if you’re struggling with something in your life as you seek to live a life of holiness of heart and life, perhaps Psalm 37:23-24 could be used of God to give you peace and strength: The Lord holds you by the hand!

Action: Take a piece of string or rope or long piece of tape, hold it by one hand outstretched so it dangles to the floor. Run one of your other fingers down it, reminding yourself of how in that area of life you’re trying to hold on but are slipping down sometimes. Picture yourself getting to the end of that rope / string / tape, about to fall to the floor, and there is God’s hand. Right there at the end.

Prayer: “Lord, help me to believe you are there at the end of my rope. You can catch me, hold me, rescue me, and take me by the hand and guide me. I believe. I will trust you.”

Power in the Promises

SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 1:4-5 says:  And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.  In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.

THOUGHTS: In our sermon series this Spring we're looking at the ways in which the Bible shows us how to overcome sin in our lives so that we can live lives of what the early Methodists called "holiness of heart and life." In this Scripture passage, Peter indicates that one of the ways we can overcome the sin he calls "the world's corruption caused by human desires," is to "make every effort to respond to God's promises." How do we do that?

Well, where do we find the most complete list of promises God has given humanity through the ages? In the Bible. How can we find out what those promises are? Look in the Bible for them! I heard a seasoned leader in the Nazarene denomination say years ago that when he hit a really difficult season in life, he'd start searching the Bible carefully with the prayer, "Lord -- show me a promise for my life right now..." I like that. It's intentional. It's faith-full.

ACTION: Make sure you have a daily routine of reading at least a small portion of the Bible, and you'll often come across promises God wants you to see and believe in and trust in for your life. But you can also take a sizable portion like a couple of chapters or a small book in the Bible like 2 Peter, and read it now with that prayer:

PRAYER: "Lord -- show me a promise for my life right now..."