Where are you, Lord?

 

A well-known phone carrier was famous for its mantra of "Can you hear me now?"

The mobile phone user wanted to make sure he is heard from any location, at any time, in any situation.  Connection is the key to success.

Suppose you are on a call with your spouse and they begin to fade out.  It’s hard to hear them – you might only catch every other word. Their voice might grow faint and you may hear static in the background. You frantically move from room to room in hopes that the signal with grow stronger.

Sometimes you are in a place with God where your signal is weak and your connection is wavering.  

The fault is not at God’s end, but at yours.  You've moved out of range and now you no longer hear Him clearly. “Where are you, God?” 

Now go back in time with me… Remember playing with two cans and a string when you were little – believing you were in an urgent conversation with your sister or best friend?  Sure, you could hear alright, but every now and then you wondered if what you said actually got to the ear of whoever was on the receiving end.  The science says it works, but you had your doubts.

Dr. David Jeremiah [Turning Point Magazine] puts it this way: 

 

  Whenever we pray, God is on the other end of the line with His ear to the can, hearing every word and listening to every vibration of our voices.  He hears even the faintest sigh.  The prophet Daniel prayed regularly all his life and history was changed.  The apostle Paul prayed, and cities were opened to the Gospel.  Hannah prayed and God lifted her burden.

  If you’re in anguish or distress, you don’t need two cans and a string.  Two bent knees and a broken heart will do just fine.

So, how can you be sure you’re being heard?  What can you do from your end to keep the connection intact?  Here are four simple things:

1.      Keep the line open.  (confession, repentance, devotion)
2.     Minimize distractions  (gadgets, TV, kids and pets)
3.      Focus on God  (Bible, devotions, praise music)
4.      Don’t lose hope while you wait.  (prayer)

I have personally been going through a season of wondering if I am hearing clearly from God or not. You know what I mean…You usually find yourself asking at least one of these questions out of frustration:

            “Lord, why don't you answer me?”

            "Jesus, where are you?"

            “Help me hear Your voice, Lord.”

I know intellectually that God is still where He has always been. The disconnection is at my end - not His!

I’m the one who has moved into the “dead zone” where the signal is faint at best, or non-existent at worst. Then I find myself rehearsing in my mind those things which might have caused the “dropped call”. 

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my hear; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”  Verses 1-4 give me pause to reflect on the fact that though I have interfered with the connection – God in His great mercy recognizes my human limitations and knows me intimately.  He comprehends my thoughts and my actions before I do.  His Spirit invites me to re-connect on a stronger signal.

I am glad God is still interested in having a dialog with me.  I often find myself taking a rogue thought captive and redirecting it to the Lord in the form of a prayer and praise.  I am determined to keep my line of communication open with Him despite my shortcomings and failures.

Do you have a tried and true method of staying connected to the Lord?  What advice can you share with others on how to maintain a strong signal through the constant static of life?

Now, more than ever - you need to hear Him clearly!

I am a sheep of the Lord’s pasture.  I listen for His voice.  I follow Him closely.

Yes Lord - I've got 5 bars now!

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It was written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. Visit  http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

Where are you, Lord?

Lamb of God - Savior Mine

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us.   (I John 3:16 NRSV)

Alas! and did my Savior bleed

And did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head

For sinners such as I?

Was it for sins that I have done

He suffered on the tree?

Amazing Pity! grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide

And shut His glories in,

When Christ, the great Redeemer, died

For man the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face

While His dear cross appears,

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,

And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay

The debt of love I owe;

Here, Lord, I give myself away -

'Tis all that I can do.

~Isaac Watts  (1674-1748)

Enjoy these past Easter posts:

            Bunnies, Baskets and Bulbs              

                                                        Easter - The Promise     
           

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 

Visit  http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

Lamb of God - Savior Mine

It’s All in God’s Timing – Isn’t It?

“Maybe this time he’ll walk the aisle Lord!”    

“I just know this is going to open his eyes!”   

“Now he’ll finally surrender!”

Do you spend your time, energy and “wishful thinking” on trying to figure out when your spouse might accept the Lord Jesus as his Savior? Have you made plans, signed him up for a men's retreat, coerced him into attending a visiting pastor’s service, had others call him, or just downright tried to play “Holy Spirit” and shame him into it?  You’d better reconsider your ways and let God do what He does best – be Sovereign in all His ways.

Timing is everything.  Let’s venture back to the time of Ruth and Naomi who saw firsthand what God’s timing is all about.

The story of Ruth in the Old Testament takes place during the time of the Judges when Israel was disobedient and idolatrous.  It was a time of apostasy, moral decay and anarchy.  Moab was a nation of people descended from Moab – the grandson of Lot by incest with his eldest daughter.  The Moabites played a significant part in seducing the Israelites from their true God to idols and pagan worship.  During the famine that occurred in Judah, Elimelech of Bethlehem took his wife and two sons to Moab where there was free travel between the two nations and fertile land to settle.

Elimelech’s two sons married local Moabite women, but soon afterward Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow.  Ten years later both sons died – leaving Ruth and her sister-in-law widows also.  Naomi planned to return to Judah – the land of her husband’s inheritance.  She would once again be among her people during this time of great personal loss.  She encouraged her two daughters-in-law to return to their fathers’ homes.

Ruth strongly urged Naomi to let her return with her instead of staying in Moab.  She recognized Naomi’s God as the true God of Israel and wanted to reside with her permanently saying, “…your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).  Ruth recognized God’s love and wisdom in Naomi and desired the same. She had forged a relationship with her mother-in-law during the ten years she was married, and she observed Naomi’s faith and her interaction with Jehovah - the God of Israel.

Spiritually speaking, your husband is being wooed by God’s Spirit in you!  He has many opportunities to return to “Moab” (the world’s ways) – but he often feels a “tug” at his heart and desires to be with you – sometimes unaware of God’s perpetually drawing him near.  God uses these times to gently bring your husband closer to the things of God and His love. 

When Ruth returned to Judah with Naomi she needed to find some means of support for her and her aging mother-in-law.  She went out into the fields to glean from the grain that was left behind during harvest. God had guided her into the fields of Boaz – a wealthy landowner that just happened to be a near kinsman of Naomi’s.  The passage in Ruth tells us that she lay at the feet of Boaz on his threshing floor (at Naomi’s insistence) in order that he might assume his obligations under the law.  It was in effect a marriage proposal extended by Ruth towards a man God had ordained as her “redeemer” or goel.   This was all part of what Naomi saw as an opportunity for Ruth to not only gain a husband, but to preserve her own deceased husband’s estate for an heir.  After a nearer relative declined the invitation to redeem her according to Hebrew law, Boaz stepped up and did the honorable thing. 

In the New Testament Jesus represents our Kinsman Redeemer.  The goel is a “close relative” of the one he redeems.  He must be able to pay the price of redemption, be willing to redeem, and be free himself.  Jesus Christ is our brother – born of the seed of David.  He redeems us with his precious blood.  He willingly gave up his life for us, and was free from the curse of sin.

Isaiah 63:16 says, “You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.” And Paul tells us in Titus 2:13-14, “…looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Jesus wants to redeem your spouse.  Our Lord meets all of the criteria for the goel and gave His life for him.   He is willing to fulfill the law of love and preserve his soul for eternity.  Jesus loves your mate and wants to see him embrace his destiny in Christ. 

After receiving good wishes and blessings from the elders and people at the city gate, Boaz takes Ruth as his wife.  Ruth later conceived and bore a son, Obed.  In Matthew’s account of the lineage of Jesus, Ruth’s son is the grandfather of King David – a man after God’s own heart. Naomi’s heartache was turned to joy as she held her grandson, and God’s purposes were fulfilled in the birth of the Messiah through this obedient girl from Moab. 

Pray for your spouse to have a tender heart and ears to hear the call of Jesus.  When he accepts the Lord Jesus as Savior, he will be included in the spiritual lineage of the redeemed!  Your mate will have the veil lifted from his eyes and behold his Redeemer. 

God’s timing is perfect.  Don’t rush it…  The fields are ripe for harvest.  

Your spouse might still be gleaning in the Master’s field.

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”.  It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 

http://www.Godmissionpossible.com

It’s All in God’s Timing – Isn’t It?

If You "Play God", You Just Might Get What You Want...

Oh, how we love to bash Eve for succumbing to temptation – but don’t we all struggle with that? Satan does not tempt us in generalities. He is far too clever for that. He likes to pick out something specific to hone in on. Take discontentment, for example. He will tell you that you deserve so much more, or maybe something better, and of course, that one particular thing you don’t have. He just aimed his poison dart at your “pride” and you fell for it. What happened to that shield of faith you were supposed to hold up for protection?

The enemy of our soul delights in focusing his deception on our desires or needs that haven’t been met. He picks the time and place of our temptation and sends us an “engraved invitation”, hoping we’ll reply quickly. He knows when we’re tired, hungry, upset, depressed, lonely or sick that we’ll be more venerable to his deceit. He patiently waits for us to let down our guard. God’s Word tells us to “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Satan loves to create doubt regarding God’s love for us. He did the same with Eve. This is what he told her, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every three of the garden’?” He simply twisted the truth and got her to question God’s goodness and character. We must be careful to not fall for the same trick. God may have given you a personal promise or verse to cling to regarding your mate. You may be waiting for God to do something special in your family, job situation, or with your children. Don’t let the father of lies trick you into believing his falsehoods. He wants to destroy your trust in God and your confidence in Who He is.

We know from I John 2:16, “that all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Satan is the ruler of this age and our present physical world, and has been influencing the practice of sin since the beginning - starting with Eve. We must watch for signs of discontentment and jealousy as we evaluate our circumstances. We must focus on God’s sovereignty and His wisdom. We cannot lean unto our own understanding in matters pertaining to the fairness of life. We must believe God and believe in His Word, and leave the results in His hands.   I John 5:4-5 says this: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

You may come to a point in your marriage when you were sure you heard from God about something, and then you didn’t see any evidence of God working it out. Your waiting has turned into years, not months... Now you're not sure you heard from God.  You can be tempted to take matters into your own hands - at your own peril of course.  We must surrender our desires and plans to be denied, changed, or granted as God sees fit. He is Sovereign. If through a broken heart He can bring His purposes to fruition, then thank Him for breaking your heart!

I was tempted to contemplate divorce not long after my conversion to Christ, but God plainly spoke to my spirit that it was not an option for me. God promised me a new husband with the “same man”! I Corinthians 7:14, 16 tells us, “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy… For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”

 Temptation is around every turn, and in every decision. You must stay strong and focused on Jesus. Use His Word to diffuse them all.  As Jesus said, “It is written…” So be it! Amen!

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
http://www.Godmissionpossible.com 

If You "Play God", You Just Might Get What You Want...

Does It Take A Donkey To Get Your Attention?

 How many times have you said or done something, and right away Holy Spirit stirred in your heart?  Sometimes the conviction is so strong – you shake your head to yourself – wondering why it took something like this to get your attention.

God’s way of calling us and getting our attention is as varied as we are!  Sometimes I need a 2x4 or a billboard to get the message.  Other times it is an immediate pricking of the conscience and a quiet voice within.

God has spoken to many men and women in the Bible.  Here are three of my favorites:

Balak, King of Moab didn’t like the fact that the children of Israel were encroaching on his territory and settling near his people.  He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor to pronounce a curse on them for money [a diviner’s fee] to defeat them, and to drive them out of his country. However, God spoke to him and said, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” The Lord forbade him to go with them, but later tested Balaam as he went with the princes of Moab.  Numbers 22:22 tells us God’s anger was aroused, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand as an adversary against him.  The Angel had a drawn sword, but Balaam didn’t see Him.  

However, the donkey he rode did see Him, and refused to continue down the road. Three separate times the Angel caused the animal to divert from his path: once onto the grass, then against a stone wall, and finally bottle-necked in a narrow place.  Each time the animal disobeyed, Balaam struck him with his staff.  The donkey finally lay down, receiving another blow from her master.  That’s when God got Balaam’s attention.  He opened the donkey’s mouth and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 

 Balaam foolishly replied that he wished he had a sword in order to kill her for her disobedience. Then the donkey reminded him that she had never done anything like that before, and had been an exceptional animal of burden for him since she became his.  Then the Angel of the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw Him standing with His sword drawn, and fell on his face.  The Angel of the Lord told him that his way was contrary to what God wanted, and that His people were to be blessed, not cursed.  Balaam thought he was doing God’s will, but it took a donkey to “open his eyes” to his folly.  He told Balak in verse 38, “The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.” (Numbers 22).

Elijah found a cave at Mt. Horeb to escape life’s problems after Jezebel threatened to kill him. God told him to stand on the mountain before Him.  Elijah discovered that God was not in the whirlwind, or the earthquake, or the fire – but in a still small voice.  There he was told to anoint the next King of Israel - Jehu, and a new successor prophet by the name of Elisha.  God hadn’t spoken to him in the manner he thought God should speak.  He was awaiting a Mighty roar, a Holy holler, perhaps an earth-shaking shout.  But God came to him quietly, in a moment of calm – in the cleft of the rock of Mt. Horeb.  God Himself whispered to His weary prophet in a delicate voice – encouraging him in a moment of frailty – preparing him for the days ahead.  (I Kings 19).

Samuel was a small child when he left his mother’s arms to live with Eli the priest in the tabernacle of the Lord at Shiloh. He ministered before the Lord even as a young child.  There had been a silence in Israel, and God had not spoken for quite some time through the prophets and seers.  The Lord was grieved by the wickedness and sin that surrounded His people. 

As Samuel was lying down to sleep, God called him three separate times – and each time the boy thought Eli had called.  The last time Eli perceived that the Lord had called him, and instructed Samuel to lie down again and wait for God to call him once more.  I Samuel 3:10 says that the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”  Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”  This tender child was intently listening for his Heavenly Father’s call.  (I Samuel 1-3).

When we are desperate to hear a Word from God, He will meet us where we are.  He will often speak to us through someone, through His Word, and through Holy Spirit’s promptings.  Make yourself ready for His message by stilling your soul and spirit often, and in earnest.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”.  It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 

http://www.godmissionpossible.com/

Does It Take A Donkey To Get Your Attention?