Unfulfilled promises

Romans 4:17-18

It is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope,

V20; No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised

'In hope he believed against hope,' 

I love this verse. It challenges me to keep hold of the promises God has given despite the wait. I don't know about you, but I find that waiting hard. 

God has given me promises, but when they haven't been fulfilled days, weeks, months later I find it difficult to hold on. I begin to doubt. Was that really God? Was it me? It seems that I, 'waver concerning the promise of God'. 

How do I learn to hold on? 

This passage tells us that Abraham, 'grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised'. Abraham recognised the power, might and glory of God despite his waiting, despite the as yet unfulfilled promises. 

He continued to praise God. 

The Bible even says he, 'grew strong in his faith'. So, Abraham must of worked on his relationship with God. He continued to spend time with Him and got to know Him better. Abraham grew stronger in faith. To me, it seems that Abraham kept God as the main thing, not the promise God had made. Abraham trusted God. 

Abraham accepted that God was able and in charge, God should be our main focus, not the disappointments, unfulfilled desires or promises. We should spend more time recognising who God is rather than what we are still waiting for.

Abraham did not let what he was experiencing affect his trust in God wane. Abraham realised who God is and knew that God 'was able to do what he had promised'.. God hasn't changed! God is the same today for us as He was for Abraham. He can and does perform miracles.

If God has made you promises, don't let the unfulfillment of them effect your relationship with Him. He still is and will be God no matter what is going on in your life. If the promises He has made you seem ever more unlikely - imagine the glory, honour and praise you will be giving God when they do come to pass.

Grow strong in your faith do that in hope, you can believe against hope.

The power of God

Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek

The Bible isn't just a book of words, but, 'the power of God'. It's not a book of instructions/stories or advice, it's, 'the power of God'.

People often find it hard to get stuck into reading the Bible, and some find It boring or deem it irrelevant. 

Perhaps that's because we don't come at it from the right angle. 

If every time we pick up the Bible and turn its pages we recognise that God's power is contained within it, maybe we would treat our time reading it differently. Maybe with eager expectation that the power of God can change our lives, give us direction and hope. Maybe, if we realise that the Bible is truly the word of God then we would look forward to spending time curled up with a cuppa and engaging with it.

So, let's get stuck into absorbing, 'the power of God' - it might just change your life! 

In life or death

Philippians 1:21-24

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

Wow!

What faith! What selflessness!

 'to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Paul's faith in God that meant he wasn't worried about life or death. That is amazing! 

Life can seem pretty tough at times but most people have a bit of worry/fear about dying. Yet Paul considered dying, 'gain'! 

Being willing to live or die as God sees fit is a real challenge to me, let alone considering it 'gain'. I appreciate that life with God is going to be better, but there are so many things I want to live to see.  Am I prepared to give up the hope of those things if God decides that's best?

I once knew a man that was in just that predicament, he'd been diagnosed with cancer and it wasn't looking good. Yet, he wanted to live. His greatest desire was to have grandchildren, but his children weren't quite ready for that yet so he'd need a few more years. Yet, as he prayed and sought God, he made the decision that whatever God wanted was for the best even if it meant he would not live to see the desire of his heart. The rest of his days he spent in heart-felt worship, fully committed to God despite the pain and suffering he was experiencing.

Such faith! Such selflessness!

This man has been a fantastic role model for me, and those that knew him. 

You may know someone like that too. If not, Paul can be a great role model for all of us. 

He was torn, what to choose? 

Do we want to live? Or die? Do we get to choose?  

Paul could see benefit in both - can you? Paul recognised that he didn't really have the ability to choose and he was clearly unable to decide. (- good job God doesn't leave every decision up to us right?!)

Be assured, you are alive because as Paul says, it is 'necessary' God has some purpose for you that only you can fulfil. 

You may wonder what your purpose is, or even wonder if you have one - God made you for a reason otherwise you wouldn't even be here. So, what are you alive to do? 

What about death then? 

We like to think/hope that we get to have enough time left to fulfil our dreams - but what if we don't? what if God's time line differs to yours? Like it did for our dear friend. 

If God were to choose that your time on Earth was up and He wanted you to be with Him, would you be ready? What things give you a hold on this life on Earth? And would you be prepared to selflessly give them up? 

Live like you want to die. 

Paul and Jesus did.

Trusting in tough times

I have just read Psalm 57, and am struck by this; David has complete trust in God, eventhough he was in great anguish - he was literally scared for his life. Talk about a tough situation!

Psalm 57:

 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
    he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
    I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
    my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
    but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8     Awake, my glory![b]
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!

This psalm was written by David when Saul was chasing him and trying to kill him. David was actually hiding in a cave, which couldn't of been very pleasant, yet, this psalm is full of worship!

Eventhough David was in deep despair, he honoured and glorified God; 'I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.' 

Do we do the same when we're hurting, scared, feeling lonely or got at? 

It's a challenge isn't it when times are tough, to recognise if God is even there? 

We can question - does He exist? Can he hear me? Does He even care? Can't He see what i'm going through?

But, what are we really questioning?

Are we questioning God or our faith in God?

To answer the first part, either God is real or He isn't. This doesn't depend on whether things are going well or not in our lives. 

So, is our faith in God strong enough to recognise that things may not always work out the way we want, but that's ok? Can we accept that God might have a different plan even if we don't like it? Even if you don't hear His voice in the midst of it or see Him doing something, can you trust that He's still there?

David did.

He had faith that there is a God, and a good one at that. He realised that it doesn't actually matter what circumstances we are in, God is still present and worthy of praise.

David had absolute certainty that God is real, and that He was there with him, that God is good and that He will work things out. David had faith that the future will be better than the now. 

It takes a brave person to completely trust in God, it means letting go of what we understand.

 

Is my faith, and is your faith strong enough to trust and praise God even if we can't see an end to the tough situation?

Give thanks always

Ephesians 5:20 'giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Always give thanks.

Now, that's hard. 

To be grateful is easier, but giving thanks is harder. Giving thanks is a grateful declaration. It's easy to think, 'oh, God knows how I feel, he knows my heart, I don't need to tell him EVERYTHING I'm thankful for'. 

Well, actually, that's not what the Bible says. It encourages us to be, 'giving thanks always and for everything'.

Giving thanks is important.

It's a recognition that God is very active in our lives, He puts things together, arranges those 'coincidences' (I like to call them God-incidences!) that bless our lives. 

We should be grateful people. God is alive, active and accomplishes so much for us, through us and in us. 

Giving thanks helps us to recognise our dependence on God. 

We can rely on Him for the everyday necessities and the big visions that we have in life. 

It's so easy to think that we are responsible for our success, pay rise, or it's just good luck that things happen to fall into place. 

In those situations do you thank God? God has given us talents, money and favour so that we can have those surprising and beautiful blessings in life. 

The much more difficult part to this verse is the emphasis to, 'always' give thanks. Sometimes we don't feel like it, can't see much to be thankful for and a having a genuinely rough time. Even then, God says we should give thanks.

What for? 

I encourage you to spot the small things. Whether it's a hug from a friend, a lovely flower or a bright sunny day, or even the fact that there's a few pence left at the end of the week. Noticing and appreciating the small things can help us through the hard times, it can lift our eyes to where they are meant to be. To recognise that we are not alone, we have one who gives so bountifully even in the awful experiences of life. 

I would like to challenge you, give thanks for something, even the small things each day. 

Be wise, walk well

Ephesians 5:15 - 16 'Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.'

'The days are evil', to me this implies that we should not worry about what the rest of the world is up to, but take responsibility ourselves to determine what is right. 

If the days, and the world are evil and we do not wish to be so, we should decide on which courses of action are good for us to follow. 

Maybe we should even do the opposite of what the world is doing.

It's so easy just to go along with the crowd, and we often hear kids say, 'I did it cos so-and-so did it', but as adults we can often do the same because everyone does it this way. We get swept along with the crowd and do things by routine. Just because others are doing things in a certain way, doesn't mean we have to. 

Have you ever paused to look at your routine? Or to really consider the things in life that you are uncomfortable about but just get on with anyway? Maybe it's time to change that and 'look carefully then how you walk'.

People; get into debt, fiddle taxes, gossip, ignore people in need, avoid those they don't get on with to name a few things. So, what is it that you are challenged by? In your heart was is it that causes you to feel uncomfortable about? Because it could be something that you can do something about.

Be wise, walk well.

Battlefield of the mind

Ephesians 5:10; 'try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.'

As I was walking the local high street, I was reminded about the sermon we heard on Sunday. The sermon was about putting God first, to ask God for bravery and to act on what He asks us to do. I have also read the above verse during the week.

So, I started to think about what my purpose was right there in the high street. What would be, 'pleasing to the Lord'

I realised I had my own mission to get certain things done in a specific time. Then I wondered, what was God's mission for me there? Did He have one? 

I know it might not be a huge thing, in fact it probably wasn't, but I still found it hard to pray and ask God about it. I found my mind telling me not to pray that God would use me, because it would probably disrupt my day and my plans might have to change if God asked me to do something and then my timings would all be thrown out and I might not get to do what I wanted to achieve. So, although I was kind of willing, was I actually going to do it?

I realised that following God's call is scary.

I like to be in control and know what is going to happen. 

But, what is more important - my mission or God's mission?

After this little battle, I prayed. I told God that it was scary, but I asked that He would help me to see His mission whilst I was shopping and on my way home, even if it was just showing kindness to someone.

Then, I carried on with what I had to do, and pretty much forgot about it.

That was, until I was nearer home, and felt that nothing has really happened. I did think though that I had conquered something in my own mind. I had been prepared to do something even if I hadn't seen the opportunity.

Then, I saw a neighbour by the bus stop. 

They'd just missed their bus and had to wait for the next one. So, I stopped to chat. All the time my mind was remiding me that I should really get home as I and a,b,c to do and that was before d happened. But I chose to stay, and waited with them until the next bus came. I felt that I was trying to, 'discern what is pleasing to the Lord.' God makes time for us, so we should take time for others.

I know, it was only something small, and maybe insignificant, I didn't get to explain the mysteries of God with them, or have a deep and meaningful conversation, but I was able to listen and be with them. 

Was that God's mission for me that day? 

I don't know, but I did feel that maybe it's the small opportunities that we sometimes miss because it's easier to do something else and make excuses to leave. 

Showing kindness to someone doesn't have to cost us much. 

I am challenging myself to be more brave, and, 'try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord' I wonder what will happen next?!