The Best Way to Wait on God

June 13, 2023 Gracie

The Best Way To Wait On God For Answers To Our Prayers

Let’s face it: waiting can be hard.

I admit, I’m not a huge fan.

But as you know, God doesn’t always answer our prayers right away.

Not only that, sometimes His answer is “yes,” sometimes “no,” and sometimes He answers, “wait.”

“Wait” can be just as hard as a “no” answer.

Even so, that is not the time to give up praying!

The best way to wait on God is through continuing to pray.

If you are praying with right motives, then keep on keeping on.

And While You’re Waiting . . .

Think about it – it takes a lot of trust on our part to even get on an airplane.

Every time we board a plane we trust that the pilot has the knowledge and skills to bring us safely to our destination.

On a grander and eternal scale, God has the controls and always has our best interests at heart.

Taking a look back in history: our Heavenly Father Himself wanted the captive Jews in Babylon to remember His promises as delivered by the prophet Jeremiah. In Jeremiah’s letter to the people, they were assured that God’s intentions are never evil, but through Him there is a future, a glorious end to forward to.

Fast forward to modern day: how quickly that we too can forget that God is faithful in the center of our storms.

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11, (NASB).

We may not see or understand how God is working behind the scenes, but we can trust that His timing and His answers will always be perfect.

Poet M.S. Lowndes eloquently describes the struggles we face as we wait on God.

Wait With Faith

Lord, you have faithfully shown me
So many times before
And this time is no exception, Lord,
And simply can’t be ignored

That you know all that concerns my life,
Everything your eyes do see
You always come through at just the right time
To meet my every need

For nothing escapes your watchful eye,
No problem that we may cross
But so often, Lord, it seems as though
There’s a delay in your response

I know it’s a testing of our faith
To wait so patiently
You stretch us so our faith may grow,
Though we want it instantly

But it’s for our good that you respond
In your time, not in ours,
For if you didn’t – we’d stay as infants,
Getting everything right now

For us to grow more Christ-like,
We need to learn to wait,
For often that’s the answer to prayer
And builds us up in faith

So I thank you for the answer to come
As I hand it over in prayer
Thank you that you’re still working on me
And my breakthrough’s drawing near.

© By M.S.Lowndes

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²Poetry courtesy of M.S. Lowndes. “Wait With Faith.” [online post]. From Heavensinspirations.com, ©M.S. Lowndes, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, n.d. Web. Accessed June 8, 2023. https://www.heavensinspirations.com/wait-with-faith.html

Our Exceptional God

June Is Fidelity Month

June 1, 2023 Gracie

Christians, feel free to spread the word!

June is Fidelity Month.

What is that, you say?

I’m so glad you asked. 😉

Actually, I just found out about it myself.

Per the idea’s founder, the designation of Fidelity Month is to:

restore unity, heal division, and bring out what is best and most noble in our country by a return to fidelity: Rededicating ourselves to God, our spouses and families, our communities, and country. – Dr Robert George, Heritage Foundation.

In a culture that reeks of disrespect towards God, celebrating Fidelity Month is a refreshing and positive response to what the world dishes out on a daily basis.

The scoffers can deny it all they want, but our great country was founded on Godly principles.

We need to return to those principles so we can help restore America to her rightful place as a shining example to the world.

Luke 1:37 tells us, “for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Fidelity Month is a small grassroots step in a positive direction.

Please join me in praying for our country and a return to fidelity.

In the meantime, we must accept and trust in God’s plan completely, for our eternity with Him will be glorious.

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-Quotation from Dr. Robert George, “Why Fidelity Month?” Web. Retrieved from: Fidelity Month

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Memorial Day 2023

May 28, 2023 Gracie

Monday, Memorial Day 2023

On this Monday, Memorial Day 2023, we honor those brave men and women in the military who died serving their country.

If you’re unable to attend a ceremony in your hometown, did you know there’s something else you can do right in your own home to honor these heroes?

At 3 p.m., you can observe one minute of silence to recognize those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the many freedoms we’ve had for so long.

This is the official time designated for the “National Moment of Remembrance.”

Some other ideas: If you’re in your car driving, you can turn on your headlights at that time or you can listen to the playing of “Taps.”

I am so thankful for an organization like Taps Across America which organizes participants across the country to sound the call.

Here’s a look at what took place last year.

What a blessing to be located near enough to hear one of these tributes.

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Christian Spoken Word Poetry

May 23, 2023 Gracie

Christian Spoken Word Poetry For The Generations

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time (thank you, by the way) then you know I’m a big fan of other Christian writers, including poets.

It’s been my pleasure to share several christian poems over the years that have inspired me and I hope have inspired you as well.

Recently, I discovered something pretty amazing.

Christian spoken word poetry

Have you ever listened to Christian spoken word poetry?

Christian spoken word poetry is just like it sounds – a passionate faith message shared before an audience in a creative poetry format.

Primarily, the performances take place before youth groups, but I actually find it inspirational for all ages.

I’ve listened to a few Christian spoken word artists online.

There are a few searchable treasures like this one.

Here’s From My Generation To Yours – one of my favorites.

Well done!

I love that this young lady through her heartfelt message speaks an important reminder about the pressures the younger generation is facing in our rapidly-changing world.

It is essential for students to face those pressures with continued parental support and honest conversations about why their faith matters.

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Ready To Take On The World

May 16, 2023 Gracie

Ready to Take on the World: Graduating Seniors

Is your graduating senior ready to take on the world?

Their futures and a whole new realm of possibilities lie up ahead.

Along with that hope, everything they grew up with and relied on is now about to change.

Doting parents are now a phone call away, instead of right in the next room.

So many changes, but also this . . .

Along with all the preparations for going away to school, it’s also important to prepare your graduating senior for a world that hates Christ.

I think we can all agree that if a soldier were to walk into battle without his or her armor on, they’d be an easy target.

In similar fashion, expecting our sons and daughters, who grew up in a solid biblical church, to simply withstand the anti-God pressures of a secular college is unrealistic.

The Enemy is relentless and, just as he continues to distract or tamper with your faith, he will do so also with your kids.

He is at war with God’s people.

Ready To Take on the World With Eyes Wide Open

Do we really think the Evil One has hit the “pause button?”

This clickable disturbing headline was two years ago.

Don’t think similar kinds of “teaching” only happen in states other than your own.

In many cases, the parents aren’t even aware this is going on.

In some schools and colleges, the pressures on students to reject their Christian faith is incessant.

And, with new mind-blowing technologies on the horizon, such as the increasing power of AI (artificial intelligence), the possibilities just get worse.

Did you ever think you would see a headline like this one below?

Apparently, a fake “digital” god is in the works:

https://answersingenesis.org/technology/google-co-founder-wants-to-build-ai-digital-god/

What a blasphemous, yet futile, slap in the face to our Holy God.

Call it foolish defiance.

The Lord laughs at these attempts to replace Him.

⁴He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
⁵Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
⁶But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain. – Psalm 2:4-6, (NASB).¹

God is not surprised by these demonic strategies, but we as Christians need to be aware of it.

Can you believe that there are people who will fall for it?

Look at the popularity of influencers on YouTube – the next “big thing.”

Can you imagine when a fake “digital god” sets up shop on every screen?

Undoubtedly, from all sides, our Christian faith is under attack.

The Bible speaks of this.

For example, here’s a sobering and familiar reminder from 1 Peter for Christians of all ages:

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8, (NASB).²

All this to consider, are your graduating seniors ready to take on this strange new world?

Resources for Parents

Pray, and let your children hear and know that you pray for them.

Remind them to pray for the Holy Spirit to give them the right words when their faith is under attack.

Need help with this?

There are several apologetics resources for you to consider, but here are a few in no particular order:

Equipped and Ready To Take On The World

Think of all the possible paths our children might choose – the road to sexual immorality, the avenue of alcohol and drug abuse, the way of ungodly friends. But in Christ, there is an alternative path – a route that will lead our children away from the struggles we know they’ll face on any other road. The right route starts with the Via Dolorosa – the way of the cross. It starts with salvation, It continues with a path that is straight (Prov. 3:5-6) and is directed by God’s Word (Ps. 119:105). It includes Jesus as a traveling companion (Jn. 8:12). That’s the ultimate alternate route. Let’s model it clearly so our children will see the right way. – as quoted in Precept Austin.org.

If your graduating senior is confident in the truth of God’s Word and can clearly articulate that truth, they’ll be ready to engage the world around them.

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³Precept Austin quotation is from the “Proverbs 13-19 Devotionals & Sermon Illustrations Commentary.” [2016] Courtesy of Precept Austin, Subheading, “Alternate Route.” Web. Accessed 9 May, 2023.

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