Just What I Need: When I need it!

Have you ever had a circumstance in your life when you thought, "How is this thing good for me? How is this process profitable? Why is this person in my life? Why am I not getting that right now? Why am I getting this right now? How will I get through this?"?

I think if we are honest with ourselves, we would probably all say that we have thought nearly all of those questions, during various circumstances in our lives.

However, as a Christian, I have a just, gracious, merciful God who gives me just what (and when, where, who, and how) I need! Because of who my God is, I can trust that He has my best interest in mind, and will cause things to happen according to His sovereign will (Philippians 1:6)

In His justice, He gives me what I deserve.
In His mercy, He doesn't give me what I deserve.
In His grace, He gives me what I don't deserve.

He puts things and people in my life in just the right way, in just the right place, and at just the right time. Although I cannot always see what is best for myself, I have a Savior who knows my inmost thoughts and needs (Psalm 139).

Who
God knows the people I must have relationships with in order to become more like His Son-- whether they be sweet and kind, or consistently testing my patience. 


What
He knows the things I need (and don't need!) in order to become more like His Son-- whether a thing will bless and provide for me, or will simply become a snare and a stumbling block to my feet. 


When
He knows the exact moment I need to encounter things in life in order to become more like His Son-- whether my persistence for "Today, Lord!"  is good, or a time of stillness and waiting would teach me.


Where
He knows the perfect location I need to be in order to become more like His Son-- whether it be the thrust of a raging storm on the sea, or the soothing of a gentle breeze in the desert. 


How
He knows the process I must go through in order to become more like His Son--whether it be a trying and difficult one, or a pleasantly simple one.

I recently had an overwhelming need, and I had figured out the "perfect" way to fulfill it. However, God had a totally different plan of how He would provide for me! I had prayerfully stepped out in faith, acknowledging that I would do my best according to His revealed will, but that I was ultimately trusting Him to provide the way. And surely, He worked! Provision came in way I never expected, from the people I had least anticipated, and at a much later time that I had hoped!

My Hope is in You

Psalm 39:1-8

ESV

I said, "I will guard my ways,
   that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
   so long as the wicked are in my presence."
I was mute and silent;
   I held my peace to no avail,and my distress grew worse.
 My heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;
   then I spoke with my tongue:

 "O LORD, make me know my end

   and what is the measure of my days;

   let me know how fleeting I am!

Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,

   and my lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!

                         Selah

 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! 

Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;    

man heaps up wealth without knowing whose it will be in the end!

 "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

    My hope is in you.

Deliver me from all my transgressions.

    Do not make me the scorn of the fool!"

Hustle While You Wait

Last week I had the chance to visit a Christian college that I am considering attending.  I had so much fun with the girls in my dorm room!  They were such an encouragement to me. It made me so excited to be in college soon, and to be like them--always edifying others and constantly looking to what God has to say instead of what the world says.  Then it hit me: I can’t be that way in college if I’m not doing what God wants me to do in high school right now.

The title above is from a chapter in I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris.  This phrase perfectly defines what we should be doing with our lives.  There are certain times in our lives when we are in one realm but we are looking into another.  It’s kind of like how seniors in high school feel; they are physically in the high school realm but mentally want to be in the college realm.  These times in our life we are the most vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.  He would like us to get off track and start giving in to what our sin nature wants.  But we should do the exact opposite; we need to hustle while we wait!

What I mean by this is  that while we are waiting for the next big step in our lives, we need to be totally focused on doing God’s will right now. That means that we need to be respecting our authority, not having bad attitudes toward our families, and constantly reading our Bibles and praying. In the small areas that you think you have under control, Satan will attack there. We also need to guard our weaknesses as they are always a target.

Full Schedule v. Full Life

Most of us are very busy most of the time, but lately it seems that I, and most of the people I know, have been extra busy and exhausted.  

Busyness is a funny thing, because it causes so many different emotions: satisfaction, and accomplishment, along with stress, irritability, etc.  

Often, being busy means we have to prioritize and be organized and efficient in order to fulfill all of our responsibilities, needs, and a few wants.  We have to eliminate unnecessary things in order to ensure we are able to do the important things. 

In many cases, Satan uses busyness as the perfect opportunity to attack.  We can be the most vulnerable during times that we are busy, so we must be careful to recognize the attacks the Enemy puts in our path and be able to guard against them.  

On the other side, God is using this time to push us and to teach us that we can't "do it all" in our own strength or on our own schedule.  We need to rest in the assurance of God's perfect plan and must wait on Him, prayerfully seeking His will throughout our day.

When we are stressed and tired, normally minor irritations become great annoyances.  More and more things seem to go wrong, and it seems like we can't catch a break!  The burdens increase, the road seems longer, and what's required of us seems so much more unattainable.

We Get One Shot

A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity…The same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever.…Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny.…How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness…? It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish to wear it forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked.          Adoniram Judson

James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.
For what is your life? 

 It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.