Think of yourself in the waiting room and what do you do with your time?
I usually get me fingers going and taking in the blue light on my social
media. But what "if" us believers were more intentional on a grander
scale using our whole life, metaphorically, as being in the waiting room till
Jesus returns.-
so when a situation arises what do we do?
recently on Dec. 9 i got a mole checked and my Dr. was alarmed and said,
"I don't like the look of that!"
She gave me a name of a dermatologist. I called from the Dr. office and
the number was disconnected. I went to the nurse to inform her the Dr. she gave
me was not available. I prayed what will happen now I feel she scared me and I
needed to be seen quickly. She went to the Dr. and within an hour my primary
Dr. said she would shave biopsy it on Jan. 11. I had to wait. I prayed God not
sooner. Then within 24 hours I met others with a cancer diagnosis on their
skin, they quickly reassured me God is in control and if I needed to get in
soon that He would make it happen. It was not happening, so I calmed down and
said what do I do in the waiting.
I did exactly what I was trained to do in 1997 when I had panic and
anxiety attacks. The Lord back then had all my attention. I made a list of all
that's going on. Being very honest of every thought I have had in a day. Even
if I thought about a relationship, one of my prayer request from a friend. even
a concern of a child. Everything! That gets every real thing down and I'm
looking at it. Even my what "if's"
Like what if I don't get an answer of what this is that week? What if it
grows bigger and worse?
Next I remember the very important verses that warn me about this
"what if" kind of thoughts!
Stinking Thinking!
2 Cor. 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that
sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to
make it obedient to Christ." NIV
2 COR.
10:5 "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies,
tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose
thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by
Christ." THE MSG
WHAT
type of thoughts
Think
about what you are thinking: all thoughts captive to Christ.
Imagination,
arguments of the fight and what you could and could not say (these thoughts
keep wanting you to pick up the phone and keep that unproductive work going),
impulsive loose thoughts (thoughts can come from nowhere and fly out of your
mouth, where are they from you, evil, or God), truth, lies,
The
list puts them in front of your eyes and now you go through them asking:
is
this true, is it a lie, where did the thought come from (me, God, evil one),
the true vs. lie test fits for all thoughts impulsive, loose, imagination. We
need the hard cold facts, pray!
Distinguish,
act on now, later, never.
You
see I am asking for the opportunity to grow through this waiting process or
trial.
Opportunity
vs. depression, anxiety, worry.
What
else does God have to say about these things?
Matt.
6:24 Don't worry about tomorrow.
Phil.
4:6-7 Do not be anxious for anything. Thru prayer and petition and thanksgiving
(emphasis added) present your requests to God and He will guard your
MIND AND HEART in Christ our Lord.
Whose
in control?
Psalm
139 - God knows you so well. In the end of this psalm is an examination of your
heart. Search me and know me see if there is anything in me. God reveal it.
Waiting,
listening, hearing. In the story of the transfiguration my greatest take away,
God says, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to
Him."
Question:
Slow
down, sit down, quiet down. Are you seeing and listening that this is best for
you right now.
I
memorized Psalm 139. yes! Put it on index cards and took it with me everywhere.
Others I memorized all the 5 verses of assurance (find them google Navigator 5
assurance verses for memorizing. click on quizlet, a least that's at the top of
my google search. Front page is flash cards with the 5), Is. 23:6 "You
will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust
in you.,
Phil.
1:6 "He who began a work in you will carry it on to
completion.",
Phil.
4:8 Whatever is true, noble, right, pure lovely, admirable, trustworthy,
excellent, praiseworthy think on such things.,
Galatians
5:22 fruits of the spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (pray for these),
Col
1:9-12 (memorized the elements from the prayer, which states if we desire God
and want to glorify and please Him (that is my reason for living following His
will)) we can ask for and expect, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, bearing
fruit, strength, power, endurance, patience-giving joyful thanks to the Father,
(get this) who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people
in the kingdom of light (wow!), 2 Tim. 1:7 "For the Spirit God gave us
does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (remember
it this way God gives us P.LS.) I read through the Psalms.
You
are probably like: What! Huh! This is a lot, but wait let me explain. This is a
more comprehensive list that I have learned over years. What's your list?
Compiling a list of works in your waiting room is what is important. Your list.
What is working to allow you to feel the peace and joy that Jesus wanted to
leave us? A mode of hearing from God.
At the
end of the waiting room and you are on the other side of a circumstance it's
important to have your story ready to glorify God.
Romans
8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who[a] have been
called according to his purpose." NIV
I
maybe sounding to perky here right now. Like the result of your waiting room is
all good news. When my mom died I felt the weight of it all and when I got on
the other side of it (timing is different for everyone) I was and still missing
my mom. But I could say stories of God's guiding hand helping me get through
it, seeing Him, hearing Him supporting me comforting me. Things like I can't do
this. I can't see her dead or I can't get through were not able to come out of
me because I prayed and I was guided to, Elaine you can do all things with me
who strengthens you Phil. 4:13.,
"Blessed
are those who are grieving for they will be comforted." My response, but
how God, how, Help me. The pain was so great! From knowing what God says about
death helped me to navigate this difficult time.
" Brothers and
sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in
death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no
hope. 1 Thess. 4:13" We grieve differently with the hope.
Getting
now finally to: This past week I concentrated on Phil. 4:8, Gal. 5:22,
Col. 1:9-12, Rememorizing Ps. 139.
Also
the day of my surgery which was now Feb. 1,2024. I really had waited, but I
woke up that morning with this. My devotion for the exact day was;
Driving
to the hospital that song is my only thing on my mind. A nurse walks me back to
my room and I pass a big window with I woke up to this glorious revelation! I'm
having my procedure at 1250ish. My devo says the title "Praying for
Healing". How great that this devo coincides with this procedure day and
my circumstance. Coincidence? Oh no!! The reading on prayer is very insightful!
What a mighty God we serve comes on my mind! I think of the children's
song and quickly find it on you tube, filling my mind with this playful fun
song.
the
sun shining through. I say what a beautiful day, what a blessing. He responds
well to that so I say this brings up what I have been singing all morning and I
sing the stanza, "What a might God we serve, what a mighty God we serve,
angels go before Him, heaven and earth adore Him, what a mighty God we
serve." He says yes. I say I try to focus on the important things looking
upward, heavenly. He said, "I teach my kids that each morning to get up
and do the same."
I say,
"Can I ask are you a Christian?" He says, "Yes, can you
tell?" I say I was wondering and guessing you would say yes, Next he says,
"My wife and I love to tell her testimony. I tell it as much as I can for
God." Here's the story:
His
wife when she was 15 years old was working with butter all over hands in the
kitchen, when a friend called her to the balcony outside to tell her something.
When she went out her hands were still slippery. The friend talked a couple of
balconies away and suddenly as his wife leaned forward she fell over down 3
stories. She crack her head, bled out from her nose and ear and fell into
unconsciousness. They rushed her to the hospital and did a scan on her brain
and found damage. The village were all praying for her. For some reason hours
later they redid the scan and they miraculously saw no damage. She was
completely healed. A miracle. Someone pointed out the spot where she fell is
the place where they come together once a week to pray. He said from that day
she would never doubt that Jesus is real.
I took a prayer request from another nurse. I just asked after she took
such good care of me, "If you don't mind I would like to pray for you,
what could I ask of the Lord?" She looked up surprised and was like as a
matter of fact, "Yes! I am newly married and within the year we will be
starting a family and buying a house and I would like it to be close to this
hospital." I said "I would ask God to give her a sign and don't
settle for just any house make a list." My surgeon came in and my husband
I talked with her for about a 1/2 hour. She looked at my book and asked,
"What are you reading." We got into a discussion and I found out she
knew the Narnia books and C.S. Lewis. It was a delight because my surgery was
delayed for 1/2 hour.
In Psalm 139 the Psalmist says, "You have searched me, Lord, and
you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive
my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are
familiar with all my ways."
He
knows! He knows friend what you are going through. The bible says he knows
yesterday, today and tomorrow. Friend give it to him and fix your eyes on what
He gives you each day. Ask Him what do you want me to read today. I am no one
special. What he did for me He will help guide you and get you through
also.
Let's
pray:
Lord
here is my list__________(go thru it with Him). Help me. What should I read,
memorize or forgive? Forgive me for the times I did not listen or see, guide
me. Thank you Father the promise of knowing me and showing me. Amen.
Giving
makes me feel like I'm living, says...Author Mitch Albom
If you
do not know Jesus personally and want to start to learn how to just Pray, Jesus
I want to know you. Amen.
you
must know....with Easter as our next Holy day...Jesus died and rose from death
to paid for our sin. (we all fall short of the glorious plan of God, We are all
born with a condition of separation from God) God has paid for us the penalty
we deserve. He did this by dying on the cross. He is risen. We know can have
full access to Him through His death and resurrection. This new life is
forgiveness of sin and life eternally with Christ. This new life can only be
find in Jesus. Jesus rose and went to heaven seated at the right hand of the
Father. He did not leave us alone. He said the Holy Spirit will be our
guide.
Say to
the Father you believe, thank Him for his plan and thank Him for the Holy
Spirit who now resides in you. I now turn from going my way and I want to
follow you from this day forward. Amen.
Find a
good bible believing church and stay powered up in prayer. Jesus loves you and
wants to hold your hand to guide you. Do not let the evil one take this prayer
away from you and try to say, "This is false and didn't happen." Find
people who will reassure you of this truth.
