Lord, When will MY turn come!? Sound Familiar?

Over the past few weeks I've been surrounded by individuals who are in the season of waiting, praying and needing God to come through. In major ways. Some need jobs, some desire love and relationships, some are in need of financial favor and others in the areas of healing, restoration and just change in general. That is the motivation behind this blog entry.

 

It's amazing that many are focusing on what they desire simply because they see how God is moving in the lives of others. Asking the age old question, "Lord when will my turn come!?" In due season is one of those things that can truly be a test in itself. In due season could be minutes, days, months or years. That's a hard pill to swallow. As believers, it's hard to wrap our minds around the fact that something we've been seeking God for may take longer than we think it should. It's hard to accept that some prayers we may actually have to wait for. It's hard to accept that what we desire may require some mental, emotional, spiritual and character conditioning before it happens. Or...it may not happen at all if it's not in our best interest or doe not align up with the plan God has for our lives.

 

I honestly can't believe that I've finally arrived at the place where I can say, "Lord, it is well with my soul." Specifically regarding one area that I have been praying and seeking God to move in my favor. In fact, I've been holding on for about 3 years now. While I think it should have happened long ago and I've come so close a few times...it hasn't. Why? I have no clue but, it is well...with my soul. That feels so amazing to say and believe. I've arrived at the place where I trust that God has a birds-eye-view of the bigger picture. He knows why it hasn't happened and when it will. Notice that although I've acknowledged that it may be a blessing delayed...I know it's not a blessing denied. I said...when, because I know by faith that it will, just not now. I trust God's plan way more than I trust my desires. One of my favorite sayings is, "The Universe has a weird way of protecting us and providing provisions when our desires align with Gods plan for our lives." I believe that.

 

So, if you're one of those people asking the question, "Lord when will my turn come!?" just know....it will be so perfect and so on-time that this delay will all make sense. You will have that ah-ha moment when it finally does come to be. That will be followed by a praise because as you reflect back over this very season, God himself will reveal why it had to happen exactly when it did. You'll realize that God was looking out for you, keeping you and guiding you the whole time. If it does not happen, just know that there is indeed a reason and trust that God knows best.

 

Hold on. Find peace in Gods plan and process for your unique life. It is well....It is well....with my soul.

 

Be Blessed.

"No" is an answer...Praise God for it!

I know it's hard to accept but "No" really is an answer to your prayer(s). In fact it's one that I believe we should shout more for.  Let me explain....the yes is amazing because it's usually an answer we've been praying for. Something we prayed for is now a reality! Maybe it's that relationship, job, financial blessing, new home, new car...etc. When God says yes and you receive whatever it is you've been praying for you know that the desire of your heart, the plans you had, the dreams you had...your prayers...aligned with Gods Will for your life. Now that's wonderful!

 

But..........

 

When you pray so hard for something. Turn down your plate for it. Worship God for it. Devote your time, energy and prayer life to it and the answer to your prayer from God is No....Now, THAT'S a difficult pill to swallow and even more difficult to understand and accept.

 

As I grow in my faith I'm coming to realize that when God answers me with a no... I'm far more accepting and thankful for it than I was a few years ago. Why? Because for every no He gave me there was a far better yes....waiting for me on the other side of it. There are some prayers that I was down right pissed when He answered me no but looking back on my life I can truly say, Thank you JESUS for that No!! I'm thankful that He said no to some of the prayers I lifted up because His plans for me were greater than my own.

 

Maybe you've received your no and it was a tough blow. Maybe your no is one you're having a hard time accepting. Maybe your no has really thrown you for a loop. I've been sent to tell you that this No is indeed the answer to your prayer, even if you can't see it right now. It will work out for your good. God sees the bigger picture and blueprint of your life. He knows what you need and when you need it. He also knows those things you pray for that will really end up hurting you in the long run. Again, even though you can't see it now.

Trust God with the desires of your heart. Trust that His plans for your life are greater than any of the minuscule plans you could ever have. Trust that somehow this no will lead to a yes that will blow your mind....when the time is right. The no could also be a... "not right now."

 

Until then, trust, believe and have faith that the no you received from God is not to punish you but to put you position for the yes that will blow your mind!

 

Be Peace!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make the decision to be Happy!

So many people wake up in the morning and decide to be unhappy. Yes, it's a decision. How you respond to life and circumstances is a decision. Deciding to be happy despite what's going on around you or in your life doesn't mean the situation changes. It simply means you make up in your mind that you will count it all joy and press forward. I know, it's easier said than done but I also know that making the decision to miserable, grumpy, sad, depressed and negative will not make things any better.

I love how God works when I get in a "funk" and decide to be unhappy or sad. He always allows me to cross paths with someone who shows me that things could be a lot worse. I always try to look at the bright side of a bad situation and when I find that difficult to do....God does it for me. 

When you get sad or feel down it's usually because you are thinking about whatever it is that makes you feel that way! Events in life have a way of keeping us stuck in a place of unhappiness but it's up to us to decide how we respond. Aren't you tired of letting the same situations get you down each and every time? Aren't you tired of letting certain people constantly alter your mood? I challenge you to redefine them. What do I mean by that?

It's simple.

Stop letting people and things define YOU. Don't allow anyone or anything to have that much power or control over you and your emotions. Tell yourself, "NOT TODAY!" It has to start somewhere. You have to stand up and be in control of your own emotions and mood. No one and no circumstance should dictate how you feel at any given moment. When you take control over your own mood then decide to be happy, be at peace and count it all joy. This too shall pass. No heartache, pain or suffering lasts forever. You may be going through something now but set your mind on the joy you will feel when you come out! When you can look back and see how the very thing that had you in the dumps was a blessing. When you can look back and see how much you learned and how you've grown because of it. 

I know life has a way to taking you there but trust me...if you are in the Will of God and you put your faith in Him. It will all work out for your good. Yes, even those things that seem so horrible, painful and down right impossible. Trust that He has a plan for everything in your life. Trust that somehow, someway this will all come together for your benefit. Trust that this is all part of His amazing plan for your life. He is known for taking bad situations and turning them into something wonderful. You just have to pray, trust and believe. Knowing all that...how can you not make the decision to be happy?

Be Blessed.

One Day At A Time

"One day at a time...."

I found in life we often live in the future. Instead of living and enjoying this very moment we take on the problems and worry of days we may never see. The truth is, tomorrow is not promised but today...we have another chance to get it right, live in total joy and decide to be happy. Living in the future and having goals/dreams is completely different. It's okay to set future goals and plan how you would like things to happen. It's not okay to become so obsessed with the potential outcome that you forget to value today. If you take a moment to self reflect, I'm sure you will find that those things that keep you in a state of worry and anxiety are things that are in the future. Things that may or may not even happen. So, you waste valuable time in THIS precious day worrying or being sad over something that may never happen. Sounds crazy when you read it but so many of us live in that destructive cycle. 

Living in the "what if's" only robs you of being fully present in this amazing moment that God has given you. Yes, bad things may happen. Yes, things may not go as you planned. Yes, no one ever said this life would be void of hurt, disappointment and pain. BUT....Yes, things could work out wonderfully! Yes, things could play out just as you've dreamed it would. Yes, things could even go a lot better than you thought! You see, looking back on how much time you spent focusing on the negative "what ifs" really stole something from the amazing process unfolding in your life. You look back and realize you didn't fully enjoy certain things in your life because you spent so much non-productive energy assuming things would fail or not work out. That's a pretty sad life to live.

Instead of taking on the "what ifs" and focusing on the days, weeks, months and years ahead...how about start declaring to only live one day at a time? Declare that in this moment all is well. In this moment everything is going exactly how I want it to and exactly how God preordained it to. In this moment I am happy, I am content and I am at peace. In this moment there are no fires to put out, emergencies to attend to or things that will stress me out! Start enjoying this moment rather than robbing yourself if it by flooding your mind and spirit of things in the future. 

Living one day at a time and trusting God to take care of anything that may be in your future. Living one day at a time and having full confidence that in God you will have the strength to endure whatever it is He has planned for your journey. Also, knowing that everything on that path has a purpose. I know it's easier said than done and I too have to coach myself in living one day at a time. But I do know the benefits of it and I refuse to let any worry of the future rob me of this amazing moment I have in front of me right now.