what happens when we get uptight?...

a lot of times when i’m waiting on GOD, HE’s really waiting on me.  HE was ready to give the answer a long time ago that i was asking for but i wasn’t ready to receive it.  HE’s saying, “grow up!  get some SPIRITual depth in your life.  I want to bless your life but you can’t handle the blessing I want to pour on you.  I’ll bless you beyond what you can imagine.”  waiting is a time to get ready.  prepare. 

JESUS waited thirty years before HE began HIS ministry.  thirty years of preparation and HE accomplished more in three years than we would in a lifetime.

isaiah 49.23 (niv), the LORD says…“no one who waits for MY help will be disappointed.”

while i'm waiting on GOD i wait expectantly then i wait quietly.

james points out the fact that we have a tendency to run off at the mouth when we’re irritated, when we’re tense, when we’re under pressure, when things aren’t going our way and things aren’t under our control.  james warns us in chapter 6 verse 9 (niv), don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. 

why does he talk about grumbling right in the middle of patience?  it’s hard to be quiet when you’re frustrated.  when you’re frustrated, you want everybody to know about it.  you want to grumble, mumble, moan, complain.  we don’t mind waiting if we can complain about it.  i’ll wait if i can gripe while i’m doing it.  james says, “don’t grumble”.  the new english bible says, don’t blame your troubles on one another.

when you get up in the morning, do you rise and whine?  hit the ground griping?  everything is bad!  if you come home at night dog-tired, it’s because you growled all day! 

then in verse 12 (niv) he says, above all, my brothers, don’t swear.  does waiting ever tempt you to swear? 

what happens when you get uptight?  when you’re frustrated and things aren’t going your way and things are beyond your control? how do you normally respond?  typically, we take it out on those closest to us.  we unload on our husbands, our wives, our children, and it’s not even their fault.  but we’re frustrated and impatient.  we displace our anger and focus it on those we love the most.  james says don’t do that.

lamentations 3.26 (niv), it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

habakkuk 2.3 (lb) these things won’t happen right away.  slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.  if it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass.  just be patient!  they will not be overdue a single day!  

do you have a dream, a goal in life, a vision that GOD’s given you?  GOD says it will be right on target, at the right time, in the right way.  you wait expectantly and you wait quietly. 

just a thought from the front porch…

be quiet and then talk...

there are some secrets to practicing the presence of GOD, and the first one is to invite JESUS into your life. and then you need to be quiet. just be quiet. close your mouth and don't talk.

i believe the reason why so many people never feel GOD's presence is because they're too busy. they're too distracted. they've always got their radio or ipod on. too much noise. the bible says in psalms be still and know that i am GOD. paschal said, “most of man's problems come from his inability to set still.” just be quiet.

several times a day, “tune in and drop out”. tune in to GOD's presence and drop out of the environment around you. just say, “GOD i realize that YOU are present with me right now, that YOU are by me, with me, and in me” if i'm a believer. tune in to HIS presence. take these little breaks during the day to be quiet and recognize that no matter where you are GOD is with you.

the bible says in james 4.8 (niv), draw near to GOD and HE'll draw near to you. as you tune in to HIM you'll begin to be aware. HE's always there but you have to be aware of it.

and then talk to GOD about everything. just pray about anything and ask him for help. the bible says in 1 thessalonians 5.17 (niv), pray without ceasing. pray continually.

how do you do that? how can i get on with life and be continually in prayer? do i walk around fumbling a rosary all day or stay in the lotus position? how do i do that?

it's talking about maintaining a continual conversation with GOD. talk to HIM about anything. walk outside in the morning, “LORD, it's a beautiful day!” you get in your car, “oh, LORD, i'm low on gas.” as you're driving, “GOD, these are some things i'm thankful for.” talk to him about everything. – a continual conversation with the companion who is always with you. that's what it means to pray without ceasing.

the bible says in psalms 62.9 (niv), trust HIM at all times and pour out your heart to HIM. you maintain an ongoing conversation with HIM at all points.

some of you say, “when i pray i feel like my prayers never get above the ceiling.” surprise! GOD is below the ceiling. HE's right next to you. HE reads your mind the moment you think it. HE knows what you're going to think before you even think it. you don't have to have these super duper pious prayers that blast off from earth and get a million light years away up to GOD in heaven on HIS throne. HE is right there. you don't have to feel like you're getting them up to heaven. you just think it; HE knows it. so you talk to him about everything.

just a thought from the front porch…