Daniel 10:12
Then he said, “Don’t be frightened,
Daniel, for your request has been heard in heaven and was answered the
very first day you began to fast before the Lord and pray for
understanding; that very day I was sent here to meet you.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
It’s time for a little
confession…this morning, things just did not come together like I had
hoped. Several circumstances beyond my control weighed heavily on me…my
mother’s battle with cancer…family members who do not believe in
Jesus…two dear, young friends who appear to be losing their battles with
cancer, just to name a few. I shuffled to the kitchen to pour another
cup of coffee, and I said, “Lord, I can’t fix this. These are all things
beyond my control.” And I honestly heard Him laugh. I stopped dead in
my tracks as I realized the absurdity of my thought. It was as if I
audibly heard God say, “You are not supposed to control or fix these
things! Leave that to me!”
I sat down to look up a scripture for
this devotional, and I was not surprised to read these words…”your
request has been heard in heaven and was answered the very first
day...” I turned on the television, and Joel Osteen was preaching about
keeping the faith, speaking and believing the things that GOD will do
for us. He shared a story of faithfulness over his own grandfather, and
how family members who had given their hearts to Jesus believed for the
salvation of this man – and he came to know the LORD. When this
grandfather Osteen died, the suit in which he was buried had pockets
stuffed with tracts that he passed out to others to share the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
Joel Osteen made this comment…”He’s [God] got it
all figured out. You don’t have to worry – God has ya in the palm of
His hand. He’s not going to fail you. He is faithful to His promises.
Your family is coming together. The dream may look too big – keep
believing. It’s coming together…God has a way. When you realize that
God’s in control…that He’s directing your steps…that He’s already lined
up everything you need…then you can relax. You don’t have to go through
life trying to make it all happen on your own…worried about your
children…frustrated because it’s taking too long…discouraged because a
dream looks dead.”
“Keep reminding yourself…the sovereign
LORD…the God who breathed life into you…the God who knew you before you
were born…the God who has planned out your days for good…the God who has
protected you, promoted you, healed you…the same God that brought you
to where you are – He’s gonna get you to where you’re supposed to be.
It may take a little longer than you thought it ought to be…but that’s
okay. God’s timing is the perfect time.”
Osteen continued by
saying that things may not happen the way we planned…”But God’s ways are
better than our ways.” I took a collective breath, checked myself for
thinking I was “all that” and actually COULD control/fix anything on my
own…and I thanked God for His sovereignty and perfection. I reminded
myself that He has heard my requests – over and over! And just like
those of Daniel so long ago, God has heard my petitions and answered my
prayers…beautifully, perfectly, and in His indisputable timing.
The
sermon concluded with Pastor Osteen saying that, “You don’t have to
worry…you don’t have to live stressed out. God is directing your
steps. He controls the whole universe…you can stay in a place of
peace.” I am free to go about my day now, secure once again in the
knowledge that GOD has my back…that He is watching over me and
orchestrating every single minute of my life – and the lives of my
friends and loved ones. He is doing this for YOU, also. Your job is to
recognize His presence and power…and to trust Him to handle every
aspect of your life.
Now I ask you…what are you still trying to
fix on your own? Isn’t it time you gave this to the One who has
already handled it? Will this be the day that you let go of your fears
and let God have complete control, once and for all? Shouldn’t it be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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