Romans 8:22-25
We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.
The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s that time of year again… the time when we start to mark important dates in a new calendar and plan for the coming year. It is probably pretty safe to surmise that every one of us has anticipated some date in our future… a graduation… a wedding… the birth of a child…a move… even a special “date” or event, like prom…moving into a new house… starting a new job…or even the arrival of Christmas Day. And if we are brutally honest, at least once we’ve gotten to said date and asked ourselves, “Now what?”! This reminds me of a book by Dawn Brown titled, Been There, Done That… Now What?...which could be the mantra for a lot of us! The excitement and anticipation of “getting there” often culminates with something of a letdown of sorts.
Once that event for which we yearned has come and gone… where is our hope? Since we are human, we generally move on to “the next big thing”…we pack up the Christmas decorations and plan our New Year’s celebration. We graduate from high school and plan our move to college… or graduate from college and start looking for a job. We marry and start planning our lives together - or creating a new family. We move into a new house and busy ourselves with all of the projects and chores that come with it… or we work hard at a new job and seek ways to “move up the ladder”.
In the realm of our Spiritual faith…what are we doing? Where is our focus? We place our hope in God to see us through all sorts of experiences, ”growth spurts” and challenges. But our ultimate hope is to see Jesus face-to-face… to dwell in His presence forever and ever… to “have all the answers”. And truthfully, God could do all of that for us today…here… now… without any of us having to die. He could come back to earth in the form of Jesus, explain all of the mysteries of the universe to us… and make everything completely “perfect”.
So why doesn’t God do this? Doesn’t He love us? The answer lies in one single sentence from this passage…” if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping.” If we had all of the answers and God gave us everything now, we would have no reason to continue to trust in Him… to rely on Him… to work patiently to reach the ultimate goal of His eternal presence. I know that we think it would be fantastic if everything were all complete today… if we knew the answers to everything and all of God’s promises for our life were fulfilled with the snap of a finger. But the truth is that we would be standing around saying, “Been there, done that… now what?”… and it is very likely that we would not fully appreciate what God has in store for us.
I once lamented to a friend about how my brother and others suffered in the days/weeks prior to their death. I questioned why this had to happen…what was the purpose in their anguish and pain? My friend reminded me that this time frame was but a “blip on the screen” compared to Eternity… that their glory in heaven was made all the sweeter for the struggles they endured in this lifetime. Their perseverance and patience was rewarded… and so ours will be! Hope is a good thing… it keeps us faithful and eager… hungry for the things of God. In His timing, all will be revealed… and when it is, the “next big thing” - eternity with Him in heaven - will be all the sweeter.
So as you fill in the boxes on your new calendar, do so with hope. We can’t know everything the coming weeks and months will hold, but we know that God will be involved every step of the way. I am asking Him to allow me to patiently wait on Him and the experiences and blessings yet to come… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label watching and waiting for God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label watching and waiting for God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 6, 2013
June 6 ~ Romans 8:23-25
And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy is at that age where surprises are fun… if he gets them right away. We will tell him, “We have a surprise for you when we get home,” and he will ask, “What is it?” You know how this goes… we reply, “We can’t tell you, or it won’t be a surprise!” He retorts, “But I have to know now! Please tell me!” He wiggles and squirms and whines and begs… hoping we will relent and share the news.
Every single one of us understands the concept of waiting for something big. We’ve waited for Santa Claus to come on Christmas Eve… we’ve waited for birthdays and the ensuing parties and gifts. Most of us have waited for graduations and the beginnings of a new job. Some of us have waited for wedding proposals – and the actual wedding day, the births of our children, and a move into a new home. Still others have waited for things like the arrival of a new car or motorcycle… or some sort of special delivery in the mail. And others have even waited for and anticipated healing… relief from pain or suffering…the removal of a cast or stitches…or even a release from some sort of bondage or incarceration – whether literal or emotional.
We are equipped to handle waiting… though many of us do this very poorly. We have the capacity to handle this with grace and patience… yet many will fuss and fidget, wring their hands, and work themselves into a tizzy. Like Timothy and countless other small children, we need to receive whatever it is we are anticipating… and we need it now! And just like the adage that “good things come to those who wait,” we must learn to be patient and wait on the LORD’s coming… or the day when He greets us face-to-face in Heaven.
I understand that this may not seem all that tantamount to you if you are a young person… someone who still seems to have a whole lifetime of things to anticipate and enjoy in the future. I was the same way… and I still enjoy my earthly life. I still anticipate new experiences and adventures… especially the growth and progress of my nieces, nephews, and other young friends. God wants us to appreciate our life in Him for the time we are given on this earth. But the older I get… the more of my loved ones who join Jesus in heaven… the more I think about heaven for myself. And I find myself awaiting the day.
Don’t misunderstand me… I’m not eager to depart for Eternity! Let’s just say I’m confident that I will get there… and I am not afraid to go! When my grandmother was in her last months, she began to say, “I don’t know why I’m living so long.” She so anticipated heaven… she longed to be there and have a new body that gave her physical mobility and the capability of unimpeded speech. I kept reminding her that God still had work for her to do here. People needed her ministry. I don’t know who or how many… but I saw evidence of the lives she influenced to her dying breath and beyond. And it’s the same for us. We have work to do here on earth. God has given us so many blessings in this lifetime… but He has called us to minister in His name, also.
So go… live… enjoy your life – every day of it. When troubles come, figure out how to use them for God’s purposes. Follow the countless examples you have around you of people who have worshipped and served God even in the midst of incredible challenges - with patience and grace - as they waited for Him to call them to heaven. God has a “big surprise” for you… a mansion that is beyond your wildest dreams! But He won’t reveal it to you until the time is right. Like a four-year-old little boy, you will have to wait. The key question is… “How will you spend your ‘waiting time’?” Your answer… how patiently you wait… matters. What do you have to say for yourself?
©2013 Debbie Robus
And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy is at that age where surprises are fun… if he gets them right away. We will tell him, “We have a surprise for you when we get home,” and he will ask, “What is it?” You know how this goes… we reply, “We can’t tell you, or it won’t be a surprise!” He retorts, “But I have to know now! Please tell me!” He wiggles and squirms and whines and begs… hoping we will relent and share the news.
Every single one of us understands the concept of waiting for something big. We’ve waited for Santa Claus to come on Christmas Eve… we’ve waited for birthdays and the ensuing parties and gifts. Most of us have waited for graduations and the beginnings of a new job. Some of us have waited for wedding proposals – and the actual wedding day, the births of our children, and a move into a new home. Still others have waited for things like the arrival of a new car or motorcycle… or some sort of special delivery in the mail. And others have even waited for and anticipated healing… relief from pain or suffering…the removal of a cast or stitches…or even a release from some sort of bondage or incarceration – whether literal or emotional.
We are equipped to handle waiting… though many of us do this very poorly. We have the capacity to handle this with grace and patience… yet many will fuss and fidget, wring their hands, and work themselves into a tizzy. Like Timothy and countless other small children, we need to receive whatever it is we are anticipating… and we need it now! And just like the adage that “good things come to those who wait,” we must learn to be patient and wait on the LORD’s coming… or the day when He greets us face-to-face in Heaven.
I understand that this may not seem all that tantamount to you if you are a young person… someone who still seems to have a whole lifetime of things to anticipate and enjoy in the future. I was the same way… and I still enjoy my earthly life. I still anticipate new experiences and adventures… especially the growth and progress of my nieces, nephews, and other young friends. God wants us to appreciate our life in Him for the time we are given on this earth. But the older I get… the more of my loved ones who join Jesus in heaven… the more I think about heaven for myself. And I find myself awaiting the day.
Don’t misunderstand me… I’m not eager to depart for Eternity! Let’s just say I’m confident that I will get there… and I am not afraid to go! When my grandmother was in her last months, she began to say, “I don’t know why I’m living so long.” She so anticipated heaven… she longed to be there and have a new body that gave her physical mobility and the capability of unimpeded speech. I kept reminding her that God still had work for her to do here. People needed her ministry. I don’t know who or how many… but I saw evidence of the lives she influenced to her dying breath and beyond. And it’s the same for us. We have work to do here on earth. God has given us so many blessings in this lifetime… but He has called us to minister in His name, also.
So go… live… enjoy your life – every day of it. When troubles come, figure out how to use them for God’s purposes. Follow the countless examples you have around you of people who have worshipped and served God even in the midst of incredible challenges - with patience and grace - as they waited for Him to call them to heaven. God has a “big surprise” for you… a mansion that is beyond your wildest dreams! But He won’t reveal it to you until the time is right. Like a four-year-old little boy, you will have to wait. The key question is… “How will you spend your ‘waiting time’?” Your answer… how patiently you wait… matters. What do you have to say for yourself?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 1, 2013
Revelation 13:10
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I often end these devotionals with the question… “What are you waiting for?” Today, I want to pose this question again… but not in the context of “What is taking you so long?”… but rather, “What are you waiting for?” Some of us are waiting for a life event… a wedding, the birth of a baby… or even the death of a loved one. Still others are waiting on a new job, a new house, or that high school or college diploma. Even more are waiting on something less tangible…a relationship change… the loss of that last few pounds or inches… or even the check in the mail from a major sweepstakes that we know isn’t really coming (but we dream big anyway!).
We are all waiting on something, whether we realize it or not. Along the way, “life” happens… joys, sorrows, seasons of growth and great prosperity… and those of illness, despair, and deep despondency. There are times when we wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” – or even “Where is God?” There are times when everything seems to go right, and we feel the presence and blessings of God so profoundly…and “Life is Good,” as the t-shirt proclaims. Then there are times when everything falls apart… when we may or may not feel God’s presence… and life seems anything but good. And many of us give up – at least temporarily – on God.
Regardless of the “season,” our job as Christians is to keep on waiting… to continue to call on God to draw near to us, guide our steps and protect our course… and to keep believing that He will do exactly this. On any given day, you or I could find ourselves at the top of the heap, so to speak… or buried at the bottom. We could feel incredibly protected and euphoric… or persecuted and disheartened. But still… we wait.
We wait for God to come to us… to show us His perfect wisdom and designs for our life. We trust that He will never leave us… we remain faithful to Him and believe in His power as our God of answered prayers and fulfilled promises. This week, a lifelong friend of mine buried his father. At the funeral, he said his dad had compared his future to that of the Apostle Paul… if he stayed on this earth and got to enjoy his children and grandchildren – great! If God called him to heaven to be with his wife, parents, and others who preceded him… to sit daily at the feet of Jesus for the rest of eternity – even better! Either way, he was a winner. And so he waited. And with perfect timing and precision, God called him home a few days ago.
So my question today is once again, “What are you waiting for?” What are you anticipating… how are you meeting the challenges and the “ups and downs” of each and every minute of the day? Do you “count it all gain” like the Apostle Paul and my friend’s dad? Or do you find that you often question the events that shape your day? Are you waiting on God’s answers? Are you eagerly anticipating how He will create beauty out of chaos… and basking in the blessings He gives you on a “good day?” Again I ask… “What are you waiting for?” How you answer makes all the difference.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I often end these devotionals with the question… “What are you waiting for?” Today, I want to pose this question again… but not in the context of “What is taking you so long?”… but rather, “What are you waiting for?” Some of us are waiting for a life event… a wedding, the birth of a baby… or even the death of a loved one. Still others are waiting on a new job, a new house, or that high school or college diploma. Even more are waiting on something less tangible…a relationship change… the loss of that last few pounds or inches… or even the check in the mail from a major sweepstakes that we know isn’t really coming (but we dream big anyway!).
We are all waiting on something, whether we realize it or not. Along the way, “life” happens… joys, sorrows, seasons of growth and great prosperity… and those of illness, despair, and deep despondency. There are times when we wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” – or even “Where is God?” There are times when everything seems to go right, and we feel the presence and blessings of God so profoundly…and “Life is Good,” as the t-shirt proclaims. Then there are times when everything falls apart… when we may or may not feel God’s presence… and life seems anything but good. And many of us give up – at least temporarily – on God.
Regardless of the “season,” our job as Christians is to keep on waiting… to continue to call on God to draw near to us, guide our steps and protect our course… and to keep believing that He will do exactly this. On any given day, you or I could find ourselves at the top of the heap, so to speak… or buried at the bottom. We could feel incredibly protected and euphoric… or persecuted and disheartened. But still… we wait.
We wait for God to come to us… to show us His perfect wisdom and designs for our life. We trust that He will never leave us… we remain faithful to Him and believe in His power as our God of answered prayers and fulfilled promises. This week, a lifelong friend of mine buried his father. At the funeral, he said his dad had compared his future to that of the Apostle Paul… if he stayed on this earth and got to enjoy his children and grandchildren – great! If God called him to heaven to be with his wife, parents, and others who preceded him… to sit daily at the feet of Jesus for the rest of eternity – even better! Either way, he was a winner. And so he waited. And with perfect timing and precision, God called him home a few days ago.
So my question today is once again, “What are you waiting for?” What are you anticipating… how are you meeting the challenges and the “ups and downs” of each and every minute of the day? Do you “count it all gain” like the Apostle Paul and my friend’s dad? Or do you find that you often question the events that shape your day? Are you waiting on God’s answers? Are you eagerly anticipating how He will create beauty out of chaos… and basking in the blessings He gives you on a “good day?” Again I ask… “What are you waiting for?” How you answer makes all the difference.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 7, 2013
April 7 ~ 2 Peter 3:9The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Learning to wait is one of the hardest lessons for small children. And as adults, we often succumb to their whims. Our excuses seem plausible and justified… “It’s just not worth the hassle”…”It’s only this one time”…”I pick and choose my battles.” In truth, we are not any more patient than the child. We are not willing to withstand a few minutes of a meltdown from an overly tired child in order to avoid spoiling his/her dinner with cookies or candy. We let them open gifts early… then end up breaking the budget to buy something else for them to open on Christmas Day, at the birthday party, or for whatever occasion is being celebrated. We tell them they have to clean their room, sit quietly, or perform other tasks in order to receive a “reward”… then we quickly fold and say, “Okay, that’s good enough… you can have it now.”
So is it any wonder that we turn around and expect our Heavenly Father to treat us like we treat our little ones? After all, isn’t that what we think “good parents” do? Aren’t we often more worried about whether our children – or our friends, family members, co-workers – like us than whether we are doing the right thing?
This scripture reminds all of us that God’s ways are not our ways… but His ways are perfect – and so is His timing! So when we want to rush in and orchestrate things to suit our needs and desires, we need to stop and take a look at the bigger picture. We may beg and plead with God for this result or that one. We may push and prod someone to do something we want them to do. And all the while, God may be working things out in a subtle - yet more effective – manner… and we may be totally screwing up the works!
The time has come to give God room to operate. We need to grow up and learn to close our mouths and sit on our hands in many instances. We must ask God to lead us… to work on our behalf… to show us how to proceed. And then we need to be patient and give Him space… to trust His timing… to watch and learn from the Master.
Believe me, I know this is hard. I am a “jump-in-and-do” person… a “fixer.” As a result – I make some pretty big messes of things! I don’t know very many truly patient people. But I know that God can help more of us to develop this trait – if only we will call on Him and trust Him for the outcomes. God has amazing, incredible, perfect plans for all of us. He needs our patience and our help in making them happen… not our excuses for jumping the gun. Are you willing to take a step back and wait on the LORD? He is so patient with us… will you be patient with Him?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Learning to wait is one of the hardest lessons for small children. And as adults, we often succumb to their whims. Our excuses seem plausible and justified… “It’s just not worth the hassle”…”It’s only this one time”…”I pick and choose my battles.” In truth, we are not any more patient than the child. We are not willing to withstand a few minutes of a meltdown from an overly tired child in order to avoid spoiling his/her dinner with cookies or candy. We let them open gifts early… then end up breaking the budget to buy something else for them to open on Christmas Day, at the birthday party, or for whatever occasion is being celebrated. We tell them they have to clean their room, sit quietly, or perform other tasks in order to receive a “reward”… then we quickly fold and say, “Okay, that’s good enough… you can have it now.”
So is it any wonder that we turn around and expect our Heavenly Father to treat us like we treat our little ones? After all, isn’t that what we think “good parents” do? Aren’t we often more worried about whether our children – or our friends, family members, co-workers – like us than whether we are doing the right thing?
This scripture reminds all of us that God’s ways are not our ways… but His ways are perfect – and so is His timing! So when we want to rush in and orchestrate things to suit our needs and desires, we need to stop and take a look at the bigger picture. We may beg and plead with God for this result or that one. We may push and prod someone to do something we want them to do. And all the while, God may be working things out in a subtle - yet more effective – manner… and we may be totally screwing up the works!
The time has come to give God room to operate. We need to grow up and learn to close our mouths and sit on our hands in many instances. We must ask God to lead us… to work on our behalf… to show us how to proceed. And then we need to be patient and give Him space… to trust His timing… to watch and learn from the Master.
Believe me, I know this is hard. I am a “jump-in-and-do” person… a “fixer.” As a result – I make some pretty big messes of things! I don’t know very many truly patient people. But I know that God can help more of us to develop this trait – if only we will call on Him and trust Him for the outcomes. God has amazing, incredible, perfect plans for all of us. He needs our patience and our help in making them happen… not our excuses for jumping the gun. Are you willing to take a step back and wait on the LORD? He is so patient with us… will you be patient with Him?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 16, 2012
Matthew 25:1-13
“God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.
“In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’
“The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’
“They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’
“They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.
“Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’
“He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’
“So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
One of the greatest inventions to come along for me is the DVR. So often, I sit down to watch a program, only to wake a few minutes to an hour later and realize I missed much of it. I have to admit that I’ve backed up and tried to watch the same several-minute stretch several times before, because each time I would fall asleep again! If you are laughing, it’s either because you have “been there, done that,” or you think this is nuts. If you fall into the latter category, you’ll understand all too soon!
With the DVR, I can back up and replay what I missed. In life, we don’t get “do-overs” like this. So we miss a lot of important moments. We are not awake and alert, so we miss the opportunity to offer to lend a hand to a friend. We don’t catch that someone is smiling on the outside but hurting deeply internally. We don’t feel that gentle nudge from God to take action that could have profound and lasting impact in our life and the lives of others.
Some of us get a “wake-up call” that jolts us into paying closer attention. More than a few of us need this sort of reminder. I know several people who have been bounced into a more acute sense of awareness by the death of a loved one. And often, someone will speak at the funeral of a friend or family member and urge others who are in attendance to turn to Jesus or change their way of living in some fashion. It shouldn’t have to take a death to awaken us to listening more closely for God’s voice. But God will use whatever He can to get our attention.
On some level, it would be great to have a DVR in our daily living… and especially in our life as a Christian. But then, we wouldn’t have to lean on God nearly as much – or listen carefully for His voice. God wants us to pay attention… to stay tuned in to His message and directives… and to be awake and alert for Him at all times. Have you been caught napping?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.
“In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’
“The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’
“They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’
“They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.
“Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’
“He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’
“So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
One of the greatest inventions to come along for me is the DVR. So often, I sit down to watch a program, only to wake a few minutes to an hour later and realize I missed much of it. I have to admit that I’ve backed up and tried to watch the same several-minute stretch several times before, because each time I would fall asleep again! If you are laughing, it’s either because you have “been there, done that,” or you think this is nuts. If you fall into the latter category, you’ll understand all too soon!
With the DVR, I can back up and replay what I missed. In life, we don’t get “do-overs” like this. So we miss a lot of important moments. We are not awake and alert, so we miss the opportunity to offer to lend a hand to a friend. We don’t catch that someone is smiling on the outside but hurting deeply internally. We don’t feel that gentle nudge from God to take action that could have profound and lasting impact in our life and the lives of others.
Some of us get a “wake-up call” that jolts us into paying closer attention. More than a few of us need this sort of reminder. I know several people who have been bounced into a more acute sense of awareness by the death of a loved one. And often, someone will speak at the funeral of a friend or family member and urge others who are in attendance to turn to Jesus or change their way of living in some fashion. It shouldn’t have to take a death to awaken us to listening more closely for God’s voice. But God will use whatever He can to get our attention.
On some level, it would be great to have a DVR in our daily living… and especially in our life as a Christian. But then, we wouldn’t have to lean on God nearly as much – or listen carefully for His voice. God wants us to pay attention… to stay tuned in to His message and directives… and to be awake and alert for Him at all times. Have you been caught napping?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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