OK, GOD, I'm Listening!

 

Favorite Scripture Day #22

Have you ever been bugged by God? I mean that in a good way. There are times in my walk with the LORD where it seems like he is trying to GET MY ATTENTION. I consider myself to be a pretty smart guy, I have a degree in Mathematics, Teaching, Computers, and a Masters in Biblical Studies. Besides all that, I KNOW A LOT OF STUFF! LOL! But, I am not always the "Sharpest Tool in the SHED" when it comes to "getting the message GOD IS SENDING." I am a little slow on the uptake, so to speak. For Example:

I have had this theme over the last several weeks where the word WORRY and the word PRAYER has come up in so many random conversations. God has given me a message to PREACH on WORRY and now I am in the process of finishing my message on PRAYER. I don't believe in COINCIDENCE. 

GOD is TALKING and I am LISTENING. 

"For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride. He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death." (Job 33:14-18, NLT)

God speaks to us and we, so many times, are JUST NOT LISTENING. The message he continually sends me is DON'T WORRY, PRAY. SO, it is kind of humorous that in my random study of my FAVORITE SCRIPTURES, this passage is NEXT:

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me -- everything you heard from me ans saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:6-9, NLT)

I fight WORRY. Any moment I sense myself worrying about something, I have trained myself to PRAY. And guess what, IT WORKS! You can't worry about stuff when you are praying. But, let me tell you what I have been praying about lately:

I have been PRAISING GOD a lot in my prayers lately. I am just so amazed at all that God has done. His rich blessings are all around me, in our home, our comfort, and our surroundings. But, my greatest blessings have come through his presence while I read, study, write, and share the gospel. I am so amazed at how he is using me. Yet, that leads to the second half of my prayers and forgive me for being a little transparent this morning. Besides praising GOD a lot lately, I am also petitioning God, DON'T LET ME MESS THIS UP! Don't let me make decisions from my own heart. HELP ME continue to FOCUS on YOU, LORD. Help me to speak and write YOUR WORDS LORD. 

I KNOW MYSELF. 

Keep my sinful heart from interfering with my genuine love for YOU LORD and that same LOVE FOR PEOPLE. LORD, KEEP ME FROM PRIDE and resting on all that God has done through me. 

God continues to SPEAK to me, he is blessing me beyond my wildest imagination. I know I don't deserve it and if I was left on my own, I WOULD MESS IT UP. But, God has promised to never forsake me and He said, "My peace will guard your heart and mind if you live in Me." This scripture from Philippians is my favorite when I start getting blinded by the problems I face each day. It reminds me to keep my THOUGHTS FIXED on what is TRUE, HONORABLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, and ADMIRABLE.

Thanks God, I get it. I have one simple task and that is to FOCUS ON YOU. That is my prayer as I cast all the worries of the day to the side of the road. Thank you LORD.