More God Is Our Maker, So Be Careful How You Label People And Never Settle For Wearing A Label He Didn’t Design For You! Today, Remember Who You Represent, And Whose Name You Represent, And Live Up To It!

"Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement.)" (Acts 4:36 AMP)

Just as you deserved a second chance, don’t they deserve the same? What if people locked you into the person you used to be? What if they kept throwing in your face your drug and alcohol abuse; your adultery; your stealing; your gossiping; your repossessions; your foreclosure; your unemployment; your 3^rd marriage…would that be acceptable?

Acts chapter 4, verse 36, the Bible identifies a man who will become a trusted and important leader of the early Christian church. It calls him "Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement.)" (AMP) Well, later we see Barnabas go into action when the Christians are trying to decide how to handle the most notorious convert they had - Saul of Tarsus; the man who until recently had been the number one persecutor of the followers of Christ. But that was until he had an encounter with Him for himself.

Acts 9:26-27, "When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." (NIV). Barnabas introduces Saul and opens the door for him to the apostles. Here's the Son of Encouragement putting an arm around a new believer and giving him a chance when no one else would.

I wonder how much better our homes, churches, jobs, communities would be, if only we were more like Barnabas? If we encouraged, included, supported, defended and helped others. Instead of joining the critical clan in competing, comparing, and criticizing. And truth is, Saul had a lot against him, and he was the one who put all of it against himself. No one made him do the things he did. He was a horrible man. Yes, that was his truth. But Jesus changed him, therefore who had the right to judge his change? I believe we spend so much time talking about who and what someone was, that we miss out on all the great things they’ve become and accomplished since. I mean if your daughter was a straight D student, and then sought out help with tutors, and put in extra hard work, to now become a straight A student…would you continue to throw her past D’s in her face? If your spouse wasn’t as attentive the first 5 years of your marriage, but has been the last 5 years of your marriage, do you hold the first 5 years over their head forever? If they weren’t growing, but now they are, do you keep watering their past weeds, or celebrate that they’ve gotten rid of them? They’re better this year than they were last year, but do you keep them mentally imprisoned in 2017?

That’s why I love Barnabas’ response to Saul. Knowing who he was, what he did and where he came from, still when he brought him before the people, he spoke of who he is now. Why not allow today to be the day you treat others likewise. Stop speaking of their Then, and speak of their Now, because you have no idea what great things God can still do for them in their Later.

That's the story of Barnabas's life. In chapter 11 we're told that the believers (who were almost all Jewish at this point) weren't sure how to respond to the news that Gentiles were coming to Christ in Antioch. Guess who they sent to check it out? "They sent Barnabas," it says. "When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord." What did he do? "Encouraged them all," what else would you expect from Mr. Encouragement?

Let’s read the text in full: “Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master. When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, THEY SENT BARNABAS TO ANTIOCH TO CHECK ON THINGS. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master. Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” (MSG)

How phenomenal of a leader and believer is Barnabas? Not only does he exemplify leadership, but also character, integrity, credibility, accountability, and encouragement. And does he take any credit for himself? Absolutely not. In fact, he goes looking for Saul (the one no one wanted to include, encourage, support and help), and he had him to join him in the work of strengthening the church. In a place of persecution, their work for the Lord prospered for the people. It’s in this setting in which disciples are first called Christians, in the midst of one man who simply encouraged all. One man who simply lived up to his name.

Then to take it a step further, later, when Barnabas and Paul have a disagreement on a young missionary named Mark, it's Barnabas who takes a chance on this young man who actually flunked out once as a missionary and he disciples him into leadership. The point's obvious., Barnabas became what he was called; he did what his name indicated he would do. Barnabas encouraged. What are you supposed to be doing? Are you doing it?

Daniel means ‘God is my judge’; David means ‘beloved’; Ruth means ‘friend’. And each lived up to their names. What name are you living up to?

Do the people around you remember and probably act out the names that they've been called? You know as parents I think we forget the power of our words sometimes to make our children feel very big or very small. We call them lazy, or stupid, or rebel, or uncaring. And chances are, that will imprint the tape in their heart and it'll play back their whole life!

In counseling, there are so many terms that come up that I absolutely detest. Things like, “you’ll never be nothing because your daddy wasn’t nothing”; “you act just like your no good mama”; “his daddy went to jail and he’s on his way just like him”; “her mama got pregnant at 16, just wait and see, the way she act and dress, she’s gonna be just like her”. Those kinds of words, names and labeling are easy to attach, but never are they so easy to detach from. Which Is Why We Should Be Ever So Careful How We Label People. Stop Calling Them “Mean, Rude, Nasty”, Don’t Label Them With What You Wouldn’t Want To Wear On Your Own Back.

That's why it's so important to consistently call people what we want them to become; caring, unselfish, helper, listener, creative, smart, accomplished, better, changed. Even when you see just a flash of a great trait, tell them how much that means to you. Celebrate their every improvement, no matter the size of it.

Now, as for all of us as believer: We Are Called Christians. But Are We Living Up To That Name? And if someone were to ask if YOU live your CHRISTIAN LIFE, CHRIST-LIKE, what would be your HONEST response?

After all, Jesus was:

“Loving” (John 13:1, “It was before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Jesus knew the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had loved His own who were in the world. He loved them to the end.” (NLV);  

If you were accused of being a Christian (Christ-Like), would you be found guilty…or innocent of all charges?

You know in preparing this, I thought of Benjamin, when his mother birthed him and what she called him: Genesis 35:18, says “With her last breath, for she was now dying, she named him Ben-oni (Son-of-My-Pain), but his father named him Ben-jamin (Son-of-Good-Fortune).” (MSG) Can you imagine what people can turn out to be if we call them (not by the past, not by the hurt, not by their failures or mistakes, not by their sin or short-comings, not by their experience, not by our mood or attitude), but by what they can become!

Benjamin went from being the son of pain, to the son of good fortune, and all because one person refused to allow him to wear a label he was not to be called by! You have the power to change what someone’s been called the same way! Just speak well of them and what they will become!

Don’t get stuck on how they behave, conduct themselves, what they say and do. Don’t get stuck on their past, their failures and mistakes. Don’t even get stuck in their personality flaws. Because truth is, we ALL have issues, flaws, mistakes and a past.

With that said, let’s start today by behaving by the name in which we are called, Christians, who live Christ-Like. God is your Maker, so never settle for wearing a Label He didn’t Design for you! You have been called Christian. You have been called to be Christ-Like. Today, Remember Who you represent, and Whose Name you represent, and Live Up to It! And while You do so, make sure you give that same opportunity and grace to Others as well!

What Is Prayer? What Prayer Is Not. We Are Indeed Living In Some Of The Scariest Of Times;So, Who Wouldn’t Talk To Him More Often? Let’s Determine Today To Make Prayer Our Lifestyle, Not Our Lifeline.

Throughout the Bible, believers are called to pray. But what is prayer? What does it mean to "pray without ceasing?" And does prayer really make a difference?

In order to develop a clear idea of prayer, we must first have a clear idea of God. Biblically speaking, God is a personal being. This is critical to prayer because it means that God is a person we can interact with, that He has a will and that we are able to relate to Him on a meaningful level. If He were impersonal, then prayer would not be meaningful. If He were personal, but uncaring and distant, prayer wouldn't serve a purpose.

Not only is God personal, He is also loving (1 John 4:8, 16; John 3:16). This is also important in relation to prayer. If God were personal, but uncaring or unkind, then prayer might do us more harm than good! God is not only loving He is all loving (omnibenevolent). In relation to prayer, this means that God always desires the best for us because He loves us.

God is also wise and holy. He knows what is best for us, as well as what will lead us to holiness rather than sin. He is also immanent, meaning that God is active in His creation in a personal way, not only directing greater matters of history, but also involved in the life of everyone. This means that no prayer is too great for Him, but also that no prayer is too small for Him.

What Prayer Is Not

Prayer is not magic. We cannot summon God as though He were a genie, waiting to grant our wishes without regard for our circumstances or the consequences.

Prayer does not make demands. While we can make requests of God in prayer, we dare not make demands. God is the Creator of the universe and does not take orders from us.

Prayer is for our benefit, not God's. We need a relationship with God, available to us through Jesus Christ and engaged primarily through prayer, because we were made to function best when we are in a proper relationship with our Creator.

Prayer is not a guarantee against suffering. "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33); "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12-13).

Prayer is not an opportunity for us to show off. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men" (Matthew 6:5).

What Is Prayer?

"So what is prayer? Prayer is a relationship, wherein we humbly communicate, worship, and sincerely seek God's face, knowing that He hears us, loves us and will respond, though not always in a manner we may expect or desire. Prayer can encompass confession, praise, adoration, supplication, intercession and more."

In addition, our attitude in prayer is important. We must not be haughty, but humble (Ephesians 4:2; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6, etc.). Seen in this light, to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) means, in one sense, that we must always strive to have a prayerful attitude. Our prayers must come often and regularly, not from legalistic duty, but from a humble heart, realizing our dependence on God in every aspect of our lives.

Now, I haven't got this whole praying without ceasing thing mastered yet, but I'm certainly getting it more and more! I’m learning the benefit of "Praying in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests."

And truth is with all that’s going on in the world, do we really need anyone to encourage us to pray more? The loss of life, attacks, cruelty and the likes. Do we really need someone to say never stop praying? Our children are dying more frequently, younger and more violently, do we really need someone to call us and remind us to pray?

We Are Indeed Living In Some Of The Scariest Of Times, YET, We Have The Advantage Of Constant Communication With Our Creator Who Is In Control Of All Things. So, Who Wouldn’t Talk To Him More Often?!

Let’s Determine Today To Make Prayer Our Lifestyle, Not Just Our Lifeline!

Many Mice Have Died;They Were So Focused On The Cheese They Under-Estimated The Trap!Don’t Let The Devils Sly Ways Trap You.You Can’t Hang Out With The Destroyer &Meet Divine Destiny At The Same Time.

1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (AMP)

I by no means have a green thumb, I never have and never will; but I love plants and I have my own plant room where I love to go and read and meditate on God’s Word. I’ve managed to keep most of the plants alive…briefly…however, I do have a friend name Michelle who was born with two green thumbs. She has one of the most beautiful fruit and vegetable gardens I think I've ever seen in my life. And more than once I've literally asked her to take me on a tour of her garden. And I must say this little city girl always learns a lot in that garden. One of the last times, I think, we toured her gardens she showed me a garden spider at work. Actually, it wasn't at work, it was really at dinner! It was just finishing “filet of grasshopper”; which just so happened to be the latest insect to be caught in his web.

Now, while I was watching, another grasshopper flew into the bottom of that web a few inches below the spider. And since the web is sticky, he stayed there. Well, Mr. Spider left his dinner, slid down this silk thread like a fireman would slide down his fire pole, and in a maneuver that you would have missed if you looked away for even a second, this spider spewed out a bombardment of silken thread that totally encased and imprisoned that grasshopper - kind of mummified him. It was over in seconds. From that time that he touched the web that grasshopper never stood a chance! Guess he didn’t read Isaiah 52:11, “Depart, depart, go out from there (the lands of exile), Touch no unclean thing; Go out of the midst of her (Babylon), purify yourselves, You who carry the articles of the Lord [on your journey from there].” (AMP). Amazing how much trouble just one touch can cause!

Now it's not a spider you and I need to be concerned about. Well, maybe you are, but he won't hurt you much. You're a lot bigger than he is. But what we need to be concerned about is a lion with a deadly approach, not unlike that of the spider. Thus God's sober warning in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him!..."

Now, there is this very day a powerful, shrewd, spiritual destroyer who's looking for a way to entrap you, to invade your soul, to take you where you never thought you'd go; to devour you. And in a very real sense, the Devil's trying to get you just to touch his sticky web. Like that grasshopper, you don't intend to stay. You don't intend to become a prisoner. You certainly don't intend to lose everything. In fact, Satan never tells you he's going to do all that. He just says, "Just touch this beautiful web." And when you touch the Devil's web, you're his. And what does he have planned for you? Let’s look at 1 Peter 5:8 in a translation shall we? “…looking for some victim to tear apart.” (TLB);

That’s exactly what the spider, lion and Devil all do alike! They quickly look for a victim who has made a mistake or shown a sign of weakness and then they swiftly take full advantage of it and devour or eat them greedily, consume them destructively and swallow them whole! And you my friend are the next target in the enemies radar! So what’s one of the first things you need to do? 1 Peter 5:8, “Keep awake! Watch at all times. The devil is working against you. He is walking around like a hungry lion with his mouth open. He is looking for someone to eat.” (NLV). The key is “…WATCH AT ALL TIMES…” Because truth is, it’s always when we let our guard down that our enemy gains entry and victory! Which is why we need to follow the admonishment of Ephesians 4:27, “And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin…” (AMP). And the devil is always looking to gain an opportunity, which is why we have to be watchful AT ALL TIMES!

Amazing how much trouble one little conversation with the devil can get you into! They went from everything to nothing, by messing with the serpent! And it didn't just impact their lives alone, but the lives of every succeeding generation! Don’t let the same thing happen to you!

Don't fall for those lies. They've destroyed so many people already!

Remember, once you touch the web, he can do what he wants with you. That’s the danger of allowing the wrong people access into your life! Remember Ephesians, “…don’t even give the devil the opportunity…” which means in our simple day-to-day vocabulary: Don’t wait until the second phone call; the third text; the fourth picture; the fifth wink; the sixth let’s just grab some coffee; the seventh Facebook inbox; the eighth Instagram like under your 45 week old picture; the ninth I was just checking on you; or the tenth that color looks good on you! NO! At the FIRST sign nip it in the bud and shut it down, before it bites you in the behind and shuts you down permanently!

What people fail to realize is that you don’t always recover from a mistake or a willful decision to sin! Some lose their marriages, children, jobs, friends, careers, and ministries and never get them back! Forgiven does not mean you get to press restart with absolutely no consequences. Which is why you should always pay attention to what you’ll lose forever by what you gained for a moment.

Interesting enough, while I was in that garden I actually saw another spider and a grasshopper that landed just below his web. The spider didn't even move. He couldn't touch that grasshopper if the grasshopper didn't touch the web. You render Satan powerless against you in the same way. That's why God said, "Be self-controlled." "Be alert." "Resist him." Or in the words of James 4:7, “So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.” (AMP). In a nutshell, Submit to God and Resist the Devil! That word “resist” is defined as “to withstand the action or effect of; to refrain from.” Its Latin Origin “resistere”, from “sistere” literally means “to stop.” Which means no blame game, no excuses, no reasoning’s, no justification. Simply, when the devil presents you an opportunity, stop him dead in his tracks through submission to God and resistance to him! Remember: “Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. THE TEMPTATION TO GIVE IN TO EVIL COMES FROM US AND ONLY US. WE HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT THE LEERING, SEDUCING FLARE-UP OF OUR OWN LUST. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.” (James 1:13-15 MSG). Which is why we ought to also remember: “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me.” The Word of the Master, God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 MSG).

If you don't play around the sticky threads of sin and temptation, the one who wants to devour you cannot even touch you. You have done what the Bible says. You have resisted the one who would devour you.

God and the Kingdom have need of you…Alive! You have gifts, ministry, calling and anointing to fulfill. You Can’t Hang Out With The Destroyer And Meet Divine Destiny At The Same Time. So today is your day to choose Whom you will serve? Tomorrow is not promised, and someone who thought they had another day realized that last night was their LAST night.

Don’t straddle the fence any longer. No more compromise, only conviction to stay on the right side of God’s Law. Spiders will continue to make webs, but grasshoppers don’t have to keep entering them. Likewise, the devil will always make you demonic offers that look like angelic opportunities. However, you don’t have to be fooled, nor do you have to accept. Remember the Word of God: “…we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief – we’re not oblivious to his sly ways.” (2 Corinthians 2:11 MSG). Don’t Let The Devils Sly Ways Trap You In His Sticky Web!

Many Mice Have Died Because They Were So Focused On The Cheese That They Under-Estimated The Trap! Don’t Let It Happen To You!

Don't Get Caught In The Web!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Anything Out Of Your Control Is Never Out Of God's Control; Because You Can't Handle It Doesn't Mean His Hands Can't.

Remember that anything under man’s control can always get out of control, because that’s our nature, we will mess up things, give us a little control and we start doing things our way. Anything under God’s control is never out of control because God is the controller of this world this universe. Nothing escapes Him, nothing surprises Him and nothing confuses Him, WHY? Because he is Omni = all. Meaning He’s all. Omnipresent: All-present, or everywhere present at the same time. Know that Satan cannot be present and everywhere at the same. Satan has demons and minions that he designates to be in various places but Satan does not have that power to be Omni: God is not confined to space, just as not confined to time. He existed before space was created.

Omni = all; science = knowledge. Omniscience: All knowledge. God knows everything. He’s knows everything. Nothing is hidden, overlooked, escapes His notice. God never learns anything. Has never learned anything & can’t learn. He is never surprised. Everything we are now learning He has known from eternity.

Omnipotent: Potent = powerful. All-powerful; Means God is able to do whatever He wants to do. Are there certain things God can’t do – something inconsistent with His nature?  God can’t lie, sin, violate His word, deny Himself or cease to exist. God only wants to do that which is consistent with His nature. He can do anything as easily as He can do anything else; effortlessly. We get tired and need food to replenish our energy. God never needs replenishing – to what or whom would He go?

Anything out of your control is never out of God’s control. Because you can’t handle it doesn’t mean His hands can’t.  If You Pray When You Are Only In Trouble, Then You Are In Trouble. My secret is simple, I Pray! If you have time to pray, God has time to listen. We need God in every single moment of our life. "I pray because I can't help myself, I pray because I am helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me at all times, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God, it changes me." It's the most powerful weapon against trials and the most effective medicine against sickness. If a problem brings you to prayer then it has served it's purpose. Pray always; God can turn around any situation. Because with Prayer, just like that everything can change.

Don't pray only in the in time of crisis. Nothing qualifies for worry; Everything qualifies for Prayer.  If you need someone to just listen, then just pray. The greatest privilege God gives us is the Freedom to approach Him at anytime. Heb. 4:16.  Pray on it, Pray over it, but most of all Pray through it.  God answers prayer in several ways: He says Yes and gives you what you want.  He says No and gives you something better.  He says wait and gives you the best. Sometimes He doesn’t say anything at all, He just want you to trust Him. For what's for you will not pass you by.  Prayer is the way to defeat the devil. Do not give the devil a foothold.  Ephesians 4:27. Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy the thirsty soul.  When a Christian stops growing in prayer, help is needed.  Make the habit of prayer a regular activity and see what happens: First, the habit of prayer.  The enemy warfare in your life is to cause you to become discouraged. Turn your Worry into Worship; remember prayer is where burdens change shoulders.

Blessings

Steep Your Life In God-Reality, God-Initiative, And God-Provisions. You'll Find All Your Everyday Human Concerns Will Be Met. David Was Hurting, David Was Slipping and He Was Overwhelmed; Are You?

“My soul thirsts for the living God. When can I go to meet with Him?”  (Psalm 42:2 ERV).

King David was hydroplaning when he wrote Psalm 42:3-5. You see, things were moving really fast and he was losing control. David says, “I’m on a diet of tears—tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, ‘Where is this God of yours?’…Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues?” (MSG).

David’s Hurting, David’s Slipping, David’s Overwhelmed, And David’s Hydroplaning! Are You?

If the truth be told, I was there not too long ago. My challenges were a lot bigger than my resources. I felt like my faith was like a twin-sized fitted sheet on a king-sized bed; it just couldn’t stretch far enough to cover it!

I was overwhelmed and anxious. I felt like I’d never catch up on anything. I was falling behind in school work, devotionals; proper scheduling of engagements, etc…Everything just seemed too much! It felt like having 2 body parts being stretched into 20 different directions! But, I must say, I’ve been there before, and if truth be told, I’ll probably be there again. But today I wandered into this psalm, Psalm 42, where I was hit with a probing question which turned out to be the answer. Now, if you’re feeling yourself hydroplaning right now, maybe it’s an answer for you, too.

In Psalm 42:2, David Asks An Extremely Important Question, that I had to learn to ask likewise, he asked: “…When can I go and meet with God?” (NIV).

Like David, I needed to stop my spinning world and simply get away with God. So I got away with just my Bible and my notepad, and I met with God. That may be your Lord’s prescription for all that’s ailing you right now as well. Although many of you may respond, “No way! There’s just too much for me to do to just stop everything!” Well, that’s exactly why you need to! Whether you know it or not, you’re losing control. You have to slow down to listen to your Lord for an extended, uninterrupted, unhurried period of time if you’re ever going to get back on track!

A quote that has come to be one of my favorites is: “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” (Lao Tzu). If you think about it, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, all come year after year, and neither ever rushes to get here, yet they come faithfully and consistently! “For as long as Earth lasts, planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never stop.” (Genesis 8:22 MSG).

In other words, all the things that God has set or better yet “pre-ordained” for your life Will Occur, in their proper season! Habakkuk 2:2-3, "And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. IF IT SEEMS SLOW IN COMING, WAIT. IT'S ON ITS WAY. IT WILL COME RIGHT ON TIME." (MSG) Therefore, you need not hurry, rush, or attempt to bring forth fruit in the wrong season! If it is to happen, it will! Don’t make the mistake that many, especially those in ministry, are making…and that’s driving so fast up the mountain to reach the top, that they’ve missed the breathtaking scenery along the journey! In their hurry to reach the top of the mountain, to mount a flag of victory, to make a name for themselves, they missed all the “little miracles” along the way! They missed the clouds and the silver lining, they missed the calming powder-blue sky, they missed earth’s most beautiful sunrises and sunsets, they missed the flowers that determined to push their way through the dirt and sprout forth anyhow, and they missed all of the creatures, the creation and the Creator rushing to “create” something for themselves!

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” (Saint Francis de Sales).

I came to a startling revelation in my quiet time with God. He reminded me of all the ups and downs and circumstances that we call trials. He reminded me that TODAY not a one of those things is a problem for me. Why? Because He saved me and granted me wholeness! And for what purpose? That I run around the earth, under the disguise of “ministry” or “kingdom” work? No, so that I would be mindful of His promise to me: “…I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (John 10:10 AMP).

Now, does that mean ministry/kingdom work is unimportant? Not at all! But the Scripture gives us the best advice: “Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!” (Matthew 5:6 AMP).

And to add gravy to your mashed potatoes: “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think He’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, and God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll Find All Your Everyday Human Concerns Will Be Met.” (Matthew 6:30-33 MSG).

SO, STOP HYDROPLANING, GET IN HIS PRESENCE AND HUSH!

People of God, stop running around like a chicken with his head cut off! Life goes by fast enough, don’t rush and hurry through it, and don’t busy yourself so much that you have no idea where 10 years went! God will provide for you naturally and spiritually, so stop hydroplaning in all the wrong directions, stop wasting your time and your life!  Both of which you cannot get back once they are gone!

Take the time this week to write down what you’re feeling and thinking as you make it your most important business to meet with God and listen to Him. Ask Him for a fresh look at the people in your life, at the pressures, and at your priorities. Ask Him to help you see the forest again; because if the truth be told, you’ve been overwhelmed by focusing on all the trees!

In His presence, set some priorities. Make some plans and weed some things out. You can trust what you’re sensing in an extended time with God. This needs to be on a more regular basis.  

If you’re traveling at a high speed right now and you feel yourself losing control, first of all, SLOW DOWN! You need to carve out time away where your Lord can show you what He wants, what He sees when He looks at the people in your life, when He looks at the situations in your life, and when He looks at the needs in your life. Remember, you have to be still to know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10).

God is patiently waiting to talk with you. But are you too busy talking to everyone else to even hear Him?

Friends, you have no idea the calamities and dangers that could be avoided if you'd just take some time out to talk with God. To get His wisdom, guidance and direction. How many traps, tricks and snares you could bypass if only you'd reserve a little time just for Him. To take it a little further, if you'd stop and listen to the heart of God maybe this time you won't get your own heart - broken.

Believe it or not, but while you're anxiously waiting to receive that text, call, email, voice-mail, letter, picture, visit and the like, God Himself is standing like a wall-flower being completely ignored by the one person's attention He's trying so desperately to get...YOURS!

While you're running everywhere, all the time, for everyone, doing everything, a moment with God isn't even on your calendar! While you're preoccupied with titles, entitlements, elevations, positions, protocol and programs, God is patiently waiting just for a small piece of your time.

TODAY, determine that you will stop running and rushing, and relax in the presence of the Lord. He has time for you; won't you make time for Him?

“There is more to life than increasing its speed.” (Gandhi).

Matthew 28:28-30, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (MSG);

Mark 6:31, "He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while”—for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat." (AMP);

Today, I challenge you to slow down long enough to ask a simple question: “…When can I go and meet with God? “ Then, if you’re smart, you’ll also take time to answer it!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com