Standing on the Promises of God

I remember a sweet friend of mine from Florida. She was in our bible study and boy was she a strong prayer warrior. I recall her telling me that she prayed for her husband's salvation for many years, never giving up hope, but being very discouraged along the way many times. Finally, on his death bed, he accepted Jesus into his heart. The point of the story being, keep praying no matter what happens. You never know when the Lord is going to answer your prayer. Sometimes it comes quickly, and sometimes it can take months and yes, it can even take years.Stay the course, keep lifting up your prayer to the Lord.

We never know how God is going to move in a situation or when. He is the only one with the perfect timing, not us. We want everything right now. That's not how the Lord works. He's on a different time table than us and only He knows how all the pieces fit together in each of our lives. Remember this verse? 2 Peter 3:8.... But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. We are definitely on different timetables! 

It is so hard to wait on the Lord. But the Bible tell us that if we do, we will be strengthened along the way. Isaiah 40:29 tells us "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." One of the first verses I learned to memorize from the bible is this powerful one from the book of Isaiah about waiting on Him and His perfect timing. It has served me well over the years as I have learned to wait on the Lord through my diagnosis of MS some 20 years ago. I'm still waiting on my healing from this disease. I'm not sure if and when it will happen while I am still on this earth. Maybe I have to wait until I enter into glory to be healed. Maybe the Lord wants to use me just as I am, sickened from disease. Of course I want it to be right now, but what if God has a different plan? That's just one of my prayers. But no matter the prayer, we have to wait on the Lord to answer it in His perfect time. 

Isaiah 40:31

"But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

Whatever your prayer and whatever your problem, the Lord hears your cries. He is not deaf to your pain. Just remember that the teacher is always silent during the test. Your situation could be the biggest test of your life. 1 Peter 1:7 reminds us  "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

As you wait on the answer to your heartfelt prayer, you will, no doubt,encounter terrible disappointments and stumbling blocks along the way. Your prayer may be for yourself, or for a loved one who is sick or for a wayward child who is lost. It may be for a friend or co-worker. It could be anything or anyone.

We live in a fallen world. Satan, the great deceiver, is constantly nipping at every one of us, wanting to discourage, confuse, confound, and stir up everything. The Bible is very clear about him and his motives. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us loud and clear: Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He whispers in your ear telling you that the Lord could care less about your prayer or your situation. Don't believe it friend, That is a lie!!! 

God cares about every detail of his children's lives. He knows what's going on. He sees your pain, he is with you. The Bible tells us that Jesus sticks with us through it all. Proverbs 18:24 "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

So I encourage you to give it all to God. Stand on His Amazing Promises. Believe with all your heart that your prayer will be answered by Him. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. But you must be strong and believe with all your heart that He will do just as He says. Matthew 17:20 tells us.... "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

One of my favorite hymns is Standing on the Promises of God. It gives me hope, when I am weary. Be blessed by this beautiful song, remembering that the Lord is there with you through the pain and while you are waiting for His perfect answer to your problem. He loves you so much.

My verses for today are above in red.

My prayer for today:

Heavenly Father:

You know what is on my heart. I am believing in Your Promises and perfect Timing. I am believing that the answer to my prayer is coming because you are a God who delivers. Give us the strength we need to endure the waiting period, because we know you will come through just when we least expect it. 

I love you Lord and I thank you in advance for the answer to this prayer.

I pray, Amen and Amen