It's a process

“And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided…And the waters receded continually…the waters decreased continually…and it came to pass that the waters were dried up from the earth.” Genesis 8, selected

In the trials of life, it can often feel like the flood is overwhelming us. It seems we will never see day again, nor recover from the calamity. Yet here in the story of the great flood is a beautiful principle of the way God delivers and restores us. 

It’s a process.

In fact, process is the way God most often works. We cry for a miracle of deliverance, and in His love and mercy, He sometimes does that immediate work—and oh how wonderful that is when He does! Most often, though, He has us go through the process, trusting His promise and hanging on in faith.

We should take great comfort in Noah’s story. You can imagine the awesome fear they must have felt to see destruction come on the earth, to see all that they knew destroyed. They floated in that boat for one hundred and fifty days, having nothing but the promise of God to hang on to. When the day came, the rain ceased…and they waited. The water started to go down and the boat finally rested on Ararat. Yet they had to wait longer. They watched the mountaintops appear, the mud begin to dry out, and still they waited.

But the day came when Noah knew it was over. They came out on dry land into a new world and a fresh beginning. The hard time was behind them and God met them with blessing and a new life.

Be encouraged today…and trust His process!

Bible study:  Isaiah 25:9; Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 5:10

(Photo by Marco Fono on Unsplash)

Don't give up!

I was reading in Judges 1 this morning--a disappointing story for the Israelites after the glories of victories under Joshua to take the Promised Land. The tribes of Israel, in one way or another, "failed to drive out" the enemies whose land they were to dispossess and which had already been given to them by God.

What were they missing? They had the promise of the Lord's help and complete victory, and they already had the covenant right of ownership to the land and promise of complete prosperity there. They also knew from their experience under Joshua's leadership that when they fought the battles the way the Lord commanded, they won. But how sad to read of their compromise, their failure to press in until the thing was done. They weakened themselves and failed to receive all the goodness the Lord had promised them. Yes, disappointing!

There's such a strong parallel and message here for me, for us, in the battles of life. We have been given "all things pertaining to life and godliness" through Christ's victory, and have the promise of His prevailing victory in every confrontation. We need to press in and declare our victory in faith, and not back down until we have received our answer in full. How do we "battle"? We have Christ's authority, the name of Jesus, His precious Blood, the Word of God, the gift of prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Our victory is assured!

What is it you need today? Are you tempted to let go because the fight of faith is too hard or too long? Don't give up! Your answer might be closer than you know. To give up now might mean living in compromise--a half-answer or none at all. Remember, the Lord has already "given you the land" and rewards those who stay the course.

Bible study:  Judges 1; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 2:14; James 5:11; Luke 10:19; Revelation 12:11; Ephesians 6:17; John 14:16

There came a day...

When you find yourself getting discouraged, waiting for an answer to prayer, it's good to remember the Lord's encouragement in the Word.

The Kingdom is not static--God is always at work in every situation. Even when we see nothing in the natural to give us confidence that things are changing and moving toward our answer, the Word tells us otherwise. Jesus said "My Father is always working and so am I" (John 5:17 NLT). Armed with even just that truth, we can settle our hearts in faith while we wait on His perfect timing. It will come, a day is appointed. He will not fail.

Many wonderful examples come to mind…

• There came a day when Noah's ark landed and his family had a new beginning…
• There came a day when Joseph was let out of prison and promoted to the king's right hand…
• There came a day when Abraham’s Sarah actually bore her own baby…
• There came a day when the king set the children of Israel free to return to their homeland…
• There came a day when the woman bent double for 18 years was healed…
• There came a day when the man who had sat by the Pool of Siloam for 38 years was healed…
• There came a day when the long-promised Messiah was born!

So encourage yourself in the Lord like David did, and determine to wait in quiet confidence, knowing that your answer is in process and will one day be manifest. It might be today!

Equipped to win

Are you fighting a battle today? Weary from your struggle in dealing with the challenges of life, feeling like you might just go down in defeat?

I’ve had a challenging week myself. Sometimes the battles just seem overwhelming, don’t they? Like they’ll never end, never change. Then discouragement sets in and down I go.

But one morning the Lord reminded me of the bigger picture. No soldier is sent to the front lines in a t-shirt and jeans, right?  They are completely outfitted and trained to fight.

The Father knows that we are living in a hostile world, fighting against an enemy who hates us and seeks to work his destruction in our lives. BUT, God did not leave us defenseless. He equipped us perfectly to fight every battle—and win!

Like soldiers who must be trained to use their weaponry, so must we. Mastery comes through knowledge and practice. God has shown us in His Word what’s ours to freely use, and how to use it.

So in the battles of your day, here’s what you have to fight and stand your ground:


The Word of God - what God who cannot lie has said He will do for you if you believe it and act on it in faith.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:17  (NLT)

The blood of Jesus - deliverance from all sin.

He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.   Ephesians 1:7  (NLT) 

The name of Jesus - His authority and the right to use it.

You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!   John 14:13-14  (NLT)

The Holy Spirit - our Helper, Counselor, Advocate (helps you discern the nature of the battle, gives you wisdom how to fight).

And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.   1 Corinthians 2:12  (NLT) 

The gifts of the Spirit - specific helps for every situation.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.   1 Corinthians 12:7  (NKJV)

Prayer - the living connection to God Himself and His power.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.   James 5:16  (NLT)

Holy angels who are on assignment to protect and fight for us.

Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.   Hebrews 1:14  (NLT)

The gift of peace.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.   John 14:27  (NLT)

The assurance that the Father is at work in every situation for our good.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.    Romans 8:28  (NLT)

The armor of God - a great overview of how to go into each day!

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.   Ephesians 6:10-18  (NLT)  

Pretty awesome, huh?  Thank You, Lord!

Whatever battle you are facing, remember--you are not defenseless.  The Lord means for you to win and He has provided you with a complete arsenal of weapons to fight and stand your ground until you see the victory!

Finishing well

My daughter has been in the last push before the end of her college semester, so her days are filled with the flurry of final projects, tests, and general wrap-up of her studies. I pray each day for her strength, mental focus, and the ability to finish well.  You know how hard it can be to keep up the momentum and get the job done well.

It's easy to start...hard to finish!

Are you working on an ‘assignment’ from God today that sometimes seems will never end?  Maybe you're a mom tired from parenting battles with your kids. Maybe you’re under pressure at work to get a project done and but obstacles continue to delay you.  Maybe you’re trying to pay off debt and progress is disheartening. The enemy of our souls will use all the negative stuff coming at us daily to wear us down and discourage us even further.

Then there’s the struggle to stay motivated. We might have started off full of vision and determination, but fatigue, disappointment, or discouragement in the long haul can make us want to pack a bag and disappear for a while. (Been there!)

I’ve been in such a season the last couple of years, that of helping care for elders in our family. Sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I try to remember that I only have to serve well today. God promises strength and wisdom for today, and that is enough.  The Big Picture is made up of all the todays, done faithfully.

If you are struggling today to keep your momentum, I encourage you to step back and get the big view again. Remember that the Lord equips who He calls! Jesus' words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant' are the reward we seek. The goal is to finish well, to complete our call, carry out our part of Kingdom work.

Be encouraged!  He doesn't call you to do it all, just be faithful in your assignments today.  The Lord is your strength and will give you all you need to finish well.