The Engineer inside me, is routinely trying to figure out the how and why about everything. That is the mindset in many people who wonder, “If God exists, why doesn’t he just show himself and everyone would believe?”

The Bible describes how God started that way. He was right there with Adam and Eve and they still disobeyed. He was right there physically with the Israelites when He led them out of Egypt, and they disobeyed and worshiped idols. And during Jesus’ life, He did miracles, fulfilled prophecies, and most people didn’t believe. Is it reasonable to think that it would be any different today, if God made an appearance?

What God really wants from us is for us to submit our lives to Him in faith. Matthew 11:25 says, “And Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise, and for revealing it to little children. Yes, Father, for it pleased you to do it this way!”

When we submit without understanding, like a child who trusts without knowing, we are where God wants us to be.

Dear Lord, strengthen us to have child like faith in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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There is a scene in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indiana Jones is standing on the edge of a gorge. He, is looking at a diagram in an ancient book that indicates a bridge should be there, but there is no bridge. After studying the ancient document, he believes he has it figured out, that the only way to find the bridge is to step into the abyss, and the bridge will appear. Without seeing, he must act, and he does.

Paul writes in Hebrews 11:1, “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” TLB

In the same way, Jesus’ teachings in the bible are our ancient map, and in order to see the support God promises us is to step forward in faith.

Dear Lord, it is very difficult for us to take that first step of faith that we know you want us to take, whether, volunteering in our church, inviting a friend to worship, witnessing to someone in need, or putting our tithe in the offering plate, we all have a step we could be taking. Give us the courage to take the step and experience the joy of trusting you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Jesus tells us how to pray in Matthew 6. One of the lessons, in Matthew 6:7-8, he says, “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Many of us have something we have been praying for over and over for a long time, possibly years. As Jesus says, God knows what we need before we even ask, so rather than just asking over and over, why not pray for the wisdom and understanding to know why God has yet to answer our prayer. Maybe he is trying to teach us something; patience, trust, or maybe He is encouraging us to take a step of faith toward what we are praying.

I believe God hears and answers every one of our prayers in the way that is best for us based on his plan, though often we cannot see how.

Dear Lord,You know what we need and what we desire. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. Help us have the wisdom to learn the message you are giving us while we wait for your answers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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There is a fable, you may have heard, about an American banker taking a vacation and encounters a fisherman in a small Carribean village. The banker was impressed with fisherman’s catch, and asked how long it took to catch the fish. When the fisherman said, “not too long,” the banker asked what the fisherman did with his extra time. The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my friends”

As the story goes, the banker suggests that the fisherman work a little harder, save some money to get a larger boat, grow his business, move to a larger market, and eventually after 15-20 years of working hard building his business, he could sell it for lots of money. The fisherman asked what would he do then, and the banker replied, “Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your friends.”

I am not advocating being lazy, or providing less than our best to the marketplace, but the story makes us stop and think about our priorities.

1 Timothy 6:9-13, says, “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

Dear Lord, you have provided us so many opportunities to contribute and things to experience in our lives, help us find the balance You desire for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Many people spend a tremendous amount of time and money to maintain their health, but miss one of the keys God’s provides for health.

Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body jealousy is like cancer in the bones.”

Having a peaceful, low stress demeanor is physically good for us.

Though it is easy to say, being at peace is not always easy to turn on. I recently heard a practice that helps. Each morning take a few minutes to relax with several long deep breaths, then think intently about three things for which you are grateful. Try to physically feel the gratitude for these things. It is very difficult to be envious, bitter or angry when you are focusing intently on being grateful.

Dear Lord, you have provided the instruction manual for our lives, that you created, in the Bible. Help us find your wisdom there. Be with us and help us work on a peaceful heart, to help us have a healthy body, to your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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