There are many promises in the Bible. God promises to answer our prayers, to be with us, to protect us, and most importantly to save us for eternity. However, we do not always know exactly how he will fulfill the promises.

God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many, at a time Abraham and his wife Sarah were unable to have children. Many years after this promise, when Abraham and Sarah were well past the age they could naturally have children, they had Isaac.

Hebrews 6:14-15 writes, [God said] “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.’ And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”

God has a plan for us, and timing to go with it. “Waiting patiently” as Abraham did, is often part of the plan God has for us. Part of being faithful is maintaining our faith and hope with patience while we wait. Often our prayers are answered when we finally relax and surrender to God’s timing.

Dear Lord, Your view of our situation is complete, and ours is limited. Help us remember that you care about us, our desires, and you hear our prayers. Help us be at peace with your timing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I think a challenging paradox or conflict in life is that dissatisfaction with something is what motivates us to improve it. When we make improvements, we make life better for ourselves and others. However, it is hard to be happy and enjoy ourselves when we are dissatisfied.

One potential solution to this paradox is to start with a thankful heart, then look at improving as a way to serve, rather than looking at things as broken and needing repair. For example, if our car is dirty and needs a wash, we could start with, “my car looks terrible, I am going to get it washed.” or we can approach it as, “It is a beautiful day, I’m going to get my car washed and it is going to look great.” It seems like a subtle difference, but it is obvious to those around us, and affects our perspective on everything.

Psalm 118:24 is a classic verse to put ourselves in that thankful mindset, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” and, Psalm 118:29, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

We all have so much for which to be thankful! even if everything has room for improvement.

Dear Lord, Help us wake up and start each day remembering that we have very much for which to be happy, most importantly our Salvation. Help us show this thankful joy in our demeanor to attract others to what we have in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Colossians 3:23-24 is a great passage to put our work into perspective. Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae. “Work hard and cheerfully at all you do, just as though you were working for the Lord and not merely for your masters. Remembering that it is the Lord Christ who is going to pay you, giving you your full portion of all the He owns. He is the one you are really working for.” TLB

So if God is the one we are really working for, God is the one who decides if we are promoted, and God decides how much we are paid. We need to put our faith and trust in God. The work we are doing today is what God called us to do. We need to work like we are working for Him; which we are.

Dear Lord, Thank you that we know that you control our destiny, not people on earth. Help us glorify you by our actions, and our work, and thank you for giving us all that we need and more. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today I just leave this with you to consider.

Psalm 8
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory in the heavens.

Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.

You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Praise the Lord. Amen.

I heard someone pose this question once, and it really made me think.

What are you asking for that is impossible without God’s supernatural input?

In John’s familiar account of the feeding of the 5,000, John starts with, “Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Phillip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” John 6:6-7

In this case, Jesus was questioning whether Philip had put the pieces together yet. Did he realize Jesus’ power? How about us? Do we realize and really believe Jesus’ power to do miracles, cure diseases, solve financial problems, resolve conflicts, comfort those with tragedies?

Dear Lord, like Philip, we often have no idea the miracles you can and will do in our lives, families, churches, communities and country. Help us use the Bible’s accounts to strengthen our belief in you power, so that we will ask with confidence for your supernatural input in our lives and our world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.