Sonya Triggs-Wharton

Positive Affirmations Videos and MP3s (Audio Podcasts)

Has life been a bit hard lately? Need a little boost to help you manage your stress and anxiety, help you deal with your depression or just need something to help you get through your every day life? Visit my YouTube Channel or listen to my podcasts to hear positive affirmations and meditations designed to help you get the most out of your life, love and accept yourself the way you are and get that boost you need to make your life a happier and positive experience.

 

 

Waiting...

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

I had a profound moment the other day.

It’s interesting – I’ve always thought of myself as someone who is fairly self-sufficient and God-directed. Meaning, I do what needs to be done, but am empowered and directed by God.

I have game plans and backup plans and alternative plans and the like.

And – generally, I’m pretty good about following through on the directives that God has given me – even if they take time.

I’ll try something again and again until it makes sense or I figure out how to make it work. In fact, I often find that the way I had envisioned doing something is not the way I succeed at doing it at all.

Take my exercise life for example.

Years ago, when I was working out very regularly (as opposed to the half-hearted way I do now), I’d get up in the mornings and run or do a workout video or get on the treadmill or what have you.

I learned that (for me) getting up first thing in the morning ensured I knocked my workout out and I wouldn’t get interrupted by the myriad things that I come across in a given day. I wouldn’t be thrown off track when I got an extra project at work (and had to work through my lunch, when I planned to work out). I wouldn’t have to detour to pick up my child early – ruining my plan for getting in a few miles after work. I wouldn’t decide I was too tired after pushing through a meeting to make my afternoon 2-mile track walk.

If I got up in the morning, it was the first thing I did and then – surprise, surprise – it was over! No more thinking about when I’d get my workout in or fighting my fatigue as I collapsed on the couch at the end of the day (or is that just me?). No more 9pm guilt because it turned out 8pm was the worst possible time for me to work out because I had zero energy by then.

So in the last year or two, I still work out – just haphazardly and half-heartedly.

I noticed my motivation was low because a. I love myself exactly the way I am (which doesn’t help when you’re trying to lose weight!), b. I have a wonderful husband who appears to love me exactly the way I am and c. I have a small child, who takes up a lot of emotional and physical energy.

So I’ve been busy working full-time and raising my child.

And – apparently – I’ve been waiting.

Waiting for the perfect moment.

Waiting for the perfect day (when the sky is sunny and bright and beautiful and the temperature is perfect and only cloudy enough to give some much-needed occasional shade).

Waiting for the perfect inspiration.

Waiting to have more time.

Waiting to become more motivated (which apparently happens entirely alone by magic!).

Waiting until my body decided it’d had enough.

Waiting until I got fed up and changed my habits.

Waiting until – I couldn’t even tell you for what.

I can only tell you I finally stopped waiting.

Because in my prayer life the other day, God said….

Wait for it, this is profound….

Still waiting, right???

He said “Nothing just happens.”

Yep.

That was it.

Nothing just happens.

No bluebird is going to land on my shoulder and give me the inspiration to run a marathon (though I finally did manage a half-marathon last year).

No super fit workout gal is going to show up at my doorstep and force me to run each morning.

My child won’t magically be able to put together the right sentences to remind me I need to be in good health to see her graduate and to see my future grandbabies.

A voice from heaven isn’t going to rush down from the clouds, lift me into heavenly spaces and divinely inspire me to work out (or do anything else for that matter).

Jesus isn’t going to run beside me (though that would be quite lovely) and keep me company during my runs.

Nothing just happens.

And the only reason I actually heard that voice was because I wasn’t busy doing something else (which is a subject of a whole other post).

Wasn’t worrying.

Wasn’t stressing.

Was just….listening. For a change.

Praying to God and actually listening for His answer.

Strange, right?

It was quite delightful in fact.

So with that knowledge, I turn to face the challenges on this particular day.

And if nothing just happens…

Then I need to make it happen.

What are you willing to make happen today?

People

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13

People.

Lord have mercy, I promise you – they can drive you crazy!

I have plenty of example of those kind of folks – just like I’m sure you do.

The crazy driver next to me who feels that she needs to cut me off in order to make her turn.

The little old lady at the grocery store who has a million grocery items and a whole lot of time to gab with the with the cashier (about nothing).

The person at work who blathers on about their political beliefs and why the world is going to hell in a handbasket when I couldn’t care less.

The friends who only seem to call you when they want something without giving two thoughts about your problems.

The people on the bus or the subway who talk at the top of their voices to their girlfriends or boyfriends on the phone when you wish you could close your ears so that you don’t have to listen.

The rude, the insensitive. The blowhards, the egotists. The misanthropes and misogynists. The opinionated and arrogant. The entitled. The one-upper. The boring. The monopolizers.

All these people drive me absolutely…batty. And I’m sure you have some good examples too.

I’m a Christian – it’s true – so that means I love and pray for everybody.

But I can definitely tell you I don’t love every trait about every person I meet.

As a matter of fact, if given a choice, I’d gladly run across traffic and hide behind a building if I saw certain people walking towards me.

But of course as a Christian I don’t get to do that!

I love, yes. Everyone. With the love of Jesus in my heart.

Like everybody? Not so much. And definitely not all the time.

And every time I have an unworthy thought about someone who totally gets on my nerves for one reason or another, God brings me back to the scripture I referenced at the beginning of this article.

He reminds me that my battle is not with any other person.

He reminds me that my TRUE battle is with the evil and dark forces of this world.

That every time I denigrate, judge or minimize another person, the enemy is laughing not only behind my back, but right to my face.

He reminds me that the more I dismiss, discuss or disdain someone, I’m closer to being on his side than on the Lord’s.

And once again I feel humbled and repentant.

Because I know two things for certain:

The first is that I get on people’s nerves as much as they get on mine. And I need their grace and forgiveness just to get through my day. I need someone to allow my random driving (as I get a little too involved with reading Facebook posts), listen to my overly talkative  child when I take too long at the grocery store (who I think is adorable and who I am SURE others don’t find quite so adorable) and yell into the phone when I have bad cell phone connection but still need to talk to my husband.

They have to listen to me blather on about things they do not care about (Sci-fi or Star Wars, anyone?), get on my soapbox for the millionth time about women’s rights or how much I hate politics or whatever ridiculousness I have on my mind that day (and I’m filled with a whole LOT of ridiculousness on a regular basis). They have to listen to me as I judge other people I consider to be too judgmental (oh, the irony). And they have to deal with me as I avoid dealing with people I don’t like (leaving them to deal with them) or give people funny looks behind their backs (because I’m too immature that day to act like I have some sense).

They have to deal with me in all my grumpiness, my flaws and failings and find a way of loving me (or at least tolerating me) until I get myself together again and can model a semblance of orderliness and good behavior. They have to listen to me as I rhapsodize about Krispy Kremes and their absolutely perfect ratio of sweetness to butter tastiness goodness and how a warm one is surely a taste of a future heaven…. Well, you get my point…lol. In any case, they have to demonstrate a remarkable tolerance to my day after day moods, mindsets and wishful thinking.

And I know that can’t be easy.

The other thing I know for certain is that I have absolutely NO IDEA what that other person I am judging, dismissing and disdaining is going through. They could have lost their mother, have a stressful job, have more bills than their paychecks can cover, be going through a divorce, be in the middle of a medical procedure, be fearful for their spouse or children or just having a bad day. ! I HAVE NO IDEA and it really isn’t my business anyway.

I don’t live in their heads, walk in their shoes or live their lives.

So while I’m busy judging them, they might just be struggling just to make it through their day, get up with a positive attitude and smile at me (as I’m busy wishing I could disappear down another aisle to avoid them). Or they could just need a little extra grace that day. A little more tolerance. A little more understanding.

I don’t know what it cost them to get out of bed that morning. I don’t know the struggle they have with their spouse. And I have NO IDEA how much physical pain they’re in from back surgery (that was supposed to work), but they are still managing to complete their projects and do their best.

I have no idea.

Yet I still judge.

And when all that fails, I’m brought around to this simple fact: My fight is NOT with other people anyway. All those silly and inconsequential things that annoy me and those words that I take to be ‘fighting’ words only reveal the flaws within me rather than whatever I think is wrong with that other person.

              My fight is with the enemy and allowing him to poison my thoughts and determine my actions towards another person.

              That’s where the REAL fight is.

              With the spirits that influence us.

              With the forces of darkness that cloud our minds.

              With the enemy laughing at all of us as we effectively do his work for him.

              PEOPLE ARE DOINGTHE BEST THAT THEY CAN. And even when it is not up to your standards, it’s  still the the best they can do.

              It’s not their job to try to do things up to your standards, do things to please you or find ways to gain your approval for how they live their lives or conduct themselves (I’m talking about personal rather than work relationships here).

              I know that’s a hard thing to hear, but it is no less true.

              The only person you can change is you and it is not your business or concern to try to change someone else. Our jobs as Christians is to pray for others, treat them kindly (the way WE’D like to be treated) and leave them in God’s hands.

              And, yes, that’s a lot harder to do when that other person is close to you, or a loved one or friend. But just look at it as an opportunity to get a lot of EXTRA prayer time in, because it’s the people closest to you who can get under your skin the quickest.

              Finally, you have to remember that people have their own struggles, are being influenced just as much as you are by the enemy and may or may not be capable of winning the fight that day. They deserve grace. You deserve grace. So do both you and them a favor and allow them time to heal, get better and for you to increase in maturity right along with them.

              Once we remember that our REAL fight is with the enemy and NOT WITH that other person, it puts us in a position to pray for them (and for ourselves, for our intolerance) as we submit their problems to God and pray that He releases them from (hopefully – if they are willing) from whatever is burdening them.

              It  puts us in a position to show kindness even when it is not returned.

              It gives us the opportunity to show God’s love in a place of darkness we can’t conceive.

              Don’t fight other people.

              Focus your fight on the REAL enemy.

              And defeat him through praying for others, treating them kindly, and keeping your mind and focus on God.

Pain is Just a Reminder that You Need God

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:11-13

 

When was the last time you were in pain?

That you were stressed out emotionally, mentally or even physically?

Who did you turn to when you were down?

And - most importantly - did it (or he or she) make you feel any better?

If you're like most people, the first people you call when you are experiencing emotional distress are those who are closest to you.

You pick up the phone and call your mom. Or your best friend. Or you vent to your co-workers.

Or you cry yourself to sleep.

Or you reach out on social media to those who profess to be your friends (and hopefully are).

Or you realize there is no one to whom you can turn.

If you're anything like me, you've realized one significant thing about going to others about your problems:

No matter how much another person loves or cares for you, they cannot take away your pain.

And if you turn to chemicals, alcohol, drugs or any other addiction to numb your pain, I  know you've learned this:

The pain always returns.

So you go to people and the pain doesn't go away. You number yourself through drink or drugs (or other addictions) and the pain doesn't go away. It always returns. It is like a gray cloud hanging over your days.

You see doctors, get prescribed pills and the pain doesn't go away. You do everything within your power to manage your mental, emotional or spiritual distress and the pain doesn't go away.

Or it gets buried.

Or you just learn to ignore it or live with it.

Here is what I have to say to you, Dear Christian Friend: Pain is just a reminder that you need God.

Yes, you should talk to your friends (your good, Christian friends). And yes, you should go see your doctor. And yes, you should take your pills or prescribed regimens and do whatever your health care or mental health workers tell you to do.

But you should also seek the face and will of God.

Because I can assure you - He is the only One who can actually take away that pain.

He is the only One who can give you the deep down nurturing and comforting that you will need to get through your problems.

He is the only One who has the knowledge to show you the right path, get you the help that you need as you learn to go to Him to wash away and soothe your troubles and pains.

He is the only One who loves you with the intensity that a Father has for His Child, a mother has for her daughter and the joy that the Creator has in His Creation. He loves you and cares about you intensely - every hour of every day of every moment of your life.

The next time you are in pain, turn to Him first.

Seek His will and His face and ask Him what remedies He might have for you. Ask Him to direct you to the right resources, doctor, neighbor or friend who can assist you in whatever it is you are going through. Ask Him to be a part of your Healing process and bless and anoint all that you are going through.

But be sure to ask Him to wash away your pain and walk you through the process of Healing - emotional, mental and physical - and guide you to better pastures, a better life and peace and understanding within His realm.

And I promise you that He will hear you.

Don't look at pain as a curse, but as a light that directs you to the attention of a Loving Creator. God can and will bless you and help you get through your troubles. Look to Him first in all things and He will direct your paths.

Trust in God.

God Bless

Sonya

How to Get Through the Hard Times

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8a

            Life can be hard. There’s no other way to say it.

            Even if you’re a Christian who stays prayed up and is in the church every Sunday and sometimes even during the week! Life can be hard.

            Not all the time and not every day.

            But often enough that you can begin to question whether or not it’s all worth it. What’s the use, you think, of being a believer and still going through some of the hard times that God allows you to go through?

            After all, shouldn’t being a Christian allow you some form of protection against the enemy? Shouldn’t being a believer give you more insight and more wisdom with which to attack your problems?

            Shouldn’t being a believer mean that all your needs are met, your bills are paid and all your relationships run smoothly?

            Shouldn’t being a believer mean that life is somehow better or happier than what non-believers experience?

            For the most part, the answers to those questions are no – life is not easier, does not run more smoothly and more is not necessarily given to you as a believer. And, yes, there is value in being a Christian despite all these obstacles.

            First of all, we know that God allows us to go through tribulations in order to form and shape us. We know that we learn through these experiences to be more patient, wiser, learn to suffer more, endure longer and become more real and honest as God strips away our artifices and the things we hide behind.

            So, yes, we will always go through trials and tribulations. There is no way to become more patient other than going through situations that cause you to become more patient. There is no way to become wise (other than by Divine decree, as God granted Solomon) other than encountering situations in which you are forced to develop your wisdom and knowledge. There is no way to learn how to be content other than facing situations beyond your control and belief system which require you develop contentment even in the face of adversity (and if you know of another way, please tell me as I’m dying to know an easier path!).

            There simply is no way to develop into the man or woman of God that God wants you to be other than by experiencing some of the negative facets of life.

            There are no shortcuts. There are no special allowances.

            And we’re all treated the same way, no matter how long we’ve been in the faith.

            If you don’t believe me, watch a child as he or she learns to walk. You will notice how often that child falls, skins his or her knees and how wobbly and uncertain they are as they engage unused muscles. Tell me there’s another way to walk that doesn’t involve falling or being hurt as skills and competence increase.

            Watch a person receive their first job and notice how long it takes them to actually learn that new job. No matter how smart or skilled they were before getting into that profession, they stumble and engage unused muscles as they learn skills, jargon or tricks they’d never considered before.

            Watch a new Christian as they grow in the love and grace of God. Watch them bite their tongues instead of telling people off because they know that is not behavior becoming of a Christian to speak disrespectfully to others. And watch them as they agonize, learn and grow into a person who would never think of speaking that way to another person.

            There is no way to grow without some spiritual, emotional, mental and sometimes even physical pain.

            There’s just no way around it.

            So how do you survive the hard times?

            Well, there is one significant benefit to being a part of God.

            He walks with you through all the hard times. He holds your hand as you grow, stumble and agonize over your decisions and your behavior. His Holy Spirit comforts you in times of troubles. He leads you into understanding as you grow and learn His gospel.

            He is with you every step of the way.

            That’s the difference between being a believer and a non-believer. As a believer, you have Someone who is with you all the way. You never have to be alone. You never have to be afraid. You never even have to worry if you’ve learned to turn your cares over to God.

            But you will still have to go and grow through the hard times.

            Just know that you’re not alone. As the scripture says, draw near to God and He will draw near to you. And as you resist the enemy, he will flee the very presence and nature of the God that is in you.

            Your only protection is God. Your only sustenance is Him.

            And – with Him – that is  how you get  through the hard times!

Be Blessed.

Finding Time to Pray

“But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” Mark 5:16 (NASB)

In this passage of scripture, we find Jesus in the early days of his ministry. He was beginning his more public ministry and word was getting around about his powers, healing and teaching abilities.

And right in the midst of the author describing how Jesus’ fame was spreading, he inserts this line “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”

Why do you think Mark put that verse there? What does it say to you that in one breath, Mark is discussing Jesus’ fame and popularity and in the next, he is discussing his prayer habits?

And this is not the only time we see Jesus praying in the Bible. He prayed with His disciples, on his own and any time he felt the need to be close to God.

Right in the middle of him being busy.

Yes, he got up this time in the morning to spend time with God, but at other times He prayed with His disciples during the day, at night or whenever it was he had something to say. We see that in the midst of Jesus’ ministry, he made time to pray.

He made time to speak with his Father about what was important to him. He took time to ask for guidance, for strength and to intercede for others.

Though he was in fact with God and equal to God, he still made a point to commune with him about the important things. Things he may very well have already known (in his Divine Spirit), he still utilized the very human form of communication with God to speak his needs and receive comfort and encouragement from God.

How then can we do any less than Jesus? If prayer was important to him (in the midst of his busyness), how much more important is it for you and me to pray to God when we need Him? How much more important is it for us to go to Him for comfort, encouragement, to meet our needs and provide us with direction? In the midst of our busyness?

Don’t make excuses. And don’t say you don’t have time.

Find time to spend with our God and give Him the honor and respect that He deserves. Choose to spend time with the One who loves you beyond all measure.

Cease looking for answers outside of yourself and give your needs to the One who cares (and can actually do something about them!).

Pray.

And spend some time with God today.

And things will get better.

Some Things Require a Little More Work

“And He said to them, ‘This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.’” Mark 9:29

This verse of scripture can be subtitled: Some Things Require a Little More Work.

In this passage of scripture, Jesus heals a little boy that his father told him was mute and demon-possessed. Jesus was then able to cast the demon out and later his disciples asked him why they hadn’t been able to heal him. Jesus told them the above – that this kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.

In other words – some things take a little more work. Some problems won’t be resolved with a half hour of prayer or talking about with your friends or asking your pastor to pray for you.

Some things will require days – if not weeks, or even months – of steadfast prayer, perhaps some fasting and some problem-solving as you engage with God about your problems. It took time to heal Job. It took time for Daniel’s prayer to be answered. Lazarus actually died before Jesus arrived to raise him from the dead.

Everything that you will go through will not be easy.

And some things will take time.

More time than you’d probably like to spend. Difficult, challenging, frustrating time.

But – as Jesus says earlier (when the father asks if the boy can be healed) – ‘Everything is possible for one who believes’ – Mark 9:23.

Everything is possible. That distinction is important. Every sick person will not be healed, but every person could possibly be healed according to the will of God.

Every problem will not be eliminated. But it is possible that it will be, if that is what God wants.

It’s not a pleasant truth to face, but that's the truth of how God works.

King David fasted for many days in the hopes that God would heal his son. After the seventh day, his son died. David’s servants were initially afraid to tell him about it, but once he inquired of them, they told him the truth: his son had died.

Upon hearing the news, he rose up, washed and anointed himself and changed his clothing. His servants were amazed, but to David, it was simple.  He said “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’  But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23).  It makes perfect sense from that perspective.

David knew that while the child lived, it was possible that God might heal him. But once the child was dead, David knew that his child was truly gone.

It’s important in this context not to confuse what God could do with what He actually does.

While God can choose to do anything that is within His will (which means everything), He doesn’t always. While He can restore the sick and raise the dead, He may or may not choose to do those things. But those things are still possible.

I don’t understand why God chooses to do what He does (and I suspect you may not know either), but I do know that all things are possible through God.

And that some things require more work than others.

Even if there is a poor outcome or things don’t turn out the way you wanted them to, know that all things are still possible. Even if we don’t understand why God chooses to do what He does or heals who He does or allows some to die.

Though He doesn’t do all things, He can.

So while there is still hope and time - pray, fast and bow down before Him. Entreat Him to grant you your heart’s desire for healing, favor, prosperity and the like. He may do it. He may do it only partially. He may do it later than you’d like. He may do some now and some later. And He may  not do it at all.

But while there is still hope, pray.

And know that some things will require more work, more time and you may encounter more difficulty than you'd like to.

But - in the end - it will be worth it.

Speaking in Tongues

For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. ~ Acts 10:46(a)

This passage of scripture marks the first time that the Gentiles (those who were non-Jews) had visible evidence of the Holy Spirit in biblical times. As you surely know, the original Christians (or Christ followers) were of course Jewish. And for a period of time after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there was serious debate in the Jewish community about how and if Gentiles could be accepted into the Christian faith.

God Himself demonstrated the veracity of the Gentile calling by pouring out His Holy Spirit on the Gentiles and allowing the sign of His Presence (speaking in tongues) to be seen openly. This meant that the Gentiles were accepted equally by God and that an entirely new era was beginning in the Christian church.

However, an important thing to note in this scripture is the fact that by speaking in tongues, the Gentiles were heard to be exalting God.

For most people, they consider ‘tongues’ to be some exotic unknown language (or gibberish) that people speak in some religious circles when people are openly worshiping God. In some circles, it is considered one of the surest signs that a person has received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

But consider when the Gentiles referenced in this scripture spoke in ‘tongues’ it was not in some unknown language. They spoke in a language that was clearly understood by Peter and his visitors, implying that it wasn’t exotic or unknown.

The key takeaway here is that tongues is not always meant to be understood in the same context as it is today. When the disciples were in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, they were heard to be speaking in various foreign languages while they were speaking ‘tongues’ as evidence to their audience that God was truly among them in that place. In this instance, the Gentiles spoke in tongues so as to be understood by the Jewish and so that they would understand they were to be accepted in the early Christian church on equal footing with the Jews.

So the next time you consider how God can enrich your spiritual life, consider asking Him to enrich your language as well, so that you can truly exalt Him through words much as these Gentiles (and the Jews before them) did.

Loving and honoring God is not just how you pray or how you worship, but choosing the words that will bring the most honor and glory to Him.

Pray that God will allow you to engage in your own personal version of ‘tongues’ to include melodious, harmonious and beautiful words, songs or lyrics that truly honor God. Because God can truly expand our knowledge in our own spoken ‘tongues’ that are special in worship to Him.

Endurance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~ Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

I get so tired sometimes. I don’t know about you, but it often seems that the more you do for God, the more He requires that you do.

I understand that the race we run is not a sprint, but a marathon. The scripture above admonishes us run the race that God has specifically laid out for us. My race is not your race. And your race is not my race. But God designs a race with specific benchmarks and goals for each of us to accomplish. For you, it might be to win a political election, or stand up against evildoers at work or stop a protest or a riot. Or to raise a family or be a provider or to go back to school.

For me, it is to preach, teach and deliver the gospel the best way I know how.

He has a different race for each of us. And each of us is given specific talents to do the exact things He has called us to do. Each challenge we face strengthens us to face the next challenge. Before David killed Goliath, he had killed lions and bears who had threatened his sheep (1 Samuel 17:36). God didn’t just call him to kill Goliath out of the blue – He prepared David by sharpening his skill by facing lesser threats. Both a lion and a bear were serious threats, just not on the same level as Goliath. And it was because David first faced those other challenges, that he was able to confidently and victoriously face Goliath.

David did not in fact simply rely on his ability to kill with a sling. He relied instead on his faith in God.

And that is what we must all do.

Rather than considering the task before us and how difficult it will be to ‘finish’ our race, we should instead consider the faithfulness of God. He has equipped us and is training us to accomplish the things He would like us to complete. If He wants you to be a speaker, He gives you opportunities to speak. But you’d have to start with small crowds or small groups before you’re ready to speak in front of a huge auditorium. If He wanted you to be a singer, He would allow you to sing to small groups. You’d probably sing with your school choir or an a capella group before you were ready to sing on stage at Carnegie Hall. And if you're meant to be a teacher, you will probably start off modestly, teaching a small group before moving on to more sophisticated work.

Whatever God wants you to do, you can be sure He is training you in its completion.

He will never ask you to do something for which you are unprepared. Whatever you are doing today – right now – is preparing you to finish your ‘race.’ There is a reason and a purpose behind all our ‘training’ even if we don’t see it for ourselves. And ultimately, He offers Himself – through the work of Jesus Christ – to strengthen us through the process.

So, in the end, you can rely both on your training and your faith in God. And be sure that He will be there to strengthen you where you are weak. When you hit that mile when you no longer feel like you can endure, He will be by your side to strengthen and protect you. When you regain your senses and your training kicks in, you will realize the path that has led you to where you currently are. And understand that has all been worth it – the training, the time, the faith in God – and that you do indeed have what it takes to run your ‘race’ until the end.

Trust in God.

And you too will endure.

Total Obedience

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: ~ Ruth 1:16

If you’ve never read the book of Ruth, I highly recommend that you do so. As a mater of fact, I'll give you a moment to read it right now.

It is a beautiful story about the widow Naomi who has two widowed daughters-in-law (both Naomi’s sons had died) and the journey she made to return to her Jewish homeland. When Naomi asked her first daughter-in-law (Orpah) to depart from her so that she could go find another husband, Orpah did just that – she kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and departed from her. When Naomi said this same thing to her second daughter-in-law (Ruth), Ruth said the words in the scripture above. She told Naomi she would go where Naomi went, that her people would be her people and that Naomi’s God would be her God.

Isn’t that just beautiful? Wouldn’t you love to inspire that kind of love and loyalty in your family? I don’t mean to give the ending away if you haven’t read it, but Ruth prospered greatly by following Naomi to her homeland. She was seen to be the loving and loyal daughter-in-law that she was, which accorded her great respect and she ended up marrying a wonderful, kind and wise man who was related to Naomi. It is a beautiful story that illustrates the rewards available by showing loyalty and love to a loved one.

And – guess what? God wants you to show that same type of love and loyalty to Him. I like to think this story is the best embodiment of the total faith and obedience that God wishes us to show to Him. Why else would it be included in scripture? In and of itself, it is a rather insignificant story (of course, a major ‘plot point’ is that Ruth and her husband Boaz end up being the forefathers of the line that included David and our Savior Jesus). Beyond the bloodline scenario, there is no real reason to include it in scripture as it tells a very local story in a very specific time period pertaining to one very specific family.

But the story tells us so much more! It tells us how it feels to be lost and to rely on someone else to guide and lead you. It tells us how blind faith and total obedience (Naomi gave Ruth many ‘strange’ instructions once they arrived, which Ruth followed ‘to a T’). It tells us how we might be rewarded if we turn that same obedient attitude towards God and how well He takes care of us.

Ruth is not just the story of one young widow who marries well into a wealthy family, but a story of how any one lost soul can become part of the ‘family’ of God and find the richness of His glory. God’s family is epitomized by the understanding, acceptance and kindness Boaz displays towards Ruth and the kinship bonds that Boaz is honoring through his family member Naomi. Much like God extends His kinship bonds to us through the work of His Son Jesus Christ.

God is not only showing us how rewarding this ‘family’ life is, but how we must trust Him even in the face of uncertainty or in making difficult choices. Many blessings cannot be seen (or anticipated) beyond the limits of our knowledge. What we know is often limited and cannot show the full range of God’s blessings or His rich providence for us. Therefore we must trust Him beyond what our sight can see and beyond where mere knowledge can take us.

For that, we must have a ‘Ruth’ kind of faith and demonstrate total obedience to God. And it is that kind of faith that God blesses most richly as we move in obedience to Him.

God Will Give You What You Need

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. ~ Psalm 37:4

            Will God give you everything you want when you want it? As a follower of God, I think I can safely say ‘no’ to this question. God speaks in many places in the Bible about meeting our needs (He won’t let you or your family go hungry (Psalm 37:25) and He will provide food and clothing for you (Matthew 6:33) and occasionally about meeting our wants.) He promises us that if we ask, we shall receive (and that they will be good gifts!) in Matthew 7:7-11. And in this scripture above, He promises to give us the desires of our hearts.

            So what does that mean? A Bentley? House on the hill? Peace? Love? Infatuation?

            It could mean all of the above and more. But we already know one important thing about God – He is not as concerned about money the way that human beings are (to put it lightly). In the same chapter that He tells us He will provide for our food and clothing, He also tells us to store up our treasures in heaven rather than on earth where it will rot and focus instead on the things of God rather than natural things.

            The whole earth belongs to God, after all. If he wanted to give us a million dollars tomorrow, He most definitely could. But – for most of us – He does not simply ‘give’ us money. Or things. Or material goods. He blesses us to be able to work and prosper and acquire things for ourselves, but His direct method of giving usually does not include a million dollar check in the mail. But He could if He wanted to.

            So we have to ask ourselves – why is it this way? Why doesn’t God reward us directly in material things? After all, just because money does not motivate God, it certainly appears to motivate us! Who wouldn’t want to drive a new car or live in a mansion or be able to purchase anything we wanted (big house on the beach, anyone)? So why doesn’t God give us the nearest desires of our heart when it comes to material things?

            Might I suggest to you then that the desires of our hearts that He is referring to are not material at all? But that He wants to bless you with peace, love, happiness and the like? That He wants to bless you with a strong and close relationship with God? That He is hoping for your happiness and fulfillment and wants to see you filled with joyful passions?

            Yes, many of our favorite characters in the Bible had money – Abraham, Job and King David certainly were not slouches in the money department. And King Solomon’s wealth outshone them all. But obviously (from reading these passages) God’s true intent was not to build their finances, but to build their relationships with Him. Through blessing them, God blessed a number of other people who were impacted by them. As they grew spiritually, those around them grew spiritually and for those who had the most wealth, they were expected to use it for the benefit of others. With great power comes great responsibility and we see that time and again in the Bible.

            But God’s true intent is to fulfill the desires of your heart concerning a relationship with Him. He wants to be the first desire of your heart – and then add all other things on the foundation of that relationship.

            So the next time you ask God to fulfill the desires of your heart – remember that you are doing just that as you spend time with Him, learning about Him and dwelling in His presence. Remember that God’s true intent is the relationship that the two of you have – not the material things and not the wealth, but Him. That is God’s true desire of His own heart and He hopes that you will share it too!