God Hears You

  

   You ever feel like you pray the same thing over and over and over again? I know I do. It is tough sometimes to ask for God to reveal something to you in your life and he does not do it, at the exact time you want him to. Our feeble human minds cannot understand, sometimes, that God has a perfect timing for everything. I have learned to become patient in my trials and joyful during mountain top times. We too often think that God is some genie that is going to grant the wishes we desire. No. God lives in you so that HE may be glorified. Why do we have this concept that it is about US on this earth? We were created to worship the God of this universe; not to worry, stress or complain over prayers that we half-heartedly prayed. If you truly want to seek God's face and want to know "his will for your life," there are a couple concepts you have to understand and apply to your life.

     Die to self, and live for him. God has called us to be humble servants, not boastful religious people. I know in my own life there have been times where I just thought, "but Lord, I am better than them." Do not try to lie and say you have never done that. We need to stop pointing out peoples flaws and fix ourselves. Mathew 7:3-5 says, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 you hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Every time I read the piece of scripture it steps on my toes! I have to daily remind myself that no sin is greater than another. We are ALL sinners and have ALL fallen short of the glory of God. It is by grace and grace alone, that I have been saved. So since we have been given the gift of eternal life, we should be sharing that with others, by serving, with a humble heart. It seems to be that the most humble people I know are, usually, some of the wisest, as well. If Jesus stooped down to wash the disciples’ feet, why shouldn't we do the same thing?

     We also  need to have a satisfied heart. Being where God wants you to be has to be one of the most exhilarating feelings. When I am following Christ with my whole heart, my "problems" begin to slip away. Don't get me wrong there are still trials that I go through even when I am following faithfully; because God said you will have trouble in this life. John 16:33 says. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” If you are always trying to look for the perfect guy or the perfect girl, or if you are just trying to find pleasure and happiness, stop trying. You will never find sustaining fulfillment until you have surrendered to the calling God has on your life. I am not just talking about "getting saved" or "praying a prayer" or "being baptized." No I am talking about a daily commitment to God. It is a statement of fearlessness to go wherever and do whatever for the Kingdom of God. Do you want to be a little baby for Christ or a warrior for Christ? Christians we have to stop drinking on Spiritual milk, and rise up to responsibility. Stop complaining about the way the church does this or that or about what someone has on. Start telling others about Jesus. Love as Christ loved. Give until you cannot give anymore. When you give yourself a way to God he will bless you with eternal riches that FAR outweigh these earthly pleasures. Only when you become committed to God will your prayers be answered. We have all heard the verse Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of you heart. People have skewed this verse to fit whatever they are going through at the time. I do not think it is saying that "whatever I desire I am going to get." The way I interpret that scripture is that when you are doing the will of God, you are delighting yourself in him. When you delight in God, his desires will be your desires, and your desires will be his desires. There will be no middle ground. You will only want what he wants.

Surrender to him today. It is the best step you will ever take. The first step is the hardest, but it is essential. Grab hold of our Abba Father's hand and let him lead you where he wants to take you.

Hannah Hollis