(this was a t-shirt print i saw on a boardwalk in OC,MD... i want this tattooed on me.)
God is doing so many amazing things in my life... and I feel like quite the fool when i complain about the little things to not see the bigger picture...
Again... can i please inform EVERYONE who doesnt believe... PRAYER CHANGES THINGS... MANY MANY THINGS!!!
I think the whole concept of prayer somehow got altered through time. Whenever i tell people to prayer for me, or when people ask me to pray for them... for some reason, the initial connection we make with prayer is that we have this huge notion that if we ask God to do something, and we do it with some selfish request... we expect Him to act on that prayer right away. Another notion is that when we pray about something or we ask for something... we what it to all fall into place according to OUR time... or what we think is most convenient to US.
We're such silly people.
Since my blog is indeed titled "daily revelations" i have had a revelation recently... well actually its been revealed to me time and time again... (yes, this is where i laugh at myself and my broken human nature)... Prayer DOES change things... but theres two parts to this...
1. In GOD's time
2. By US doing OUR part too.
Like i stated before... we always expect to pray and ask and expect things NOW or expect things that align to whatever schedule that WE have laid out for ourselves and our "controlled" lives... but this doesnt align. Mind you, sometime God does answer prayers a little faster than you'd think (ive had this happen on several occasions, its quite bone chilling yet amazing all in the same experience!) but also we must trust that He will answer our prayers. Not necessarily when and how we want them... but according to HIS time and ultimately to HIS will. You see, has a plan for you, a plan for me, a plan for this world and how its going to run, and even how its going to end. So again, dont sit, and pout, or even some people become angry and bitter bc "God didnt do this for me, He didnt give me this, He didnt show up here..." Let me remind you... He will do what is GOOD for you, and lets be honest with ourselves-- what WE want isnt always the best thing for us. He will give... "Ask and you shall recieve" but again... greed and selfishness wasnt part of His plan. He has it all laid out, He has it allllll under control. And sometimes we may not understand why certain things happen, how they happened, or what the lesson is... but He has stated several times--if you look for Him in any and every situation WITH YOUR WHOLEEEE HEART... you WILL find Him in the midst of it all. Our finite minds werent designed to ever understand His perfect plan for our lives... but the closer you become to Him, the more time and devotion and love you pour back into your RELATIONSHIP with Him, His plan for you will become easier and easier for you to understand... I have friends... and family (CLOSEE friends and CLOSEE family) going through situations right now that they dont understand... but i cant help but smile... because i know that He is bringing them closer and closer to wanting and needing Him... and also because i know and trust how perfect His plan is... and i cant wait to see these people blossom and bloom into what He intended to be the end result... When it all comes down to it... dont lose faith because you think your prayers arent being answered... dont lose persistence or perseverance on these things on your heart... God placed those things or those people or those situations on your heart for a reason... so keep on praying... keep on believing... keep on focusing on Him in every situation... and you'll see you have nothing to worry about.
Now the part where we have to do OUR part. HAHAHAHA silly right?? US HAVING TO ACTUALLY GET UP AND DO SOME WORK TOO?! WHAT A CONCEPT! We all ask for things separately, or things as groups, as churches, even as nations! But i have come to realize that when we pray... we arent only asking for things from God, but for guidance on things from God. What prayer actually is... is you spending time with Him. You hanging out with Him. You having a chit-chat with your friend (well more like your creator... but anyways...) When you sit and talk to friends about your issues, about your problems, about you wishes, about your hopes and your aspirations, what are you really looking for in these conversations? No doubt, you're looking for good company and support, but you're also looking for their advice, for their input, for their guidance even. So when we pray, why do we put so much focus on what HE needs to do... but not listen with more open hearts and ears as to what WE need to do. We always ask for help... we always ask Him to have hands on situations... but when did we forget that we are "The hands and feet of the body..." When did we lose sight of the fact that we are His workers, His ambassadors, His reps in this world we live in? We need to stop being so selfish and constantly asking Him to do this and to do that... but instead we need to ask Him for guidance, for strength, for His company, and ultimately, for what we CAN and what we SHOULD do. In all reality... He's already given so much (and He will continue to give you more and more... we're truly a blessed bunch, arent we?) We need to act like the hands and feet of this body. Again, He does have a plan... but if we just sit on our butts and wait on Him... thats not gonna get anyone far... We must be a bold people... we must be a people who lives out the things we are guided and called to do. We are the messengers of the Good News... but if we aren't gonna do anything to deliver the news... well than we're pretty much a bunch of ppl who talk a lot of talk but arent willing to do the walk. I think its funny how we are so ready and eager to do the things that people we trust tell us to do... or take the advice and go about that advice based on the words of our friends... and in no way am i down playing when we do this--- bc i believe that these people do have the best interest in heart for you... but who could have better advice and better guidance and better strength than the guy who already KNOWS where you're going to end up?? Who can tell you what to do better than the guy who WROTE our that plan before you were even born? So im not saying discredit the advice from those you love... but lets be bold... and do those crazy things that God is telling us to do.... He not only has your best interest in mind, but He isnt basing these interests on YOU... but on His already perfect plan. Dont stop praying just because, again, you feel like your prayers are going unheard and unanswered... but instead...listen like you would if your mom was giving you advice. Do what you're told like if someone you deeply cared about and trusted would tell you to do. Keep praying... because, lets not forget, you have the things on your heart for a reason... and its because He placed those things there "Delight thyself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart" Whatever is on your heart was put there by Him... and Hes doing that so you pray about it, thus talking and discussing it with Him, and He needs you to do what He tells you, so that these things can change, so that these prayers can start to be answered, so that you can act as any part of the body He needs you to be, what He has called you to do.
Ive been a Christian for a little less than two years now... and it has been one hard... but a beautiful ride. And in this time... i have so many things on my heart... the obvious being my family, my friends, my career... for so long i've been basking in this personal relationship with my savior... but in the past few weeks he's been telling me to be his hands and feet... he's been asking me to take part in answering my prayers... he's been strengthening me and guiding me to make my next move... Im not innocent of anything i wrote about. If guilty people have bloodstained hands... well i could be considered dripping in it like Carrie.
Im declaring this now. I will not be impatient anymore... but wait for my next step. I will trust in my Jesus, because He has ALWAYS been faithful. He has given me so much proof within the past WEEK how much He is doing... and will continue to do... Ive been persistently praying for them... and ive shedded many tears bc i felt so discouraged when things werent happening in MY time or in the way that IIII expected and wanted them to... but when everything is said and done... HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL. When i looked for Jesus in all my situations, in all my worries, and in all my complaining... He surely was doing His work... and i just have to trust that... and be ready to be bold and take a leap in pureeee *organic* faith when He tells me to make my next move...
Dont be impatient... all things fall together in time...
Dont be angry when things dont come in the packages you want... because the most beautiful things in life come at times and in packages that we leastttttttt expect...
Dont be scared to make a move... throughout history, it was always the BOLD ones who got far. It was always the fearless ones who made it happen. When it comes to a relationship its two people... you cant always ask and receive... but remember you must be willing to do your part too....
"'For i know the plans i have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." Jeremiah 29:11-13
"I look up to the mountains- does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber...
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all hard and watches over your life." Psalm 121:1-7
Love you! God Bless. :]
--Stace<3
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