All In Good Time

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." (Psalms 40:1)

My family has been through some difficult times these last few  months. One of my daughter's was struggling in school and another was having behaviour issues. I kept praying for God to show me a way that I could leave my full time job to be more available for my children. We were terrified of how that change would affect our finances, but we knew that God wanted me to be there to help my children. After months of prayer and searching, a new part time job opened up that would allow me to work around my children's school schedule and be present for them.

Reading through Psalms 40 this morning I was reminded of many moments during this search when I felt discouraged and afraid. I was tempted to just throw my hands in the air and not to wait patiently for God's solution. Verse 8 reads, "I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart." I desire to do God's will in every situation in my life, and I know that by trusting Him and following His commands I will live the best life possible.

My new job has been a blessing to our family these past few months. Our finances are tight, but they work out each month. My children are improving and they have said multiple times that they are happy to have me home more. I love spending more time with them. "Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, there would be too  many to declare." (Psalms 40:8). Every day that I get to spend with my family is a blessing, every morning that I get to spend time in God's word is a blessing. There turly are too many blessings to declare.

Dear Lord, please help me to see the many blessings that you give me each and every day. I want to praise you for the amazing things that you do. Please show me your path so that I may walk in it and glorify you in my life. In your glorious name, Amen.

Lack of Faith

“Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his own relatives and in his own home.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:4-6)

During my quiet time the other day I came across eight words that absolutely broke me, “He was amazed at their lack of faith.” I read again the passage in Mark where Jesus is ministering in his home town, and the townspeople would not believe that the son of Joseph was any more than the carpenter’s son.

How many times have I trivialized Jesus in my life? How many times have I tried to put God in a box made of contemporary understanding instead of relying him as the author and perfector of life? I want to live a life that is pleasing to God and to rely on him for everything, but all to often I find myself slipping into the “I can do it myself” mentality. How can I, as a wife, mother, and Christian woman, make sure that Jesus is not amazed by my lack of faith? How can I live my life in a way that puts everything in the trust and control of my Lord and savior?

I can pray. I can read the Bible. I can trust that what God says is true. I can keep growing my faith by serving other people, and by looking to God’s Word for the solutions to all of life’s problems. Instead of thinking “I can go it all on my own,” I can acknowledge that “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). I can not do anything by own power, or without tapping into God's power on a daily basis.

Prayer: Lord, please fill my heart with your Holy Spirit. Please guide my life so that I will be filled with faith in you and in your son, Jesus. Make your Word my guiding post and show me how to live my life in a way that will be pleasing to you. Remove my lack of faith and fill me with your love. In Jesus name, Amen.