Drought

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We were officially in a drought, there had been no rain for weeks. The harvest couldn’t be collected in because it hadn’t ripened. Rain was desperately needed. The drought was also evident in my small garden where the grass had been brown for months. Small plants had long since died and even the larger ones were struggling to survive.

Then one morning it happened. The sky grew darker, the temperature dropped. There were only a few drops of rain at first which increased to a torrent as the rain fell more heavily. It was as if months worth of rain were falling all at once. The ground eagerly soaked up this welcome moisture, the grass became green again and the plants looked healthy instead of dying, everything was bursting with life. Even the birds seemed to sing a brighter song.

I can imagine how Elijah would have felt during the drought in his country. He sent his servant to scan the sky for signs of rain, but it took seven journeys before he even saw a ‘cloud the size of a man’s hand.’ I love Elijah’s taunting message to Ahab ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ 1 Kings 18:44

We can have droughts in our souls when we loose communication with God. Our souls become dry and arid. Our blessings from God need not stay as small as a man’s hand. With God there will be showers of blessing .

Draw Near

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‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.’ James 4:8

Along with all the prophets Elijah led a prayer-filled life. In 1 Kings 17 we read of him in conversation with God and then proclaiming ‘In the name of the God, the living God of israel whom I serve……’ as he tells Ahab there will be no rain for two or three years. He then obeyed the Lord’s command and went to the brook at Cherith. He was still communicating with God as he went even further to the town of Zarephath. Elijah was a man of wisdom and discerning but not enough to survive the drought without God’s help.

In the following chapters we read of Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal. These prophets could do some magic but had no power compared with the power of God and it was on this power and God that Elijah depended. Verse after verse we read of this man of God communing with Him. In later chapters we read of Elijah fleeing from Ahab and hiding in the wilderness. It is there that God comes to him in for the form of a still, small voice. Heavenly communication is never broken.

Today we have our own Ahab and prophets of Baal to contend with. God is still willing and anxious to talk with us. We only need to be willing to listen.

Wait!

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‘What for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.’ Psalm 27:14

Three instructions but only one repeated. We are asked to wait but most importantly, wait for the Lord. Life always involves periods of waiting, waiting for exam results, medical tests, buses. This is often done impatiently. Our impatience doesn’t change the results, just makes the waiting more difficult. By waiting for the Lord we know our waiting has a point, we are waiting for something that is worthwhile and worth waiting for.

I’m very much a person who likes to get things done. At times I am impatient and like to see things finished and view the finial result. But that is not the way of God. Waiting is a wise non-action.

Hasty actions cause errors and lead us to deviate from God’s chosen way. By asking and waiting for God we are more likely to be doing His will. The Old Testament is full of people, often kings, who acted without thought and made bad decisions with disastrous or us. His way is the only safe way for us. Let us wait for the Lord with patience and anticipation. .

Only

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I’m not really part of the team, I only pray.’ I heard these words said the other day. Because she couldn’t cook the meals for the homeless or then serve them or then talk with the visitors she didn’t feel part of the team. Some one soon put her right; prayer is the glue that sticks it all together. Nothing of worth can happen without it.

But she was not alone. Moses had an answer when God directed him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? Exodus 3:11 He felt unqualified for such a mammoth task as he was often tongue-tied. His brother Aaron had to be roped in to help him in his approach to Pharaoh

Gideon was another of the patriachs who had no faith in his abilities. When approached by God he said, ‘But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manassah and I am the least in my family.’ Judges 6:15 God knew his strengths and with His guidance He knew he was the right man for the job.

One sometimes hears mothers saying ‘I’m only a housewife and mother.’ These people are tasked with one of the most important jobs in the world. There is no ‘only ‘about it. Whether it be Moses, Gideon or mothers, they are all needed in God’s master plan. He alone knows each and every ones potential. They will all need God to guide and direct them; they can’t do it alone and that also applies to each one of us.

Too Fast or too Slow.

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Continuing yesterday thoughts, going for a family walk is always an interesting experience, involving three generations, anything could happen. Now that Abie has learned to walk she is always rushing up to various dogs hoping to pat them, then becomes overwhelmed by their size and sits down and cries. She is keen to practice this new skill, though I have to say she doesn’t walk anywhere, she runs. Her motto must be ‘these legs are made for running.’ She tries to examine a bed of nettles, not realising they are not like other grasses. A nettle sting would be painful to her little hand.

The walks also include grandpa, his running days are well over, in fact his favourite speed is standing admiring the scenery. ‘Come on, grandpa, keep up.’ is our constant cry. Why is one so fast and the other slow? My irritation must be nothing compared with God’s exasperation with my following Him. I either lag behind not listening to His instruction or rush ahead and not wait for Him. Evie or grandpa, I alternate between the two. I wonder when I will learn!

Wait in the Lord

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Wait ‘in’ the Lord, not wait ‘for’ the Lord. If we wait for the lord, we are waiting impatiently for Him to act, by waiting ‘in’ Him we are resting and abiding in peace. We have the example of Abraham and Sarah as a classic case of waiting. We know the end of the story but during their time of waiting they only had the word of God and in one period they had to wait thirteen years for God’s next utterance. During that time Abraham had to continue managing his estates well so that when the promised son came, his affairs would be in a good condition to eventually hand over. Sarah had to continue running the household, the child would need a loving, well managed home in which to thrive.

I think of childless couple, with their longing being like a physical pain. So many conversations with friends would be about successful off-spring. Each word would be like a knife entering the soul. These children always sound very successful! The ‘waiters’ can only remain silent.

As the years went by for Abraham he would have learned so much about God and himself. The time would have equipped him further to be the man God wanted him to be and the father himself that God was training him to be.

In a world where the ‘same day’ ethos has become the buzz word, may we learn to wait in God and to walk at His pace, not to lag behind and not to walk ahead. God’s speed is the perfect one.

The Wisdom of Children

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I’m so wise because I pray to God.’ Not words one would expect a three year old to utter, We couldn’t be sure how much Evie appreciated what she was saying, did she even understand the meaning of the word ‘wise?’ Was she copying words from her parents? Whatever, the words made the adults in her life think Were they like Evie praying to God enough to absorb His wisdom? It’s often children who have direct thoughts about God. No wonder Jesus said that out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom.

Wisdom was the attribute that Solomon requested of God, when God offered him anything he desired. ‘ Give Your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern Your people, that I may descern between good and evil.’ 1 Kings 3:9.

Every day there is a need for us to demonstrate wisdom. What do we say, how do we act, what does this tricky situation require? The world is watching us and they will judge our God by our actions. Like little Evie we need to pray continuously because when we become Christians we do not automatically put on the mantle of wisdom. Like Solomon we need to ask for it.

Filling Up

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I was half way home before I realised I”d forgotten to do the last thing on my list. I’d forgotten to fill my car up with petrol. The next day wouldn’t do as I was going on a long journey and didn’t know the area or where there were any filling stations. Wearily I turned the car round. With a full tank I could set off the next day with confidence.

My forgetfulness had given me time to think. What about my fitness to proceed with my spiritual journey of life? Is my spiritual tank filled up with the fruits of the Spirit? My heart needs to be filled with love whatever obstacles I face.The world needs to see the joy I have in You. Peace is needed in tricky situations. Faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are more attributes I need.These fruits are the spiritual petrol necessary for my Christian journey.

There are numerous filling stations to be found. The Bible has stations on every page. There are extra boosts to be found in church fellowship; together we can share our fuel. Prayer gives our special petrol it’s power. The car won’t always run smoothly because there are the obstacles of life in the way but with the Holy Spirit it will always arrive at the correct destination.

God of Justice

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The Bible tells us in many places that God is just and loving. In my own life I’ve experienced His justice. He has given me all I want or need and given me far more than I deserve. So why do I have friends who suffer and struggle?

At this present time I am saddened by the situation of a friend who is going through all kinds of trouble. She has sick and ailing parents and parents-in-law, living a way away which involves travelling a distance to attend to their needs. Her role as a parent is particularly hard at this time . Now I’ve just heard that her mobile phone has been hacked. I have to cry out, why, Lord, why?

I thought I’d learned not to ask that question of the Lord. God reigns over all the universe. The Lord God can do no wrong. I do believe that. God does answer these prayers of mine, but often in ways I don’t expect. I love this friend of mine and don’t want her to suffer. There are all kinds of unsatisfactory answers I can give, Everything will work out all right in the end, she will have her reward in heaven, God is trying to teach her something. I do not understand at all, the only thing i can do is prayer and by sharing this with you all, I know you can pray for her too. God is the God of justice, I have no answers to my questions but I know God is in control.

Repeated Prayers

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There are times when this world seems to be an unjust place. Wickedness appears to abound. and wrong doing goes unpunished. The devil seems to have too much sway. We can feel helpless but this is not the case. We have a direct line to God to pray about these matters. The Bible tells us that the prayers of a righteous man avail much. By praying about injustice we can make a difference.

God is waiting to hear from us; He wants dialogue with us. Our persistent prayers do make a difference. When we look back over history, we see that prayer has made a difference. Prayer again slavery and communism with God filled action has made a change.

When we pray over an injustice we will not be the only person who is praying. Our prayers will be united with others to assail the Kingdom of Heaven. Persistent God-filled prayer will be effective. We read of the widow in a certain city, repeatedly bombarding a judge to give her justice. It was her continual persistence that eventually got her wish granted

When we pray for loved ones to come to faith, it might involve many years of prayer. There is never a time to give up. We all know wonderful stories where a husband or wife finds the Lord after decades of prayer. There is never a time to give up. It is said that George Muller prayed for 100 people who all repented before he died, except for six.who were converted at his funeral!