Jesus doesn't give us a sign.

Luke 20:8

And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

When I’m struggling I sure want Jesus to show me something.  Give me a sign that I’m doing the right thing, going the right way.

The Pharisees wanted signs and answers from Christ but didn’t acknowledge who He was.

My job is to accept and know who Christ is in my life.  No that the direction He has is the one for me, not the one I’m trying to take or push. Once I accept and live that… I don’t need Jesus to show me anything else.

Are you surrounded by the right people?

1 Kings 1:7-8

'Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.'

Sometimes who we leave out of our lives is more important than who we let in.  Adonijah had made sure to invite prestigious people of rank, wealth and the priesthood into the kingship he decided to take. By all appearances he was surrounded by the right people.

But surrounding himself with the right people and assuming a role that hadn’t been granted him was just a ruse.  The important people he had surrounded himself with were not the “right” people, the people that really matter. And the kingship wasn’t something that could be assumed, it was something granted which Adonijah didn’t have.

I believe that often times I feel like I’ve surrounded myself with the right people and am doing the right things.  And by all appearances I am.  But when these are relationships and plans I’ve made  are done solely on my own they may be of little value to God, lessen the chance to bring Him glory and have a lower ability to succeed.  

As I look at the the people that God has placed in my life and I make my plans and create my ideas; are there certain people that I am purposefully keeping out of what I’m doing?  Do I ever feel that a strong Christian and Godly man may be a hinderance to what I want to do?  Today God is telling me to be more open to that and to realize those my very well be the people He has placed in my path for a reason.

Jeff

Why can't God's perfect timing hurry up?

We all go through seasons of change, both good and bad. When the change that happens is good it is sweet.  When it's good and unexpected, even sweeter.  We have changes that are just changes.  Things that happen in our lives that cause us to modify our plan or change our day.  the coffee shop we stop at every morning closes so we must find another.  The ATM machine next to the office goes down so we need to find a new place to grab some cash for lunch when we’re already running late.  We are constantly in a state change and sometimes it welcomed, sometimes it's just a different route or store but  sometimes it bigger than that. 

Sometimes we encounter the bad stuff.  The really tough things that hurt and impact our life and families in stressful and powerful ways.  Those are the ones that hurt.  Those are the ones that are confusing.  Those are the ones we don't want.  

Today in my reading I was reminded of another guy who was challenged with change and difficulty.  David spent much of his early years on the run and in fear of a king that he loved, supported and recognized as God' anointed.  I'm amazed at his ability to pass up easy solutions and wait for God's plan for his life to unfold and not put his will or want into the situations he encountered.  

He was so patient willing to wait that when his anointing as king came about... he willingly allowed and puppet king to but in place by his enemies to rule a part of the kingdom that by God's own design, was his to rule.  For years he waited patiently and one day God's plan came due. 

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

2 Samuel 5:3

After years on the run, years in the shadows of others who denied his anointing, he became the king that God had planned. 

More than once he could have killed Saul and the people would have been okay with it.  His men offered to do it for him but he wouldn't have it. Why?  because he knew God had a time and place that was better than the one he could choose on his own.

I don't know about you but I'm in a season of change.  It’s uncomfortable and the only thing I want to do is force things to happen.  I want to push others to move in a way that will get things moving along and see some progress.  But that's a road that leads to disappointment as I can't make anyone do anything.  And if I try the only thing I can do for certain is make things worse. 

I'm prayerful and hopeful that God will give me the patience to see this through, in His time and and His way.  I know it will be better than what I can do alone even if it's not what I want right now.

Peace be with you!