Month: June 2022

Last week, we rested.  This week, we are going for it! 

We all have probably heard the saying, “Go for it”.  It usually means “take a chance” or “seize an opportunity”.

In my family when we play games, we encourage one another to “go for it” – take a chance.  It is usually in the context of some kind of risk.  For instance, going ‘all in’ in poker, or taking a critical peg out of the Jenga tower.  I will admit that there may be ulterior motives involved in this prompting depending on which team you’re on, but it’s all in good fun.  However, this is not the usage I really want to talk about. 

I often need to encourage myself to “go for it”.  When I face a situation that intimidates or scares me, I need encouragement to seize the opportunity.  New experiences like a job interview, or speaking in front of a group, or even meeting someone for the first time could cause us to feel intimidated or afraid.  So, what should we do?  We should “go for it”!

It’s not uncommon for many of us to be apprehensive about new situations or new environments. The first time for anything can be intimidating because without previous experience to compare it to, we don’t know what to expect.  But we don’t need to be intimidated because we always, always, always have God on our side!  And He is always, always, always ready, willing, and able to help us in any and every situation!  I hope that was stated emphatically enough.  God is constantly seeking to take care of us.  His help is not reserved just for our dire straits, although He really comes through at those times.  He is an ever-present reality in EVERY situation – big or small.

I talked about God’s help first because quite frankly, I don’t know how to face challenges without it.  The unknown that may be daunting to us, is known to God.  The challenges that may seem overwhelming to us, are well within God’s abilities.  Counting on His constant care certainly lifts the weight off our shoulders!  However, we know that we are not marionettes to God.  He is not pulling our strings to make us do things.  It is up to us to take the necessary action and “go for it”.  Then God is able to guide our steps and alleviate our fears according to our believing in Him.  When challenges arise, we can always rely on God to have our backs. 

This then emboldens us to “go for it”.  We can seize the opportunities with which we are presented because the confidence we need is not limited to our abilities alone.  That is not to say that we don’t have abilities, we all have wonderful strengths.  But no matter how strong or smart or capable we are, God is more.  God told King Jehoshaphat that the battle was not his, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15).  Don’t you think that God feels the same way about our battles?  And if you read the account of Jehoshaphat’s battle, the Israelites didn’t even have to fight, the enemies destroyed themselves.  That’s how big God can deliver! 

To “go for it” isn’t limited to just new challenges, we may have to encourage ourselves in the face of ongoing hardships, or day to day stresses.  Somedays, it may take us “going for it” just to get out of bed.  We almost always have to “go for it” when we are trying to change bad habits or improve our lifestyle.  But God helps in these trials as well.  He cares about the smallest details of our lives just as much as He cares about the biggest ones.  He desires that His children prosper and be in health (3 John 2).  God wants us to succeed in all of our endeavors.  So what is there that we can’t “go for it” to do? 

We may not win every time we “go for it”.  For example, you didn’t get the job you interviewed for. You still succeeded in not being intimidated by the interview process. That’s a victory in itself.  And maybe that was not the best job for you anyway.  In this kind of situation, we must still trust that God is working for us.  He sees the BIG picture that we cannot. So, if we didn’t win in a particular situation, why not think that God must have something better in store for us?  Sometimes a situation like this might discourage us. But if that happens, we can regroup and “go for it” again.  If we don’t quit, we won’t lose.

Every success builds confidence – and confidence enables us to “go for it”.  When that confidence is fully infused with trusting God to supply, we can be unstoppable!  Remembering that you and God make a majority in any situation is a surefire boost to our confidence!  And whether we win when we “go for it” or it doesn’t turn out the way we wanted, God still never leaves us nor forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5).  So, no matter what you’re facing, why not “go for it” and see what God will do for you!  

Note to my readers:  Philippians 4:13 – “Go for it”!  Thanks for reading! 

We all need rest.  In fact, God knew that rest would be essential for our wellbeing, so He built a sleep cycle into our body’s functions.  During sleep, our bodies recharge, and our minds quiet down. Doctors and scientists have many different opinions about how long we should sleep, when we should sleep, or how we should sleep.  But they all agree that sleep is a necessary part of living. 

Sleep plays a significant role in our lives.  If you have a baby, sleep is the principal concern – for everyone!  Small children fight sleep and get cranky.  Teenage children can sleep all day.  In our 20’s, who cared if we ever slept?  In our 30’s we prioritized nightlife over sleeping.  Then as life settled down a bit, sleep began to be more commonplace, however, if we missed sleep we could still recover quickly.  But now as we get older, it seems that sleep eludes us.  There are nights that either falling asleep or staying asleep is problematic.  And missing too much sleep can ruin our days.  I find that sleep is a regular topic of conversation, especially among people my age.  Have you ever awakened and counted the hours that you slept and allowed that number to determine how you feel?  Maybe we are too focused on sleep?  I think the question should be, “how much rest did we get?”  It’s possible that a few hours of sleep provide all the rest we need.  Or maybe we do need 9 or 10 hours of sleep to be fully rested.  In any case, what’s important is the rest we receive, not the hours we sleep.  This kind of rest provides rejuvenation. 

My friend Merriam-Webster says the following about rest:
1: REPOSE, SLEEP; specifically, a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
2: freedom from activity or labor
3: peace of mind or spirit

We can see from these definitions that sleep is only one kind of rest.  It’s probably our most familiar or sought-after form of rest, but it’s not the only kind of rest we need. 

Have you ever worked in the yard for hours?  Or cleaned the house from morning to night? Or worked at a demanding job all day?  At the end of those efforts, you are ready to rest!  Your body is tired, and your energy is spent.  You need the “freedom from activity or labor” kind of rest.  This rest involves relaxation. You may need a nap or a hot shower or just sitting for a while.  And although, sleep is always a welcomed friend after a hard day’s work; simply relaxing for a while can provide the desired respite before taking on other activities.   This kind of rest provides recuperation. 

Rest from labor can be as simple as a change of pace.  There are times that we work hard to finish a task so that we can participate in another activity.  That change of pace provides rest to us.  A good example is cleaning the house for a party.  We can scramble all day preparing for a party, even to the point of exhaustion.  But when the festivities begin, we have freedom from all that labor – hence rest and restoration of energy.

I will add, that just like people need different amounts of sleep, people need different amounts of rest from activity or labor.  I know people who are on the go all day with no appearance of fatigue.  And I know others whose stamina is limited.  Rest is an individual requisite.

How about the end of a stressful situation?  Or recovering from an illness?  The conclusion of a worrisome circumstance definitely produces rest.  However, this rest is more of the “peace of mind or spirit” kind of rest.  This rest is usually received by deliberate decisions in our minds.  We engage our thoughts of patience and perseverance and determine that we won’t give up.  We remain steadfast in our convictions and claim our deliverance from unfavorable situations.  When we do that, we receive the calming rest that comes from successfully weathering the storm.  The things we learn from standing fast in adversity are lessons that we can carry with us throughout our lives.  This rest is not only peace of mind, but also rejoicing in our victory. 

This reminds me of the custom behind the Biblical parable of the woman who lost one of her ten pieces of silver.  The ten pieces of silver were small silver coins that were hooked in a wife’s hair and worn only on the most special occasions.  They were the most precious gift she received from her husband because they were a family heirloom of great significance.  Their value was more sentimental than monetary, but a wife losing one would bring her great shame.  So, if a wife did lose one, she would not stop searching until she found it.  She had rest only after she found the lost piece of silver.  Her neighbors rejoiced with her because they all knew the consequences of losing one of those silver coins.  When her task was finished, she rested with a profound sense of relief and much celebration. 

There is an element of reward in this kind of rest.  Think of it in your own life.  Isn’t it fulfilling to work hard and finish a task?  It is so satisfying to rest with that sense of accomplishment.  That rest is our reward for a job well done.  And looking forward to that rest motivates us to complete our task.  It’s a gratifying cycle.  I should note, however, that rest is not the end of the cycle.  It is the regrouping, refreshing, re-energizing part that not only rewards us, but also prepares us to tackle the next challenge. 

There is one more definition of rest that wasn’t covered by my friend Merriam-Webster, and that is the Biblical usage of the word, which indicates completion.  This is used in Genesis 2:2 where it says that God rested on the 7^th day from all His work of creation.  He didn’t rest because He was tired or because His energy was spent, but because the work was finished.  God resting on the 7^th day signified that His creation was complete.  Nothing was missing and nothing needed to be or could be added.  God rested to demonstrate that work of creation was done.    

It also says in Matthew 16:19 that Jesus Christ was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God.  The word “sat” in this verse carries the same indication of the work being finished.  Jesus Christ completed all the work necessary for our salvation and then he sat, he rested, and his sitting denotes that the work is done. 

Life in this world can burden us with situations and circumstances that place great demands on our time, energy, and convictions.  It can weigh us down with hardships and heartaches.  Life can be cruel.  But Jesus Christ said that if we come to him, he will give us rest.  His finished work enables us to face the heavy burdens of the world because he provides the rest we need for recuperation and rejuvenation.  We can have rest because God’s constant support helps us conquer the world’s demands.  We can have peace of mind in the midst of the world’s insanity because we can fill our minds with the sound thoughts of God’s Word.  And because we can have no fear, our sleep can be sweet.  (Proverbs 3:24)

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

That is a promise!

Note to my readers:  Enjoy your rest!  Thanks for reading! 

Recently, my husband got a new job.  He had been unhappy at his old job, so we prayed.  And almost out of nowhere, this new job fell in his lap.  He is very happy in his new position and one of the benefits of the job includes opportunities for us to visit family because of its various locations. 

Not too long ago, our granddaughter asked us to pray for good tips at her weekend job because she needed extra money for college.  We set a dollar amount in our minds and prayed.  She received more than the amount we prayed for.   

Also, in recent months, a friend was in the hospital being kept under deep sedation due to the severity of her condition.  Lots of people prayed for her.  She is home now and doing well.

These are just three examples of answered prayer.  I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the outcomes of all three situations.  Each solution was beyond my expectations.  Each answer was considerably more than I imagined it would be. 

In all three of these situations, there was a need.  I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.  But in those circumstances, people may have different opinions about how that need should be handled.  Even when we pray, we might have an idea in mind of what the solution could or should be.  That indeed was the case for me in these examples.  I limited God in my expectations, but He was not stifled by my ideas.  He promised to supply all our need (Philippians 4:19), and He did so in a wonderful way! 

In the case of my husband’s job, I knew that he needed a new job, but I never dreamt that he would get another job without the job search and formal interview process.  But he talked to his new boss on the phone, they agreed on the terms and the job was my husband’s on a “hand-shake”.  God answered our prayers – beyond my expectations! 

In our granddaughter’s case, she asked for prayer while my friend was visiting us.  I asked my friend to pray with me.  She proposed the dollar amount in her prayer.  Inside, I thought, “that might be too high”, but I thanked God for blessing our granddaughter.  God answered our prayers beyond the amount that I initially thought was too high. He supplied our granddaughter’s need super-abundantly!

In the case of our friend in the hospital, I prayed earnestly but I was concerned that the condition was too serious for her to recover from.  I worked to fight those thoughts in my mind and continued to pray.  God answered all of the prayers and she got better.  Despite my reservations, God healed her.

I learned a lot from each one of these scenarios.  First, I was reminded that God is much bigger than any of my expectations.  So often in life, we limit God in by restricting Him to our finite natural understanding.  We may have a hard time expecting to receive things that we can’t picture in our minds.  But God sees way beyond the confines of our thoughts.  His vision is exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), and that is the way He is able to answer our prayers. 

Secondly, I was reminded that God is love and full of grace.  God does not expect us to be perfect.  In fact, He never forgets that we are frail.  He is tender and kind, just like we are for a newborn baby.  Our tenderest care is evoked by a newborn because we know that they are helpless on their own.  God remembers that are dust (Psalm 103:14) and He provides graciously and mercifully for our every need. 

Thirdly, I was reminded that it is NOT all about me.  Sometimes when I pray, I think that the answer to that prayer is dependent only on my believing.  Oh, I know that believing is necessary, but there is a fine line between relying on my own believing and relying on God’s abilities.  I know that God honors our believing, but so much of God’s care is simply grace.  I heard it said in a Bible teaching that God knows exactly who we are and what we can do.  In this world, our bodies and souls are imperfect.  So why do we think that we (in our imperfect bodies and imperfect minds) can have perfect believing?  Can’t be done!  So, it has to be by God’s love and grace.

These three outcomes to our prayers were remarkable examples of the goodness of God and His ability to bless His children.  God is omnipotent (all powerful), so He is able to surprise us at any time by his marvelous works.  God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son for us all.  If He was willing to do that; what wouldn’t He do for us who have accepted His son as our Savior? 

When we receive miraculous answers to prayer, REJOICE!  We can always be pleasantly surprised by God going beyond our expectations and blessing us more than we anticipated.  That is His way of demonstrating His love for us.  Have you ever wished that you could really help someone, but you lacked the means?  God yearns to take care of His children and He has the means to provide for everything we need and then some! 

God is a loving Father, who wants the best for His children.  He is not keeping a tally of the things we do wrong and the things we do right and measuring us against that.  He looks at us as His beloved children and showers us with His grace and mercy.  He LOVES to take care of us.  So, the next time you pray, don’t be afraid to ask for the miraculous and allow God to surprise you by what He can do!  “Let go and let God!”

Psalm 86:10

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

Note to my readers:  Let’s pray for great things for each other and see what God will do.  Thanks for reading!