It’s About More Than Time

Have you been in a situation when you didn’t know which option to choose? You needed more than time on your side. Perhaps the choices seem equally risky, and the thought of gambling with the outcome was of no comfort. There have been numerous times when I’ve asked God to walk through the door, sit down in front of me, and show me the choice that will result in His best for me.

God has yet to respond to the hidden motives of my heart nor to the ones I’m intentionally not talking to Him about. And then there are the motives that are hidden from my own understanding. I come to Him with my fear-based pleas … and He is quiet.

I draw in a little closer to His heart. I ask Him, “Daddy, what do You want to be for me in this situation, in my pain and confusion?” I wait, listen and write down what I hear, think, feel. Most times I know immediately when He speaks to me. At other times I’ll look at what I wrote down to see what lines up with the Word of God and His character.

I love to talk to God because He always answers. I can trust Him to take me on an adventure into some of the most amazing revelations.

God, what is it you’re trying to teach me in this circumstance? You always show up with a provision. Will Your provision be Your presence as You teach me something new about Yourself? Will it be something I could not or would not have learned about You in any other way? If so, help me to wait on You, learn from You, and discover something new in Your heart for me.

I don’t want to simply endure for the purpose of passing time. I want to engage in the process of being drawn into who You created me to be. Teach me to walk confidently into what You have predestined me to accomplish for Your name’s sake. Help me to see that what You’re teaching me today is yet another level of revelation of who You are and who I am to You.

God, thank You that You know me better than I know myself. Thank You that You’re patient with me. I want perfection, and You’re attracted to imperfection. I have regrets, and You have redemption. I want things now, and You want patience. I want answers now, and you want me to discover Your heart.

It’s so like You, Daddy, to take our pain and discomfort and dismantle it until all we see is You. One breath of Yours and this thing we thought was so powerful crumbles. You stretch out Your hand and the darkest of dark dissolves.

Many men hung on a cross before You, and many men hung on the cross after You, but only You took that shameful, despicable death and turned it into a victory. Your reach, Your power, and Your authority has no bounds.

Father, may the goal of my heart always be to wait on You and not to simply wait You out. There is no benefit to passing time compared to gaining new revelations of the surpassing beauty and love of who You are.

NOW LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!

Self-Reflection

These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.

This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take the truths you discover about yourself and hold them up to the Light to evaluate them against who God says you are.

• Name three things that are beautiful about God. Why are they beautiful to you?
• Name a characteristic of God that you want to know/experience more of.
• Write down three to five things you are thankful to God for.
• With regard to the three to five things you’re thankful for, which ones can you use as a testimony to share with someone else?
• How do you address God? (i.e. I call Him Daddy)
• What is one thing you want God to know?

Talk to God about your answers. Give Him praise, ask Him questions and then listen for His gentle response.

Take Action

Use God’s word to take control over the traumas in your life.  Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises in His word.

Here is a scripture for you to print, cut and carry with you and/or post in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!

Here is what God’s Word says about His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

When you read God’s love letter to you say to yourself: God draws me into who He is until I know His heart for me. With each revelation of how much He loves me, my questions change and develop into a deeper understanding of the heart of God.