There are times when you can’t understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don’t fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification— to be set apart from sin and made holy— or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.At first you may see clearly what God’s will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God’s will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Peter’s statement was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him, ‘…the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’ ” (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.

__________________________________________________________

January 4 2016

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord. This devotional reminded me that in my own strength I am not capable of following You. In my own strength, I seem to always follow the path to the “Big Four”: to look good, feel good, to be right and to be in control. How do I let go of this tendency and seek to follow You in all things?

And God says…”Apart from Me you can do nothing. When you try to muster up the discipline, persistence and personal power to follow Me you will always fail. I require perfection. And you cannot achieve perfection this side of heaven. However your surrender to Jesus allows Me to see His perfection in you, and you to live in the mercy and grace provided by His sacrifice. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you need, including the perfection I require. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight.

“Surrender your “Big Four” to me daily, hourly and minute by minute. This is the way to pray without ceasing. Simply see yourself placing all your requests, needs, needs of your family and friends, visions hopes, dreams, success and failures at the foot of the cross every day. And if you feel that you cannot muster enough faith to believe that I will meet all your needs, according to My riches in heaven, do as the father did when speaking with Jesus (Mark 9:24). Simply say, “I believe, help me in my unbelief”. I will always meet you at the very point of your need as you seek to follow Me. Seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened. ”