And so when we sat down to eat dinner, I was lost in my thoughts as we all started eating. My soon-to-be-three year old son, Nicholas, said in the moment:

“Daddy, let’s pray.”

My mouth dropped to the floor and then my heart filled with joy inexpressible. The verse in Matthew came flooding into my consciousness:

And [the chief priests and scribes] said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF’?” –Matthew 21:16.

Jesus was quoting from Psalm 8:2.

At times it really seems like God has put an anointing on my son. Then again, kids “get” God for the most part. Makes perfect sense when you think about it. What did Jesus also say?

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” –Mark 10:14-15.

That’s what God is looking for in all of us. That child-like faith that just trusts, and says “Abba! Father! Daddy!”

My family and I are entering a new phase in our lives where this is exactly what God is expecting of us. It’s partly exciting and partly scary at the same time. Seemingly God is asking me to put-up-or-shut-up with my faith and trust in Him.

God used my son last night to remind me how critical it is to be in constant prayer for thankfulness and for His will to be done in our lives.

Is God asking you to step out in faith and trust Him? Have you been through a season such as this? Care to share your experiences?

May He Increase!

In case you don’t, it says:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. –Philippians 4:6.

I like the translation of this verse that I heard recently:

“Worry about nothing, pray about everything, and give thanks for anything.”

I like that, a lot. The only problem is, a lot of times, it’s a lot harder than we think. I’ve had to remind myself lately that worrying is a sin. Did you realize that?

How many times did Jesus command us “do not worry?”

• Matthew 6:31
• Matthew 6:34
• Matthew 10:19
• Mark 13:11
• Luke 12:11
• Luke 12:22

Just to list a few. I guess “do not worry” means, well, “do not worry.”

How often do we view our worrying in direct violation of His commandment?

May He Increase!

And so when I think about my heavenly Father and the things I ask of Him, I try to relate it in these terms. If I love my sons and am willing to do whatever I can to help them, how much more does God love me?

Jesus taught us the same:

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” –Matthew 7:11.

Thing is, I know God is in control of my life. Most of the time, I do trust that He knows what is good for me, just as Jesus said in Matthew. I’m not perfect. I don’t always trust. I don’t believe any of us trust 100% of the time.

I’ve struggled a very long time with what line of work I’m best suited for. Do I have what it takes to be in business for myself? If so, what business? If not, what type of work do I enjoy doing? Just because I can do something, does that mean I should be doing it?

While I was out of work for several months last year, I prayed that God would bless me with a job. He did. I even got the call the day before Thanksgiving! But there was a choice involved and part of me thinks I made the wrong choice.

So now I’m struggling to figure out things again and wondering how I’ve found myself in yet another less-than-ideal spot. I’m also struggling with finding the balance between being grateful for God’s blessings and allowing myself to ask my Father to help me out of an undesirable situation.

Part of the message today at church was on Psalm 55. I love Psalm 55. It’s one of those great prayers of David that still speaks to me today and what I’m going through.

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted. –Psalm 55:1-2.

That’s me for sure: restless in my complaint and distracted in my thoughts of starting another week.

My heart is in anguish within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. –Psalm 55:4-5.

This may be a little more extreme than what I’m experiencing, but I still can identify with it.

Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice. –Psalm 55:17.

And this was the verse I keyed in on this morning. So often we hear the flip-side of this. We hear about the children of Israel murmuring and complain in the wilderness, and that God dealt with them harshly for that. So I suppose we forget sometimes that God is our Father and He wants to hear about what we are struggling with. The key is how we are approaching it. Are we reaching out to God in faith in our complaint? Or are we simply calling God out and shaking a fist at Him?

He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, for they are many who strive with me. Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. –Psalm 55:18, 22.

I know my Father hears me. I also know that He always answers me. I guess I’ve learned  that “no” is an answer just as much as “yes” is. It just isn’t the answer I like to hear. But hearing these passages from Psalm 55 reminded me that sometimes it’s okay to go to God and present our complaint. David did. And how did God describe David?

“The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart.” –1 Samuel 13:14.

The verse is speaking of David! God–knowing everything that David would fail at later in life–still called David a “man after His own heart.” So if David felt like he could go to God with his murmurs and complaints, why shouldn’t we?

Have you gone to God with your murmurs and complaints? What was your experience?

May He Increase!

The day before Thanksgiving, I received a phone call from the hiring manager I interviewed with a couple weeks previously. He made me a formal job offer. After a little over four months of being out of work, I had gotten the phone call I had been waiting for.

God was at work through it all. In fact, I also had a great opportunity to go back to work for a former employer. I had put all of my focus on that when I got the call to come in for an interview with the company the ended up hiring me. I even had an opportunity in September that was minutes away from my house, but I do not believe that is what God had for me. He had something better for me if I would just listen to his voice.

So, since Thanksgiving–how appropriate that God would allow the phone call the day before Thanksgiving–I have received the formal offer letter and have filled out all the requisite forms and went to the drug screening. Now it’s just a matter of the company confirming I am who I say I am. I will be showing up at the office on Monday, December 21. Praise God!

I never doubted that God had plans for us while I was in the unemployment wilderness. I knew that He had things to teach me and I did the best I could to learn those lessons. It was easier at some times than others.

Ironically, it wasn’t until this past Sunday that God gave me a passage that really opened my eyes to what I went through. It came from my pastor during service yesterday. He shared it as the key verse that helped him during a dark time in his ministry. And so, I would like to share it with you in case you find yourself in a dark place.

Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive steam with water that is unreliable? –Jeremiah 15:18.

Sound familiar? Can you relate?

Therefore, thus says the Lord, “If you return, then I will restore you–before Me you will stand; and if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, but as for you, you must not turn to them.” –Jeremiah 15:19.

There’s the key: “If you return [to Me], then I will restore you.” How often will God send trials our way to get our attention so we draw closer to Him.

And then God gives Jeremiah a key lesson: “if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman.” If we go through dark times and learn nothing, then the trial and the lesson were worthless! Don’t squander an opportunity to listen to the voice of God when He is trying to teach you something!

“Then I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; and though they fight against you, they will not prevail over you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you,” declares the Lord. –Jeremiah 15:20.

The verse reminds me of Paul’s words to the Romans:

What then shall we say to these things? IF God is for us, who is against us? –Romans 8:31.

I know there are brothers and sisters-in-Christ struggling through trials right now: health, unemployment, finances, etc. But God is faithful! Return to Him; draw nearer to Him. Hold fast!

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good. –1 Thessalonians 4:21.

I’d like to open this up to prayer requests or sharing what you’re going through or to testify to what God has taught you through trials.

Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. –Ecclesiastes 5:2.

I think we, as Christians, can sometimes be a little flippant with our prayers to God.

There needs to be a healthy dose of respect for Whom we are addressing. Yes, the cross tore the curtain in the temple in two (Matthew 27:51) which allowed us to boldly come before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), but God is still God.

God is not our heavenly butler, there to answer our every whim. He is not there at our beck and call. He is our Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. We are His children. Do we expect our own children to treat us with respect as their earthly parents? Then how much more should we give respect and honor to the Creator of the universe!

Besides, He knows our every need before we ask Him. He wants to have fellowship with us–His creation–through Christ’s shed blood of the cross. The price He paid to redeem you and I is more than we can possibly imagine. That, too, is worthy of our respect, awe, gratitude, and most of all, love.

May He Increase!