God Our Protector

We have seen in the past, and continue to see, a great many tragedies in our world—earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes and, of course, the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The list could continue ad infinitum. During tragedies like these, we often see innocent peoples’ lives snuffed out in a matter of minutes or seconds. Many times the focus is put upon the children and how tragic it is for families who lose a child in an untimely death.

These types of tragedies will inevitably engender the following questions: “Where was God?” “Why didn’t God protect us?” “If there is a God, why does He allow such horrible accidents?”

For many people, it comes down to a very basic question: “Does God exist?” People like to take personal credit for any successes they have. If something goes wrong, however, they are quick to blame God.

Do you believe that God protects those who call upon Him? Every year in our church, we have a special ceremony to ask God to bless the little children. And nearly every time we have an opening or closing prayer at a church service, we ask for God’s protection. Do we believe He will protect us? Of course! Does He? Absolutely! Does He sometimes allow even those who pray for His protection to experience an accident or even a tragedy? Yes. Have you ever been in an automobile/motorcycle—or any kind of accident? Do you believe that even in that accident God protected you—saved your life? Do you know of anyone who has died in an accident?

I think most have experienced an accident of some sort. If you’ve been around for a long time, you surely have heard of those who believe that if it were not for God, they would have had much worse things happen. How many people on that Minnesota bridge fell more than 60 feet and suffered little or no physical damage? How many surfaced from their cars after plunging headlong into the river?

So, how should a Christian approach this subject? What if someone on the job, a relative or an acquaintance asks you, “How could a loving God allow this to happen?” What would you say? Would you be ready to give an answer?

If we look at God’s Word, we see that there are some reasons that accidents and tragedies occur in this world. We also need to understand this subject—not only for our own peace of mind, but to help others understand, if the situation ever arises.

Consider three principles that can help us keep tragedy and disaster in perspective.

We are all flesh and blood!
First, to some extent what we’re talking about is physical inevitability. Man is physical. We’re all temporary! Look at Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Another verse that illustrates this point is 1 Corinthians 15:50 where Paul writes that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”

God never intended that mankind would live forever in the flesh. You cannot find any scripture to support such an idea. In spite of mankind trying to perpetuate his physical existence by every means possible—be it technology, medicines, surgeries or cryogenics—the truth is that we deteriorate and wear out! Of course, some of us wear out faster than others due to genes, lifestyle, exercise, diet, accidents or some other factor.

If we look at this subject with the realization that we are physical and at some point in the future we will expire, we will be able to understand why God allows death. Let’s face it, we can’t turn ourselves over and see our expiration date. God has power over death through the resurrection, and all who die will live again, in their own order as shown in 1 Corinthians 15:23: “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” Part of this understanding involves knowing God’s plan (revealed through His annual Holy Days) and knowing that all mankind will have the opportunity to have life eternal at some point in the future.

Why are there tragedies and accidents in the world today?
Second, we need to consider who is behind tragedy and disaster. Is God responsible? “We know that…the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). This is not God’s world. YET! Satan is the destroyer (Abaddon and Apollyon in Hebrew and Greek, Revelation 9:11), the deceiver (Revelation 12:9), the father of murders (John 8:44). He persecutes the Church and tries to devour the sheep of God like a lion (1 Peter 5:8). We must understand that God allows Satan to have some power over “natural disasters” on this earth (for now)—but he and his minions will be vanquished at the coming of Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 20:2). Though Satan rules this society, he is still limited in what he is allowed to do.

In this world, we learn to trust God and endure—to avoid and resist Satan at all cost (1 Peter 5:9-10). We must turn to God in the face of disasters and according to His will—He will protect us!

The principle of cause and effect
Many times personal catastrophes are the result of going against that which is right (transgression against spiritual laws is sinning). What about an event where a 2-year-old was hit by a car? Lots of questions can be asked about a situation like this: Was he taught properly to stay out of the street? Where was his mother or guardian? Maybe it was the driver’s fault—was the driver speeding or impaired? These same sorts of questions can be extended to any accident.

Think back to the Minnesota bridge collapse. If a bridge is allowed to deteriorate into a state of disrepair, and you put 150 cars on it during rush hour and it falls down, someone must have overlooked something. Is there an engineering design or principle that would have prevented its collapse?

Can you even imagine mankind doing anything he wanted and knowing that there would never be any penalty or consequence? What kind of a miserable, topsy-turvy world would that be? Would we all be automatons doing what comes naturally and having God watching every move we made? We’d never get burned when we touched fire, never die if we jumped off a building—the list could just go on and on.

If we see negative effects in our lives, we should evaluate them to determine if they are the result of inappropriate actions. Where necessary and possible, we should be able to make necessary adjustments (for instance, repentance which includes changing from sinning to obeying God). Change the cause, so you get the desired effect!

We are free moral agents and can choose to do right or wrong. God told the nation of Israel that He wanted them to be a model nation for all other nations and to choose life (see Deuteronomy 30:11-19).

Ultimately God will give each person an opportunity to choose His way. We have been given the opportunity to choose that way now. Very few today understand what the right choices are, but someday the whole world will come to understand! But even though we have that opportunity, sometimes it’s hard to make the right choice. If we balance on the edge of a cliff over a canyon or a river, there’s a chance that we will fall. If you choose to do dangerous things or choose a dangerous activity to participate in, God will sometimes allow you to suffer the penalty.

We can avoid many tragedies in this life if we choose God’s way over the way of this world. You will be blessed and protected, but sometimes even God’s people are victims of:

Time and chance
Ecclesiastes 9:10-11: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. I returned, and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.”

“Time and chance” doesn’t mean that we roll the dice and gamble every time we step out of our houses. As Christians, we pray each day for God’s blessings, guidance, deliverance and protection. We live our lives with confidence and faith in God. Notice what Satan said to God: “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land” (Job 1:10).

“Time and chance” just means that sometimes things happen that we never expected. God is carefully guiding and molding those He has called into His Church, so what happens to them will not ever be simply time and chance. But when we don’t see what God is doing behind the scenes, it often seems to be time and chance. The point for everyone to remember is, things will often happen that you don’t expect.

Circumstances occur over time, accidents happen, cars drive on the wrong side of the road, bridges fall down; there are hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, violence, terrorism, etc. We need to be on guard and vigilant in this world, and of course, we need to do our part to do what’s right.

In Luke 13:1-5 Jesus used an example similar to the Minnesota bridge collapse. He explained that those who died when a tower fell on them didn’t deserve to perish because they were worse than others. He used their tragic experience with “time and chance” to teach that when a person repents and commits to following Jesus, their lives are not left to arbitrary tragedy. Even if they fall victim to what seems to be a random circumstance, they can be assured that God is aware and is watching over them.

We need to also realize that at times God will allow us to encounter a trial to test our faith.

Trials are a test of faith
God promises to never test us beyond what we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13), which is one of the most encouraging verses in the Bible for a Christian. Combine this with Hebrews 11:6 (“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him”) and we see that our faith must be unwavering—knowing that our future is not based on the physical. There are several scriptures about trials. This is because God allows some trials and gives us other trials! It’s part of the life of a Christian to suffer in this world. We can learn valuable lessons from enduring, and we’re admonished by Christ to endure to the end.

Ultimately God will deliver us from even the most difficult and severe circumstances (see Psalms 34:17-22). For some this will be when we enter His Kingdom! It may not necessarily happen in this life!

Being content with what you have (see Philippians 4:11-13) can also apply to trials. Sometimes when we go through very difficult trials, we can be discouraged and we may even ask God to remove a trial. When we experience a trial, God is working specifically in the situation so we might learn the most we can in this life and develop patience and overcome! He knows what we need, when we need it and the difficulty we can endure!

Conclusion
God is our protector, but we must do our part. And we must live life with the understanding that we were not meant to live forever in the flesh. God does protect us according to His will (see Psalms 91:1-16). According to His will, this means “in our best interest” (even though we may not be able to see it at the time)! He wants us to make it into His Kingdom and be part of His eternal family. He knows how to protect us and how to work in our lives.

God wants us to be in good health and to prosper in this life, and that’s good! But that is not all there is to life. It’s true that we have a great future ahead of us, and we need to focus on that future, not on the physical. What happens in this life cannot even be compared to the things that God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Enjoy each other. While times are good, kiss your mate, hug and kiss your kids! Praise and thank God for your blessings. Ask God to protect you, according to His will, and only give you trials that you can endure!

And in every circumstance remember the promise in Hebrews 13:5-6: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

GOD, OUR PROVIDER

Your heavenly Father is the Great Provider for all the earth. He gives rain when the earth needs refreshment. He calls the sun from its hiding when the earth needs warmth. He gives to the animals their food, the flowers their beauty, the birds their shelter, and you and me everything we need.

We worship a God who is both loving and powerful. He is both omnipotent and omnipresent. He is both good and able. If he were not, we would be forced to fend for ourselves, striving for that which he has promised to provide. If he were only good, we would not be assured of the provision his power provides. And if he were only able, we would fear for a lack of his desire to provide. But God is our heavenly Father who both knows what we need and longs to provide for us in exceeding measures. He is our Creator and Sustainer, Lord of all and Lord in all.

So why do you fear for your needs? Why do you stress over the foundational cares of this life while your heavenly Father is seated on his throne? The truth is that until we experience for ourselves both the goodness and power of our heavenly Father, the truth of his provision will only ever feel like a heady, theological principle. Until we experience firsthand the character and provision of our God, fear will remain.

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” God longs to perfect you in his love today. He longs to guide you into an encounter with his goodness and power. He longs to establish a foundation of his faithfulness by which you can live in faith. May you have a transformative encounter with the Holy Spirit today that frees you from fear and striving as you enter into guided prayer.

Now let's look at the key text that relates to God's provision:

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide (Yahweh-yir´eh). And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." (Genesis 22:13-14)

In this case Abraham doesn't call God a different name, but he names the place with a compound, "Yahweh Provides" (New Jerusalem Bible). The King James Version transliterates the Hebrew words as "Jehovah-jireh." A better pronunciation here is Yahweh-yir´eh.

This was the first time we know of that Abraham had to trust God to provide. Later, as God reveals himself to Moses and the people of Israel, they begin to understand that this is part of God's responsibility as King and part of his role as Father and part of his character as the Loving God. In the New Testament we see two clear statements:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33, KJV)

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

From that day forward, Abraham remembered the name he had given that mountain top “Jehovah Jireh, Yahweh-yir´eh, "The LORD Will Provide."

GOD OUR HEALER

The Bible describes God as "Jehovah-Rophe" (or Jehovah-Rapha) more than 60 times. Jehovah means “God” and Rophe or Rapha means “to restore,” “to heal,” or “to make healthful.”

In Exodus 15:26, God promised Moses and the people of Israel, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Healer is an integral part of God’s character. God cares about every area of your health — your physical health, your mental and emotional well-being as well as your spiritual vitality (Psalm 103:2-3). When we understand that God is Jehovah-Rophe, the Great Physician, we recognize that no healing happens apart from Him. Only He can provide lasting healing from our brokenness.

So often, we want the healing without the dealing. But God has to deal with the source of our pain — the rejection, the hurt, or perhaps the betrayal — to heal us. 

Our Healer has never and will never change (Malachi 3:6). Jesus still does miracles. God works through modern medicine, just like He worked through ancient Israel’s laws to protect them from disease.

The Gospel is the physical, moral, and spiritual remedy for all people. Because in Christ, we have eternal life, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and connection with God (Isaiah 53:5).

Reflect:

·         When you think about your overall health, what can you begin to give God today for healing?

·         What are you grateful to God for regarding your health today?

WAITING ON GOD

Waiting for God – He Acts on our Behalf
Are you waiting for God? He acts on our behalf as we wait for Him. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4).

A few years ago, a man went in for his annual physical and the doctor ordered a routine chest x-ray. A lesion was found on his lung and a CAT scan was ordered. After the CAT scan, other tests were done. Church and family prayed as they waited in expectancy to see how God would answer. During times of trial, depending on God to bring us through is sometimes difficult. However, we can always reflect on other times of suffering and how we were kept by His power.

This man has been going to a cardiologist for the last two years and the x-rays have been negative. The cardiologist continues to check on this spot on the lung every six months. As he await results, he trusted God and know He is in control. Today we praise and thank God once again for a negative test. He alone has acted on our behalf as we wait on Him!

Waiting for God – He Strengthens Us
As you are waiting for God, He strengthens you. “But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

I once heard an illustration about how God strengthens us during trials. It went like this: “Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm; it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us, we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us; we can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.”

Waiting for God – He Blesses Us
When waiting for God, He blesses you. “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18).

What does it mean to be blessed by God while we wait on Him? As we wait on God and His timing, He can accomplish so much in our hearts. Often we find new purpose in life, receive answers to prayer, see God work, increase our faith, and most often we see God’s perfect plan fulfilled in our situation. Remember, waiting is not wasted time!

FEARLESS CHRISTIAN

Fear is a spiritual force that operates like faith. When you operate by fear, you expect negative things to happen to you, and eventually they will.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When you live by faith, you expect and hope for the best.

Fear opposes the Word of God, while faith is rooted in the Word of God.

Let us look to the Word of God and continue this week on the Fearless Christian.

(NKJV) 2 Timothy 1 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

(AMP) 2 Timothy 1 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Fear is faith in reverse.

Shout… Fear is faith in reverse.

Shout… I have the Holy Spirit that dwells in me!

Fear is the reciprocal of faith.

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

Fear comes by hearing the words of the Satan.

(NKJV) 1 John 4 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Fear is based in selfishness, but perfected love casts out all fear.

Just as faith is a law, so is fear.

A law is an established principle that works for anyone who gets involved.

God has not given you a spirit of fear.

Shout… Fear, doubt, unbelief, I cast you out in Jesus name.

Satan wants you to fear that God's Word will not work for you.

He wants you to believe God will not supply your needs.

In these last days, the hearts of many will fail them because of fear.

(NKJV) Luke 21 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Satan speaks words that oppose God's Word, which produces fear.

Satan spoke words that contradicted God's Word. Know the Word of God! This is your protection from the enemy!

The spirit of fear causes you to think you are missing out on something.

Job operated in fear.

(NKJV) Job 1 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” 9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

QUESTION: What does it mean to pray without ceasing? 

ANSWER: 

How can I pray without ceasing? Praying without ceasing is a biblical term found in the Apostle Paul's first letter to Thessalonica: "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, KJV). The Greek word "without ceasing" means continuous action. Therefore, “praying without ceasing” means to pray continuously. 

How to pray without ceasing: a heart attitude

·       How does one pray continually? We cannot always be on our knees. With the daily demands on our busy lives, we are fortunate to kneel in prayer even a few minutes each day. However, the context of this passage gives us a clue. This passage focuses on heart attitude. "Rejoice always" is an attitude of joyfulness. Giving thanks in everything also requires a mental attitude of thankfulness. How do we rejoice and give thanks? Through prayer! Therefore, effective prayer is a proper heart attitude: a mental outlook of joyful thanksgiving. It expresses itself throughout the day with silent prayers of vital communication with the LORD. 

·       Maintaining a healthy relationship requires communication. Always be "on line" with God so when the Spirit moves you to pray, you can instantly agree with Him. The Holy Spirit prays for us with inexpressible groans (Romans 8:26). When in agreement with the Spirit, we are praying continuously. The heart attitude of praying without ceasing means an ever-open heart to the Lord’s leading.

·       If we are praying without ceasing -- even while driving, changing the baby, washing dishes, or running a lawn mower -- we can be open to the leading of the Spirit when He urges us to pray for something or someone. At that time, we can agree with God and make a mental note to add that concern to our later prayer time.

·       Praying without ceasing doesn’t take the place of time alone in prayer with God. However, it is a joyful experience to unite with the LORD who lays burdens on our hearts. We can't always stop and kneel, but our heart attitude can still be "praying without ceasing."

Praying without ceasing is sometimes really difficult when it seems like God is not answering...

CONFIDENCE IN GOD

“Confidence in God” is an article found inside the NLT Study Bible—a fantastic resource for anyone in the earlier stages of Bible study.

God gave Nehemiah favor in the eyes of a mighty Persian king so that the king responded favorably to all of Nehemiah’s requests (1:11; 2:8, 18). Nehemiah then had the confidence to present his bold plan to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and the people of Jerusalem responded positively, believing that God was able to give them success in rebuilding the walls (2:20) and to protect them from their enemies (4:4-5, 9).

THEY CONFIDENTLY CONTINUED IN THEIR WORK…

…in spite of opposition because they knew that God fights for his people and frustrates the plans of the wicked (4:14-15, 20). When the walls of Jerusalem were finished, Nehemiah recognized that the entire difficult project was completed only because of God’s help (6:16).

The book of Nehemiah vividly demonstrates that God is all-powerful and able to accomplish his will, both in individual lives and in nations. Nehemiah’s prayer in ch. 9 focuses on praising God for his sovereign and powerful acts: God created the heavens and earth (9:6), called Abram from Ur, and gave the land to Israel (9:7-8, 22-25). The miraculous signs in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of guidance, food, and water in the wilderness all demonstrate God’s power over man and nature to provide for his people (9:9-15).

The Lord had sent the Israelites into exile after generations of persistent sin (9:26-27). Now he was fulfilling part of his promise to restore them (1:8-9).

NEHEMIAH HAD THE CONFIDENCE…

…to pray and lead because he knew that everything that happened was part of God’s sovereign plan. This same confidence in God’s sovereignty led Abram to leave Ur and by faith go to an unknown land (Gen 12:1-3; Heb 11:8-10), caused Rahab to trust in God (Josh 2:9-14; Heb 11:31), and prompted Hezekiah not to give in to the demands of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kgs 18–19).

Confidence comes when people believe that God will keep his promises and complete the work he has started in their lives(Phil 1:6).

 

APPLICATION

Where do you lack confidence? Can you think of any promises God makes that you can rely on as a source of confidence? Share some of God’s promises that have given you confidence in the comments below.

NLT STUDY BIBLE

Looking for a study Bible that is SO MUCH MORE than footnotes? The NLT Study Bible is jam-packed with articles, word studies, charts, full-color maps, and more. We highly recommend this study Bible! We especially recommend it to anyone looking to start studying the Bible a little bit more in-depth, but with easy-to-understand content.

LISTENING TO GOD

Listening to God: Preparing Your Heart to Hear Him
Listening to God is like listening to anyone-before you can hear Him, you must be ready to listen. Just as in a conversation, you cannot hear the other person if you are talking or if your mind is distracted. So it is with God. If you want to hear Him speak, you must be quiet and you must be focused on what He is saying. Regular conversation with God can transform your life! Consider identifying a place and time to meet with God everyday.

Prayer is how you begin a conversation with God. Think of it as saying "hello."

Listening to God: How Can I Hear Him?
Listening to God requires a deliberate choice to shut out the chaos around you and focus your thoughts. Is God someone you can hear? The Bible says He is, and the Bible is one of the main tools through which He speaks.

We live in a world of noise. Almost everywhere we go, we find sounds competing with our minds, keeping us from letting our thoughts get below the surface level. Hearing God's voice means not listening to the noise of the world around us. It's not easy, but it can be done.

King David, author of most of the book of Psalms, gave us a model for meeting with God, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8).

He sought God's direction in the morning, at the beginning of the day. Like a general in God's army, he wanted to hear from his Commanding Officer before he entered into battle. Beginning each day fresh with God is a great reminder that, as the Scripture says, His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22, 23). You must find the time of day that works for you, but morning is the best time if that is possible.

Do you want to hear God speak to you? Listening to God requires regular Bible reading, since the Bible is the Word of God. To listen to the Bible, click here.

Listening to God: Get the Picture
Listening to God requires a heart committed to understand His message. God often speaks to us in visual images. Consider the example of the prophet Habakkuk, in Habakkuk chapter 2. The prophet longed to hear from God! He was so determined that he was willing to stand and wait as long as it took. "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me…" (Habakkuk 2:1).

Habakkuk found that God was faithful. "Then the LORD replied, 'Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:2).

Listening to God: What Now?
Listening to God requires a right attitude in our hearts. In order to listen to God and receive His instruction, we must want to do His will, much as Habakkuk did. God honors the heart that is fully surrendered to Him. If we are stubbornly clinging to our own desires, we are likely to get a garbled message that will not be God's voice at all. As a result, we are likely to continue pursuing a path that is contrary to the one God has designed for our lives.

Psalm 40:8 says, "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

Do you desire God's will for your life above every other desire? If you do, you can trust that He will direct your path. Listen to His message, and be quick to obey. Write down what He tells you and be ready to share it so that others may understand.

When you listen to God and obey Him, you will discover a life that is full and rich with purpose, confident you are following the Master's plan.

GOD LISTENS

There are never small miracles because every miracle is wonderful. It is always awesome when God answers prayers, whether it is healing or just Him taking our anxiety away. I am realizing that I need to stay aware of all the answered prayers that I have because every single one is an awesome miracle. It is so uplifting when our prayers are answered. In fact, Proverbs points out that a “desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12). Therefore, an answered prayer is life giving to our soul. This past week while my husband, Josh, was on his very far and long business trip, God answered prayers that gave me peace, took away anxiety, increased my hope, and built up my faith. The first answered prayer was on his flight over to the other side of the world. He had a very short layover in Tokyo. His plane from DFW was scheduled to land an hour before his next flight to Jakarta was to depart. Well, when the kids and I were getting ready for bed I checked his flight status and his plane was thirty minutes behind schedule. The kids and I immediately prayed for God to help the pilot make up for the lost time, and that Josh would not miss his connecting flight. Thankfully, God heard our prayer because when I got up in the middle of the night and checked the flight status it had landed only a few minutes late, not thirty minutes late. I prayed again, right then, that Josh was able to make it to his next flight, and a few minutes after my prayer he texted me saying that he was on his next flight. It was wonderful to have an immediate answer to a prayer. Another quick answered prayer was for help with the issue my husband was trying to fix. He wasn’t able to completely fix the issue that the customer was having in Indonesia, so the kids and I once again prayed. We prayed for grace and favor with the customer and that God would just miraculously fix the problem. Shortly after our prayer, my husband texted me saying, “If you are praying for grace with the customer it is working.” This text seriously gave me goose bumps because it really was just a minute after our prayer that we received it. The next day, I found out that God did miraculously fix the problem.

7 GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

•Wisdom is considered the first and the greatest of the gifts. It acts upon both the intellect and the will. According to St. Bernard, it both illumines the mind and instills an attraction to the divine. Adolphe Tanquerey OP explained the difference between the gift of wisdom and that of understanding: "The latter is a view taken by the mind, while the former is an experience undergone by the heart; one is light, the other love, and so they unite and complete one another. A wise and loving heart is the perfection of the theological virtue of charity. •Understanding helps one relate all truths to one's supernatural purpose; it further illuminates one's understanding of Sacred Scripture; and it assists us to understand the significance of religious ritual. This all gives us a profound appreciation for God’s providence. •Counsel functions as a sort of supernatural intuition, to enable a person to judge promptly and rightly, especially in difficult situations. It perfects the cardinal virtue of prudence. While prudence operates in accord with reason as enlightened by faith, the gift of counsel operates under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the will of God. •Fortitude is often identified with courage, but Aquinas takes its meaning to also encompass endurance. Joseph J. Rickaby describes it as a willingness to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or physical harm. The gift of fortitude allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil. It is the perfection of the cardinal virtue of the same name. •Knowledge: The gift of knowledge allows one, as far as is humanly possible, to see things from God's perspective. It “allows us to perceive the greatness of God and his love for his creatures” through creation. •Piety accords with reverence. A person with reverence recognizes his total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Thomas Aquinas says that piety perfects the virtue of religion, which is an aspect of the virtue of justice, in that it accords to God that which is due to God. In a series of talks on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis said that piety is a recognition of "our belonging to God, our deep bond with him, a relationship that gives meaning to our whole life and keeps us resolute, in communion with him, even during the most difficult and troubled moments”. Francis goes on: "Piety is not mere outward religiosity; it is that genuine religious spirit which makes us turn to the Father as his children and to grow in our love for others, seeing them as our brothers and sisters." •Fear of the Lord is akin to wonder (or awe). With the gift of fear of the Lord, one is made aware of the glory and majesty of God. At a June 2014 general audience Pope Francis said that it “is no servile fear, but rather a joyful awareness of God’s grandeur and a grateful realization that only in him do our hearts find true peace”. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all one desires. This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear of offending his father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is the perfection of the theological virtue of hope.