iShineInMinistry

James 4:3-6 (NKJV)

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Do you ever feel like you are in a perpetual holding pattern with God? You seem to be stuck in the same place and once you think you are about to relocate there is yet another lull…or perhaps the “this is it” moment comes? Then, once the lull ends or the big moment ends, you are still in the same place you started...and it is a bit annoying quite honestly!

You’ve prayed, waited, prayed, fasted, prayed, served, waited, prayed and then prayed a little more…and nothing! Maybe this process has been going on for three weeks, or perhaps four years. At what point to we decide that we are being steadfast or just chalk it up to asking for something that is not God’s will?

I recently found myself in this position…and since my heart (like yours) is deceitfully wicked, I’ve decided the best prayer is just, “Lord, do what You’ve planned according to Your will.” While you may think this prayer is a cop-out, I think it is more of an all-in. The desires of our hearts may not be the best idea for us and in our stubborn, dig our heels in kind of way, we may be hardening our hearts to God’s real plan. I for one do not want this and I also would like to be fully in God’s will…so I am asking Him to just do what He does.

This seems to be a win-win for us if we go this route. God will produce in us character, we will grow in our faith and we will be fully submitted and surrendered to God’s plans instead of our selfish hopes. Eternally speaking, this is a much better place to be in.

If you too find yourself in a place of “Am I praying the right thing?” maybe a simple prayer of “God, do what You do…” is just what your heart and life needs right now. Let Him change your heart and let His plans come to fruition…and let patience have its perfect work as you walk in His plans!

Luke 1:38 (ESV)

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Matthew 7:7-9 (ESV)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Are you a patient person? Do you wait nicely (that’s what I used to tell toddlers in Children’s Ministry) and remain faithful in prayer until God shows you the plan? Or, are you a “one and done” kind of girl that prays fervently one time and then waits for God grant you the desires of your heart? I have to be honest with you…I’m a little bit of both depending on the situation. Some days, I am all about the “keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking” exhortation given in the above scripture. Then other times, I’m just like, “Maybe I don’t really want that!” and stop the whole process for a season, only to realize that I did want what I was praying for…then start this little cycle all over again.

Here are a couple of things I would like to encourage each of us with as we continue to pray for _____ (fill in your blank as needed):

Be Consistent and Devoted – Sometimes (most times) things don’t just happen overnight. We have to let all the pieces fall into place, let our character grow and allow lessons to be learned as we start the race that we want to run with endurance. When you are trying to find a job, you don’t just send out one resume and wait until you get that ONE job…you are persistent and dedicated to making life happen. Why not be that way with your prayer life too?

Realize Your Desire May Change – There is a possibility that God is using this exercise in persistence to redirect your desires to His will for your life. While you may be asking to become a missionary in Southeast Asia, He may be prepping you to become a wife in Wisconsin. The possibilities are endless and as we pray, we will surrender to the Lord and then things will start to line up according to His plan and purpose.

Keep going and keep lifting your requests up to the Lord; He is the God who sees and HEARS what you are asking for. Let Him lead the way and then let Him give the answer (even if in your mind it doesn’t look like an answer). Give all to Him and see how much more joyful life can be (for you and me)!

Have a blessed week as you live #TheCharmedLife

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NIV)

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Are you seeking the Lord with all of your heart today? Can you (or I) honestly say that we genuinely seek God with ALL of our heart? Like, our ENTIRE heart? I know that I can’t…I can name at least four other things that have my heart divided right now: my health, my desire to grow my small business, my hope to get the attention of a certain guy and KateSpade.com. I know that I completely love, adore and serve the Lord; but 100% of my heart is not devoted to Him at the moment.

How can we get our lives on track so that we are seeking Him with all of our heart? Can there ever even be such a thing in these finite, mortal and sinful bodies we have? Truly, I don’t think we can ever get it perfect, because we are not perfect people. However, we can find ways to stay on the course of devotion to our Lord.

Take a little inventory of where your thoughts are throughout the course of the day. Are you thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely of good report, full of virtue and praise? Are you worshiping the Lord in everything you do? Are you faithfully praying rather than pining after? These are just a few things we can all use to gauge our focus and our “heart-o-meters” to see if we are seeking the Lord sincerely.

When you get distracted during your devotional time, do you get right back on track or find yourself on Pinterest for two hours? If you notice that your mind drifts easily (I know I have the attention span of a baby goldfish) be intentional about finding times of focus!

Let’s do this together! This week…make time to get alone, perhaps go to a park with your bible, your blanket (or sit by a window in a coffee shop if you are in a cooler climate; but leave the blanket at home) and a journal and just take in the beauty of God’s creation. Write about what you see…people watch and pray for those people. Then ask the Lord to get your heart and mind on Him and help it stay there. I’ll be praying for you – and you can pray for me too!

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

1 Samuel 1:17

…“Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

What are you asking, hoping, praying and quite possibly begging the Lord for today? Each of us has an unfulfilled desire that we are currently waiting on. We may see that blessing taking place in someone else’s life and pining for the day when it will be our turn. Whether it’s a dream job, a trip of a lifetime, a husband, family or a complete life makeover…we all have something that someone else wants and someone has what we would like to have as part of our world.

It amazes me how we can have our lives 85% totally and wonderfully put together, yet we somehow manage to place all of our focus on the 15% that has not come to fruition yet. It can eat away at joy, throw off our life completely, give us sleepless nights and basically taunt or haunt us until we get it…or lose hope that it will ever even happen.

In the scripture above, Hannah was desperate for the opportunity to be a mother. She had a husband that loved her, a home and knew that the Lord was with her…but there was that one thing lacking. And that became her focus. God blessed her in His timing, but I wonder how many days she spent thinking about what she didn’t have. I wonder how much time we use to think about and be upset about the things we don’t have…

Today, while we may be in the middle of getting from Point A to Point B, I encourage you to enjoy the journey while you walk in faith to the next chapter/season of your life. Don’t sulk or hurt in sadness, enjoy the 85% of what you do have as you wait for the other bits of life to fall into place! Be blessed and continue living #TheCharmedLife

1 Samuel 1:18

She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.”…

This week's devotion is from one of my favorite little middle schoolers, Dasia. She is filled with the love of God and quite wise beyond her years! Hope you enjoy reading this post as much as I did!! Happy #TheCharmedLife Sunday!

"And whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not human masters."

Colossians 3:23 NIV

I'm in middle school, and I love to do everything. And by everything, I mean everything! I've always love being part of sports, clubs, and the many things that come with school. I love that feeling of pride and involvement that comes with it, and the awesome people I get to meet. But this summer, I went to a Christian sports camp with my sister and friends and it really changed my view of doing things in my life. I learned how to compete and involve every part of my life to God, no matter what I do. If you ask me the word I heard the most all summer, it's the word wholeheartedly.

Before camp, I never would've even known exactly what that word means. But now, I know exactly. Sure, there are definitions of the word on Google and things like that; but in my book, it means putting everything you have into something for God. I feel that if God didn't show me camp and this verse of the Bible, I never would've learned to give everything I possibly possess. I didn't realize that I was really doing things halfheartedly in a lot of parts of my life. I need to put my blood and tears into things like Jesus did on the cross. And I'm not just talking about sports, work, and activities. I'm talking about life and Christianity.

Put all of your energy and heart into whatever you do for Him. He's going to show you a different outlook on everything, and it's all part of His plan. I get distracted and sidetracked from God a lot, but I know focusing my heart on Him and praising Him for everything can lead you to so many new things. So be a light to your coworkers, or classmates, or team and show them what God can show you…and find what God wants you to find in yourself.