Is God Still God?

Is God still God when “He doesn’t answer our prayers”?

The short answer – yes!

But, since when do I use short answers?

When we pray, particularly when we pray for someone else, or over a situation involving someone else, they continue to have the freedom to choose; as do we.

They can choose to rebel against God, as can we. (Assuming what we were praying over them was included in the will of God.)

When we’re praying for someone else, the best way we can pray is for God to get a hold of their heart, for Him to reveal Himself to them in an undeniable way. But, instead, we often pray for them to make a choice in a matter that’s pleasing to us.

When they don’t comply, God gets the blame and often, we stop praying for them; we “give up on them”. Ouch!

We lose sight of our part in their heart softening toward God; they’re salvation or they’re deliverance, or whatever God is doing in their lives.

They’re left hanging and we become angry and bitter with the God of our salvation, the God Who loves us eternally, more than our human hearts can imagine. We’ll miss out on so many blessings while we’re stewing in our bitterness.

When we pray, our faith doesn’t disappear when things don’t go our way; that’s when faith is really tested.

God already knows your faith is plenty strong enough to hold on. Do you? Ah, yes, that’s who you’re proving it to. Each test of faith we rise above is showing us just how strong that mustard seed of faith, planted in our heart, really is.

Turn around. Run to Jesus. Right now.

It may involve tears.

It’ll definitely involve forgiveness, both giving and receiving.

Now is not the time to give up on prayer. Now is the time to seek God’s face all the more passionately. We’ve still got a lot of living to do, a lot of mountains to climb, a lot of joy to be expressed!

You’re in my heart, you’re in my prayers.

But, more importantly, God has not turned His back on you. Run to Him. Now.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

What Would Please God?

(photo from thereisagreenhill.blogspot.com)

Whether you participated or not, most everyone witnessed the WWJD phenomenon of recent years. Perhaps you still toss the question around in your mind when faced with a challenge.

A friend of mine recently addressed that and took it one step further. WWPG? What would please God? Immediately her mind went the direction of scripture and she realized that without faith, it’s impossible to please God.

This made me ponder on all the things that we do that we consider to be “godly” or Christ-like, but that we do out of habit or out of ritual or simply because we were taught to do so. But, if it’s done without faith, does it actually please God? Scriptures indicate, no, because as Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (NKJV)

Many children grow up trying desperately to please their parents, some to no avail; nothing seemed good enough, no matter how hard they tried. Other parents make a celebration out of everything their children do.

How do we please our heavenly Father?

Simply by living from a place called faith, already found within our hearts, but takes a choice to activate.

Not only must we uncover that seed of faith God has already given us, we need to use it to first believe that God is! Without God, we wouldn’t exist; neither could that seed of faith be present in our hearts. But scripture goes on to inform us that God also wants us to believe that He is One Who rewards those who diligently seek after Him. Keep in mind that diligently doesn’t mean that we occasionally send a thought or glance in His general direction. It means we keep seeking until we find Him, for He is here – ever present!

This scripture doesn’t say that God is a rewarder of those who “do for Him….” Or of those who “sacrifice for His Name sake….” Or even those who are martyred for the cause of Christ – but of those who diligently seek Him!

Are there rewards for living righteously? Yes. But, only when that righteousness is found in the faith of Jesus Christ; faith in God. For, without faith, it is impossible to please Him.

(photo from thegreatrightblog.com)

What WOULD please God?

What would please God - in your life? What do you do out of ritual, versus from a place of obedience, in faith?

I imagine many of us have some adjustments to make…..which is great, as long as we make those adjustments. God is very patient with us, but who wants to be the child that tries His patience?

How do I make this adjustment? Ask Him. He knows your heart better than you do. Maybe subtle changes are all that’s necessary. Or maybe you need to start over today; He’ll give a clean slate just for the asking!

What would please God?