September 20, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

You’re No Good To God

To Hope Means To Decide

Don’t you wish things would be easy for a change? Many times I feel overwhelmed—I’m rushing around trying to stay ahead of any problem. God’s solution to problems, however, is just the opposite. Often God wants you to wait, not hurry up.

We do not receive what we pray for not because God doesn’t want to help but because we do not ask correctly. I am convinced that we do not position ourselves so God can answer us immediately. (This series will help you in this endeavor.)

Psalm 23 says, “My eyes wait on the Lord.” To wait means ‘I decided’, i.e. I make a conscious decision to stop what I was doing to do nothing—well almost. David proclaims, “I wait on the Lord, who is my hope.” Waiting creates hope and hope creates God showing up.

Often we are told to just believe. But, I rather decide first and then believe. God wants us to decide, to make a choice, to react to Him who is knocking at the door. For me, I will “show you my faith by my works”, as James chapter 2 puts it. I decide; I choose God first; then and only then do I believe and have hope and exercise faith.

Too often we are trying to believe but we didn’t choose God. To wait on God is not a fruit of the Spirit or a gift from God—it is a choice! Let me simply state, “Make decisions for God (choose God) by waiting for God to show up.” God will see and understand your decision to wait for him today, and immediately He will come and stir hope and faith in your life so your situation or circumstance will change.

Remember that ‘to decide’ does not mean ‘you think’, but ‘to decide’ means you acted! David sang a song or said a prayer when he decided to wait and so should you and I. We need to tell God we have decided for Him. I pray when I decide, what do you do? The Bible says, “With the mouth you confess God and then believe in your heart.” I decide first and tell God what I have decided, and then and only then I begin to believe. I wait first and hope second. I decide first and express confidence second.

It is time we do what God wants—I choose God! After that, I can have hope and confidence, which God wants to respond too. You want a prayer life that works, then tell God what you have decided first. Wait for God to bring you hope and faith. I am no good to God if I do not decide to wait for Him.

Yes, I wait for the Lord because He is my hope and my future.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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