Me:  I was looking for you, I missed you.

Prodigal: Sorry, I got distracted, and went off on a walk.

Me:  I want to share something with you.

This is from the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster

Isaiah 57:20 says, “The wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.”  The sea does not need to do anything special to produce mire and dirt;  that is the result of its natural motions.  This is also true of us when we are under the condition of sin.  The natural motions of our lives produce mire an dirt.  Sin is part of the internal structure of our lives.  No special effort is needed to produce it.  No wonder we feel trapped.

Our ordinary method of dealing with ingrained sin is to launch a frontal attack.  We rely on our willpower and determination.  Whatever may be the issue for us–anger, fear, bitterness, gluttony, pride, lust, substance abuse—we determine never to do it again;  we pray against it, fight against it, set our will against it.  But the struggle is all in vain, and we find ourselves once again morally bankrupt or, worse yet, so proud of our external righteousness that “whitened sepulchers” is a mild description of our condition.

When we despair of gaining inner transformation through human powers of will and determination, we are open to a wonderful new realization:  inner righteousness is a gift from God to be graciously received.  The needed change within us is God’s work, not ours.  The demand is for an inside job, and only God can work from the inside.  We cannot attain or earn this righteousness of the kingdom of God;  it is a grace that is given.

We must accept the gift of grace.  We must surrender before we can accept.

1 Samuel 17:39-40

David fastened on is sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.  “I cannot go in these.” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.”  So he took them off.  Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: I glad that you could join me today.

Prodigal: We could use some encouragement to begin our day.

This is a video devotion about Proverbs

click here to watch video

Proverbs 4:17

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Looks like you have a busy day.

Prodigal: My calendar is full.

Me: You might want to squeeze in time to read this devotion.

I type in the last couple of letters, and I am finished.  A pink block pops up on my screen.  I have just finished putting another appointment in my Google Calendar.  Google Calendar has been tracking my life for years, and I love the options it gives.  One problem remains with Google Calendar. 

Even though I have told God He can have access to my calendar, He has yet to put on the schedule the date. and times He will answer my prayers. 

Wait a second, you have the same problem?  God has not written in purple ink on your soft rose stationary planner?  God has not typed out in Times New Roman font on your phone calendar? 

What could be going on? 

Acts 1:7 (ESV) 

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 

It is not that God does not love us, or that He does not care.  I use to think that God showing me love meant that He would have a Monday morning meeting to go over my week with me.  We would discuss the plan.  He would say Jennifer, your friend will be healed on Thursday around 4:00pm. Then let’s say Friday that neighbor of yours is saved.  Then you have been praying for that opportunity at work.  How about we schedule that at the first of the month.  I kept waiting for that meeting, but it just didn’t happen. 

I then became confused, upset, feeling I was unloved.  Why did God not answer my prayer, and tell me when?  Why can I not have everything planned out?  

What I learned instead is, that God likes to answer with vague responses that mean we have to lean on Him.  Instead I begin to get an answer that says “wait”.  So, is that a wait for two hours, or is this something more like two weeks?  Then the follow up answer is “wait”.  Are we talking about years?  The answer remains “wait”. 

What I began to figure out, is a lot goes on, in this waiting on the Lord.  I have learned more patience, faith, trust in God.  I have learned that there can be joy in the process of our journey, and not in just what we receive.  It has made me focus more on today, and not so much my calendar of tomorrows.  Who knows may be today will be the answer to a prayer?  Maybe tomorrow will be. 

I believe God cares so much, that he does not want us discouraged in our wait.  Sometimes that takes a while to apply in our lives.  After knowing these truths, we can still get discouraged, then the Lord uses the body of Christ to remind us again. 

We are not alone, and God does have a plan fixed by His authority.  We can trust in that Love.  In the meantime, let’s wait together.  Let’s agree to, keep your calendar, phone, screen open, so that if the Lord chooses, He may pencil in an answered prayer at any time.   

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentile and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

 

Prodigal:  So tell me the plan of the trip again?

Me:  You want to know all the details.

Prodigal:  Yes, I want all the details.

Me:  Sometimes God doesn’t tell you everything and you have to have faith.

 

This is from the book Abraham by Charles Swindoll

 

Think of all that Abraham didn’t have.  No precise destination, no map or GPS, no travel agency, no AAA membership, no insurance, and no written contract promising safety.  He had no security team–and as a wealthy man, he could have easily been robbed.  No hotel accommodations.  No prayer support from home;  everyone he knew worshiped idols.  It was a calling most of us would have extreme difficulty following.  Some wouldn’t even consider it.  If God should command us to go somewhere far from home, we at least want a map.  But God responds, “No, I want to cultivate your faith in Me, so I’m holding back all the details.  You won’t know ahead of time what you’re going to encounter, so you’ll have to stay close to Me.”

Great rewards await if you obey without knowing all the details.  It’s a principle God wants each of His followers to experience.  Learning to trust Him is like making a journey step after step.  Faith builds upon faith.  When we trust, we receive unexpected blessings.  This strengthens our confidence and inspires us to trust God again as we take another step.  It isn’t complicated, but it goes against our nature.  Regrettably, faith is a hypothetical concept for most.  The great majority of people never experience the joys of this faith journey because they won’t take the first step without knowing the precise destination.  But if we know the destination and have all the details, we don’t need faith, and we will never experience its rewards.  (Read that last sentence again.)

 

Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee:  thou saidst, Fear not.

Lamentations 3:57

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Fun activity for a fun day!

Prodigal: I agree, and there is no rain in site.

Below is a video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to see the video

Proverbs 4:16

For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org