Thoughts for Life: #2 Walking At God's Pace

~ James Banks- Our time in the crucible taught us a life lesson. Prayer must precede action. We must learn how to walk at God's pace if we desire to truly hear God and discern His best for our lives.

Walking at God's pace does not exclude action. We act on what God gives us and go no further. We pray and we wait, and then we act. This is rarely easy, especially in a crisis when we feel like we have to do something, but we learn to be sensitive to the Spirit and move with God's promptings. (Google image, Prayer walking)

We act on what God gives us and do no more. Then we wait again. This rhythm of praying, waiting, and acting brings a new level of effectiveness to our lives, because we we are staying in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25).

PRAYING IS ACTION

Nehemiah provides a great example of the rhythm of prayer and action in a challenging time. While exiled with the Jewish people in Babylon, Nehemiah hears that the wall of Jerusalem is in ruins. His immediate response is to fast and pray (Nehemiah 1:4). God then gives him direction through the personal interest and response of the Persian King Artaxerxes.

All the while, Nehemiah continues to pray (vv. 4-5). As the rebuilding begins in Jerusalem, he encounters opposition from Israel's enemies. Nehemiah immediately gathers the exiles who have returned with him. What does he want them to do together? Pray (4:8-9).

God then directs them to divide the people into those who will work on the wall and those who will guard the workers (v. 16).

There's the rhythm again: Pray. Wait. Act.

Prayer discovers what action to take.

Action follows prayer.

Prayer and action should never exclude each other. But in the busyness of the world around us, we often live that way and end up living disconnected from our real source of direction and peace.

Let's pray-

Father, an important lesson for us to learn is to pray before we precede in any action we feel must be taken. May we learn to walk with You, in Your pace, so as to not run ahead of how You're directing us.

Though it won't be easy in a crisis to not act quickly in deciding what needs to be done, help us be sensitive to Your Spirit to move with Your promptings. May we wait, after praying, before acting in the way You direct, as we want to handle each challenge with Your Holy Spirit's guidance.

If You could move on the king's heart to assist Nehemiah in the Bible, to provide the supplies for building the temple, it seems likely that You can move on things we're dealing with in a personal response, on our behalf.

We see the rhythm again: Pray. Wait. Act. Praying discovers what action we're to take, and Your directives follow our praying. May we not become so busy that we fail to take the time to spend with You in prayer, and to remain in the pace You've prescribed for us.

We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Bible verses-

James 2:8-9) “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by law as lawbreakers.”

Romans 10-11 "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’"

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Quote for today-

~ Dr. Francis J. Sizer- "Becoming a Christian does not immediately restore us to the image of God. We must be gradually transformed by the renewing of the mind. Salvation then puts us on the road to recovery. Our psychological and personality transformation varies as we walk in the renewing of the mind according to Christ.

Our individual personality will likely remain stable over time since God does not come to destroy our unique person. Personal healing and restoration occur in the process of renewal in Him. (pp. 80, 81 in his book, INTO HIS PRESENCE, How to find the Ultimate Treasure)

Words of wisdom-

~ Have you found that good friends stick together? No matter what happens, they seem to weather life together. Connecting as friends helps us get through the tough times, as we support one another with encouragement and the help needed.

Today's question-

Does everything seem meaningless?

It would seem that way sometimes. According to the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, in the Bible, nothing seemed worthwhile to him, as everything he did turned out to benefit those who were left behind when he died.

Our lives are but a brief "breath", a "vapor." Life is fleeting; it's here, then gone (Ps. 103:14-16). A generation comes, a generation goes. The earth has, and will continue on without us. There's nothing new under the sun. Man has not been able to capture life, though he's tried. He is dissatisfied with all that he has. Death is sure to be waiting each of us, unless Christ comes first, and takes His people home with Him.

How then should we live? Live where you are today! (Paul's secret: Phil. 4:10-13). The secret of life is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Our hope is in the resurrection. (1 Cor. 15:51-52). Those who die, having known Jesus as their Savior, will be raised incorruptible. While living, they're being changed into Christ's image from reading and hearing His Word, the Bible. This prepares them to take on His God-like characteristics, and to be prepared to live eternally with Him upon their death.

You get to live for Christ now, while you live, so live all there, wherever you are!

Upcoming posts

Hard Places In the Way of Faith

5th- Saturday's post by A. S. Simpson

#3 Making Prayer A Priority

8th Tuesday's post by James Banks

#4 Be Specific

10th- Tuesday's post by James Banks

Once Again

12th- Saturday's post by Unknown arthur

The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,

located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,