WHAT ARE YOU PRAYING FOR?

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22 NIV)

I used to take my daughters fishing when they were younger.  It was a lot of fun but it was frustrating at times also.  The reason, I didn't get to fish.  No sooner would I get their hooks and bait into the water they would reel it in or need something from me to help them in some manner.  In a way, it's the way a lot of Christians treat their problems - we cast our problems to the Lord and when we don't get any movement on our hook - we reel the prayer request into shore over and over.  Here's the thing... If you want to catch fish - your hook needs to stay in the water.  If you want God to answer your prayer - you need to keep your prayer in His lap and not reel it in when you feel worried or anxious.  What are you praying for today?  What need has you worried and upset?  Your God so wants to bless and answer you in every situation you have.  It might not always be a yes but He will show you what the right answer is today.  "Cast your cares on The Lord and he will sustain you..."  Don't give up on God or His ability to answer your need.  He see's the big picture today and is waiting for the right time to come down on your behalf.  Yes, cast your cares on Him but also leave it with Him for His answer to to be poured into your situation today.

STAND STILL AND WATCH GOD DO THE WORK

“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! (1 Samuel 12:16 NIV)

When Samuel came to the end of his life he spoke to the people of Israel and gave them some advice of the things he had learned throughout his lifetime.  Things like... fear God, obey God first and foremost, don't get distracted by other things, etc.  He also made sure that his heart was clean and that they knew that he had walked with a heart in right standing toward God.  He also encouraged them to not get ahead of God and to just "stand still and see the great thing The Lord was about to do in their lives."  Sometimes our faith needs to be assertive but there are times when we just need to rest in what God is doing and just "stand still" (a very hard thing for all of us to do).  We feel like we need to "do" when all God is asking for us is "to stand still."  Having walked with God my whole life - I now look back and say that too often I have tried to help God out more than I just rested and watched God do the work.  I would encourage you that there is a time and place for both but we need to always remember that you and I aren't God and if He needs our help - He will let us know.  I am a firm believer that God has great things in store for all of us - even if we've messed up in the past. Just stand still today and see what God has in store for you.  God is still always good!