Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Waiting is hard 

Waiting is not one of my strengths. Do you like to wait in line or in a traffic jam? I don’t. In fact, I can honestly say I feel like a caged cat. I tend to look for a way out. I’ve had strange thoughts like going off-roading in order to pass the traffic or going in the carpool lane, even though I don’t have a passenger with me. It’s like a war inside my mind and emotions. 

I don’t know why I get so impatient. I get impatient in the grocery store. I know it’s a character flaw. I’ve tried to combat my impatience with a song, looking at my cell phone, or reading a magazine in the store lines. Traffic jams are a little tougher. I even get impatient when I wait on God to answer my prayer or to change the circumstances of my life. 

Do you ever get impatient with God? The Bible says, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;” (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV). 

Another Bible promise helps me refocus on God, take a deep breath, and believe Him to come through right on time: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV) It promises that if we really wait on God, we shall renew our strength. Wow! I need that. We shall mount up with wings as eagles. I need that, too. We shall run and not grow weary; we shall walk and not faint. I need ALL of those promises. 

Four benefits of waiting on God can surely be ours daily. So can we sing the song by Bill and Gloria Gaither as many of us did in Sunday school?: 

“Teach me, Lord, to wait down on my knees,Till in Your own good time, You answer my pleas,Teach me not to rely on what others do,But to wait in prayer for an answer from You.” 

May God grant you the patience to wait, and may God renew your vision, strength, and determination. I’m praying for you right now because you are a miracle. 

Scriptures: Isaiah 55:8, Psalms 40:1-2

Jesus hears your cry

Prayer can be the most incredible opportunity or the most frustrating activity of our lives. The biggest difference between the two is our ability to wait. Prayer can help you conquer every delay and obstacle if you use it as a weapon. Do you have the ability to wait on God?

A good friend of mine, also named Paul, once told me these wise words: “Hey, Paul Marc, I’ve given God a new name.” I fell for the bait and asked, “What is it?” My friend replied, “Jehovah in the nick of time.” Although he was just kidding me, the point was well-taken. God’s timing is not my timing. Isaiah tells us, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV)

Psalm 40:1-2 tells us the story of King David when he had fallen into another tough situation: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.” (Psalms 40:1-2, NKJV) David waited on God in prayer, and God answered him. He rescued him and pulled him out of depression.

Are you struggling with an insurmountable situation? Are you overwhelmed by confusion and despair? Cry out to God and wait for the answer; wait for His help. He hears your cry and will respond in His perfect timing. 

I’ll never forget the summer God answered me in the nick of time. Our school was just a few years old when the administration told me some challenging news. They were $100,000 short to get through the summer months. We prayed with all of our hearts, but there was still no supernatural supply. So I told our whole church about the problem one Sunday, and somebody placed a $100,000 dollar check in the offering that day. We didn’t know this lady and weren’t sure if the check would clear, but it did. God rescued our school in one day.

What is your biggest obstacle right now? Waiting on God is not a passive exercise of futility—it is an act of war and an alliance with God. He will hear your cry. We love you, and you’re a miracle.

Scriptures: Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 22:24, Proverbs 29:22

The gun pointed at my face 

Last year, I told you the story of a client who pointed a gun at my face and described the damage it would do to my brain. Many people would have responded in fear or shock. Some would have fallen apart or been very angry to be threatened. Thankfully, I didn’t. The Bible says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, NIV) 

Every day, you and I will face trials and tribulations. Maybe not as extreme as a revolver pointed at your head but maybe worse. Have you ever had your life threatened? Have you ever been bullied? 

I’d like to remind you what I did that day to win the war over the threat and my emotions. As he pointed the gun at my head, I remember staying completely calm. I lowered my voice and gently said, “Wow, that’s a beautiful gun. Can I see it?” Then I waited patiently for a few moments. Surprisingly, he reached with his left hand, grabbed the barrel, and gave it to me. It was heavy, a 357 Magnum. I’d never held a handgun before that day. It was scary. I then said, “This is beautiful. Can I see the bag as well?” He handed it over to me, and I thanked him. It was also very heavy. It contained loaded clips of bullets. He could’ve killed the entire staff. I realize now that our lives were saved that day by a great God and a gentle answer. 

Your answer can either compound a problem or squash it. If you’re an angry person, you may be tempted to react. If your heart is full of frustrations, you may cause more problems than you solve. Proverbs tells us, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered” (Proverbs 22:24, NIV), and another Proverbs warns us, “An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.” (Proverbs 29:22, NIV) I used to have a wicked temper until I forgave my dad and received healing from God. 

Your answers will come from your heart, so make sure it’s healed. Make sure you defuse your temper before it explodes in your face. Because you’re a miracle. 

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Don’t be so hurried 

Have you ever made a mistake because you were in a hurry? I’ve often been guilty of this. I missed the opportunity and lost the battle every time. I had to learn the secret of slowing down, smelling the roses, taking a deep breath, and asking God for help. 

An old Sunday school song played in my head today while I stood in line at a car rental. Written by Frank Hernandez, its lyrics are classic: 

“Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry,When you get impatient, you only start to worry,Remember, remember that God is patient, too,And think of all the times when others have to wait for you.”

Do you ever find yourself in a hurry? If you live in the United States of America, being in a hurry is a disease, and if you live in Los Angeles, it’s an epidemic. But if you head to the Bahamas or another tropical destination, the pace of life is much slower. Not long ago, I spent a lot of time in a small mountain community to pray and rest. Wow! The pace of life is so slow that it can get annoying. 

The Bible says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such, there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, RSV)

The impatience I’m feeling now is not just cultural—it’s unspiritual. In fact, I decided to write this instead of losing my patience. When I’m alone waiting at a restaurant, I always bring a notepad or iPad to send texts, write notes, or jot down a list of things to do. I often say this prayer: “Holy Spirit, please help me not waste my waiting moments. Please help me accomplish something for Your kingdom. I choose to be productive. I choose to tap into the Spirit. Amen.” 

What will you choose today? Depending on the Spirit or losing your patience? I encourage you to take moments of waiting and turn them into times with God, yourself, and His Spirit. You’ll never be in a hurry again.

Because you’re a miracle.

Scriptures: Mark 4:38-39, 1 Peter 3:10-11, Ephesians 6:12

Seek peace and win the war

Peace seems to be one of the most elusive commodities of all when considering the worldwide pandemic and society’s response to it. Whether it’s the riots, COVID-19, governmental mandates, or shutdowns, the world seems to be unraveling. It’s difficult to find peace in these storms.

Are you having trouble finding peace in these storms? I have to admit I’ve struggled as well. It reminds me of the passage in the Bible that describes a horrible storm on the Sea of Galilee. Several disciples were experienced fishermen, but all of them were overcome with fear. They had no peace. But Jesus was sleeping in the midst of that storm. He had total peace. What was the difference? Faith! “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’” (Mark 4:38, NIV)

The disciples accused Jesus of not caring because He was at peace and they were freaking out. Many people in crisis are blaming God. It’s a common human trait to blame God for things that we can’t control. To tell you the truth, internal control is the secret to managing things we can’t control. 

Peter tells us, “For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:10-11, NIV) 

Peace is so elusive that we need to pursue it. The only way to find internal peace is to look to God. So many things in life we cannot control. Storms come, conflicts come, but Jesus can step in and calm our storms. “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39, NKJV)

Please notice that God is the only one who can calm all the storms of life. I’m convinced that finding peace will help you win the war of life. Paul the Apostle said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV)

I’m praying you’ll hand over every circumstance to God and trust Him. May you find peace in spite of the instability of our world because Jesus is still Lord. You are a miracle.

Scriptures: Acts 1:12, Matthew 7:24

A Sabbath day’s journey

The Sabbath principle will help you find peace in every situation. It will set you up for a life of peace in spite of battles and turmoil. The Sabbath is a truth established by God for your life. It is not only one of the Ten Commandments—it’s a foundation for peace and health. A commitment to a balanced life of work, exercise, nutrition, God, relationships, and rest will set your life up for long-term success and happiness. 

The Jewish people were so committed to the practice of the sabbath that it became part of their lifestyle. All of their lives were built upon God, hard work, family, the Torah, and the Sabbath. In fact, Luke writes, “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.” (Acts 1:12, NIV) 

After thousands of hours of counseling and life coaching, I discovered that everyone’s lifestyles will be built on a few central themes: it could be money, success, health, looks, style, friends, family, sex, art, junk, God, or something else. Everyone on this Earth has free will, a brain, a body, emotions, and a spirit. We will use these unique privileges, intellect, and gifts to build our life stories on central foundations. Jesus warned us, “‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.’” (Matthew 7:24, NIV) 

What’s your rock? What are the foundations of your daily choices, thoughts, and emotions? What are you really trying to accomplish with your life? 

The Sabbath commandment became such a foundational concept to the Jewish people that they even had a distance defined by the Sabbath. They called it a “Sabbath day’s journey.” Could your whole life journey become a Sabbath journey? 

I pray your life choices will help you build a new life journey. May it be full of rest, peace, hard work, friends, family, and health. May God help you by His Spirit to design a new life journey that will bring you to new destinations. May your choices and priorities be wise and Spirit-led because you are a miracle. 

Scriptures: John 14:27, 2 Corinthians 5:19-20

The peace of God

Is there a peace far beyond what you have ever experienced? Could there be a peace that could take you through your toughest trials? 

You cannot control everything that happens to you, but you can control your responses. Jesus revealed this secret to His disciples before His betrayal and murder: “‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’” (John 14:27, NIV) There is a secret power that can help us overcome every trial and tribulation—the peace of Christ. 

I had no peace before Christ filled my life with His Spirit. Hurt, anger, bitterness, and rejection dominated my life. I can vividly remember my lack of peace. I wasn’t at peace with God, myself, or others. I needed reconciliation badly. Paul spoke to the Corinthians about their number one need: “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20, NIV) Paul spoke about the message of reconciliation. Why would he tell Christians to be reconciled? 

Reconciliation means to bring peace to parties at war. Peace with God, self, and others has been my driving force for over 24 years. Are you at peace with God, yourself, and others? You can be. I found this peace and developed it. As a new believer, I attended a university Bible study where we would often sing, “I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river.” Although I didn’t have the peace of Christ at the time, I knew I had to find it. 

I hope a healthy faith will help you find that peace. 

You can find peace and keep it. It will take time and a few tools, but I believe Jesus wants to fill your heart supernaturally with His peace. I pray that Jesus will give you His peace and that the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will guide you through these challenging days. I believe the peace of Christ will help you through every storm because you are a miracle.