Pondered Answers

Pondered Answers

Acts 10: ¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

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“LORD, am I serving YOU well?” were words I asked after a sermon. Months prior, a preacher had preached on serving GOD so HE can say “Well done MY good and faithful servant.” Not too long after my pondering, a preacher asked another question. “Will you come with me on a trip to a country in Africa to tell people about CHRIST?” “Hold on now, that answer came too quickly.”

• There have been times when I pondered what GOD wants from me and HE gave me an answer I was not ready for.
• There have been times when I asked GOD “What is the purpose?” but when HE shows me the purpose, I question if I am really hearing from HIM.
• There have been times when I wondered if GOD hears me but when HE asks me to do something out of the ordinary, I make excuses or doubt what HE said.

Peter pondered the vision GOD gave him. He could not grasp its meaning. Why would GOD make Peter go against the rules by making him eat unclean, common animals and bugs?

GOD answered Peter, “I made them clean and what I make clean, do not call common.” As Peter thought about the vision, people who he considered “unclean” asked for him. GOD said “Go with them and do not doubt.”

• GOD speaks to me daily.
• GOD wants me to speak about JESUS daily.
• GOD wants me to act on what HE tells me without doubting.

Getting back to the question posed to me about serving in a country in Africa. I nervously said “Okay, I’ll go.” I did not know what to expect. GOD blessed me with the opportunity to speak to many people about JESUS and they believed, even though I was not a preacher.

I simply told the people JESUS saved me. I no longer had to drink and chase sex and parties, leaving my life empty. They believed. This opened my eyes to GOD’s purpose. I am grateful GOD wants to use a sinner like me.

• Is GOD calling you to do something?
• Are you making excuses for what GOD is calling you to do, yet asking “What is GOD’s purpose for you?
• Will you accept GOD’s purpose and seek the lost HE sends you to today?

The Health of Being Amazed

Psalm 8: ¹ Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
² Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
³ When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?

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Each day I wake up with a choice. Do I see GOD as the answer or the problem? I mean when I wake up worried, grumpy or scared I may have already made my choice. How can I see things different?

• GOD wants me to ponder HIS title “GOD” which is above any person, situation or thought.
• GOD wants me to ponder HIS location which is everywhere, even in the furthest regions of space.
• GOD wants me to ponder HIS plan that is accepted by optimistic children not pessimistic, failed, faithless, foes.
• GOD wants me to ponder HIS work where the same GOD who ignited the sun fashioned me just the way HE wanted me to be.

Doubt, fear, greed, lust, anger, slander and envy are all enemies of GOD. I can choose to side with these enemies and fall into a great deal of health issues. Whether physical, emotional, mental or spiritual, the consequences are dire. By pondering who, what, where and when GOD is I become amazed. In my amazement, I can actually here HIM versus when I am complaining about HIM.

HE is amazing. HE is stronger than any situation I put myself in. HE is everywhere I would run. HE has already won the battle even when I fail. HE is always forgiving, always loving to me.

• What have you decided today?
• Have you decided to see GOD as the problem or the solution?
• Will you open your mouth and thank HIM for where HE has you?
• Can you ponder and praise GOD today?

Taking Time to Ponder

Job 25: ² “Dominion and awe belong to God;
    he establishes order in the heights of heaven.
³ Can his forces be numbered?
    On whom does his light not rise?

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Sitting on my couch “worried” I wondered if I passed my final exam. Sitting in my apartment “worried” I wondered if I got the job. Sitting in my apartment “worried” I wondered if I got another job to move back. Sitting in my house “worried” I wondered if I could ever please this boss or the next one or those to follow.  Wow, I spent a lot of time worrying!

• Worrying takes me away from peace.
• Worrying distracts me so much that I cannot see blessings.
• Worrying puts me in a ball and I cannot move forward on anything.

It’s quite amazing how distracting worry is. I mean when I try to stop worrying. I worry that I’m worrying too much! What should I do?

• GOD said “Do not worry, do not be afraid.”
• GOD said “I will be with you always.”
• GOD said “Tell them I AM.”

I had to quiet my mind from all the worry and look at who GOD is. As I stared out the window I saw a deer slowly tromp into my yard, then another, then another. Soon several deer were standing there; one began kicking up the snow and sat down. I kept looking and seven or eight were sitting. I was amazed at the sight. Then I realized, if I could just slow down and look I could see GOD every day.

Slowing down helps me see and hear GOD. HE shows HIMSELF to me daily.

• Are you looking for GOD?
• Do you think HE is far away from you right now?
• Can you look around and see HIM where you are right now?
• Can you ponder the intricacies of how HE made you and your surroundings and the heavens above?
• Won’t you add “awe” back into your relationship with GOD?