Mountain Tops and Valleys

I was looking at a magazine this week.  A well known author and filmmaker was talking about his success.  He said the big secret to success is that you have to persevere.  I immediately thought that the Christian life is just like that.  We have ups and downs, mountain tops and valleys, good times and hard times, sickness and health, times of plenty and times of need - and through it all we have to persevere!  We can't give up!  We have to keep going and lean into God to get us through whatever time or season we're in.

I think I've experienced all the "times" I listed above in recent years.  I could not have made it without God's grace and strength.  But over and over I had to commit my heart to persevere.  I think that was key to making it.  

It's important to differentiate between striving and persevering.  Striving is done in our own strength - persevering is trusting the Lord to come along beside us and help us make it through.  His grace truly is sufficient when we need it in the tough times.

When it's hard, and I feel like I'm not quite measuring up - perhaps even feeling like I'm a failure - it's important to bring those feelings to the Lord.  He is there to show me the way - to correct me if needed - to encourage me - and to affirm me of His love and care for me in the hard situation.  I couldn't have made it without His loving help.

"Deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love."  Psalm 6:4

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5

"What shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Romans 8:31

"Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 Corinthians 15:57

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."  Psalm 62:8

Someone said to me recently that they were surprised at all the difficult things they were facing.  Things had been good for so long that they never anticipated the hardships that suddenly seemed to engulf them.  Perhaps we can all relate to that in some way.  The "hard things" often surprise us.  But God is with us.  As we choose to persevere, He'll help us in every way that we need.  He's so faithful!

Waiting is Hard

When I've been writing about persevering - I'm reminded that one of the big things about persevering is "waiting."  And waiting, and waiting.  Oh my - waiting can be so hard.  We pray, we expect answers, and often times all we get is waiting.  Persevering involves lots of waiting.  And sometimes (maybe even often times) that waiting goes on for a long time.  There are so many things I've waited for.  I think that's why it was so exciting to me to see some answers to prayer!!

Waiting is not a word we like to hear.  We live in a world of "instant" everything!!  Food, communication, service, shopping - you name it, it's instant.  Waiting is not a popular word.

The Bible is full of waiting:  

- Sarah waited 90 years for a child - even with the promise that she would be the "mother of nations."  

- The children of Israel waiting 40 years in the desert before they entered the Promise Land.  

- Jacob labored and waited 7 years for Rachel - only to be tricked and get her elder sister Leah for his bride.  

- The paralytic waited 38 years by the pool of Bethesda for healing.  

- Joseph waited for 13+ years in prison before becoming Pharaoh's number 2 man - which set him up for reuniting with his brothers.  It was almost 22 years before he saw the fulfillment of the dream God had given him as a young boy.

- It was about 15 years after David was anointed to be king by Samuel before it actually happened.

Hannah waiting for a child.  Ruth waiting with her mother-in-law.  Moses in the desert before being called to lead the Israelites.  Job suffering greatly until God restored his fortunes.  The list goes on and on!  Jesus himself waited 30 years before beginning his earthly ministry.  Waiting actually seems like part of God's plan for many of His people.  And the waiting always paid off!!

When I've prayed, and persevered, and waited - I have to remind myself that God's answers to prayer and the fulfillment of His purposes are often not instant.  He uses the waiting to teach us and refine us.  It's not a wasted time.  We can trust and even rejoice in the waiting.

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"  Psalm 27:14

"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry."  Psalm 40:1  I love this verse because it reminds me that God hears my cries!!

"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."  Lamentations 3:25

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning."  Psalm 130:5,6

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you.  For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are those who wait for Him."  Isaiah 30:18

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope."  Psalm 130:5

"But they who wait for 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

So very many verses about waiting.  I think the Lord knew how hard waiting would be for us, so He put verse after verse about it to encourage us.  On the other side of waiting there are miracles, answers to prayer, fulfillment of promises - but we have to wait!

Choose to Persevere

When going through hard times, we've trusted the Lord and we've built our faith by "remembering when" He's done great things in the past.  But sometimes we simply have to choose to persevere and keep going.  It's not always easy.

I've faced times when I wanted to run away and hide somewhere.  I've wished I could just scream and scream.  The Bible tells us that the Lord won't give us more than we can handle - but I've wanted to argue with the Lord and tell Him He was wrong - it was getting to be too much to handle.

But, in the end, when my emotions and my heart have settled - I'm been able to speak out trust afresh to the Lord!  And I knew He understood the process I went through to get there.  He hasn't promised that everything would be easy.  He hasn't promised perfect health.  He hasn't promised that we'd be rich, or famous, or successful.  But He has promised a lot of other things.

It's good to remember some of those promises:

- He said He'd never leave us.  Matt. 28:20

- He said His love never ceases and His mercies are new every morning.  Lamentations 3:22, 23

- He said that His joy is my strength.  Nehemiah 8:10

- He said He won't give us more than we can handle.  1 Corinthians 10:13

- He said His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in my weakness - I don't have to be strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9

- He said He's working in things to bring good.  Romans 8:28

- He promises rest for the weary.  Matthew 11:28

- He said He'd give us peace.  Isaiah 26:3

- He said He'd instruct us.  Psalm 32:8

- He promised to fight for us.  Exodus 14:14

There's so many more.  The list is endless of how God promises to meet and help us when we choose to persevere.  He won't make us persevere - we have to commit our hearts to that.  But, when we do, He'll help us in countless ways.

"Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:4

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame."  Romans 5:3-5

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him."  James 1:12

Persevering in the midst of trials and suffering is usually hard.  But it's so worth it!  And God is with us each step along the way.

Don't Stop Praying

I can't believe we're already at the end of Jan.  This new year is flying by!

I shared last week about God's wonderful, often miraculous, provision of meeting our needs.  I have been so blessed to get responses from many of how God has met their needs.  He is truly a generous, faithful, caring, loving, giving Father who is mindful of our every need.  He knows every detail of our lives, and provides for us in detail.  How awesome He is!

I was visiting with some friends recently.  We were discussing "big" things we're praying for - and how sometimes we don't see the answers right away.  Sometimes there is a "persistence" that is required in our prayers - for days, weeks, months, years.  An unanswered prayer doesn't mean God hasn't heard or is unconcerned.  His ways and His timing are often, usually even, different to ours.  Our place is to keep lifting those prayers to the throne.  God is listening!!  He is mindful!!

Shortly after our discussion, my friend sent me a song called ‘Don’t Stop Praying’ by Matthew West.  It so ministered to my heart!  Keep praying.  Keep believing.  Amen and amen.

As a sweet confirmation - I was looking for something in a file and came across some notes of prayers I had prayed long ago.  My heart was encouraged to see how many of those prayers had been answered.  Seeing the list - and the results - gave my faith a fresh boost.  I will definitely keep praying for things on my heart now!!  And I'll be watching for the answers from our "prayer answering God!"

"And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him."  1 John 5:14, 15

I've sometimes read that verse and wondered if my prayers are "according to His will."  Well - we know God wants to heal, He wants to draw people to Himself, He wants to provide for us, He wants to help us with the problems of daily life caring for us more than He does the sparrows......so I think our prayers are most likely to be according to His will.  I doubt that we pray selfish prayers!  I also tell the Lord that I know He sees my heart and I trust Him to answer in the best way.

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."  John 15:7

"Pray without ceasing."  1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  Philippians 4:6

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved."  Psalm 55:22

I am so grateful that we serve a prayer answering God.  I could visit with you for hours and hours proclaiming prayers God has answered.  I strengthen my faith by recalling what God has done in the past as I "don't stop praying."

Ten Keys for Casting a Compelling Vision

1. Make sure it is clear in your own mind.   

What is the vision that burns in your heart in 25 words or less. If you need hundreds of words to summarize it, it's not compelling.

2. What did God say?   

Share the story of your spiritual journey and the amazing “co-incidences” that convince you that the vision is from God, how it gripped your heart, that it's something you are willing to give your life to.

3. Share it with change agents first.  

 Win key decision makers over, before you go public. Follow the appropriate process and protocol to have the vision approved. Meet with them one-on-one and inspire them with the vision that grips your heart.

4. Paint a compelling picture.   

Stir the hearts and minds of people to mobilize them to work together to bring about the vision. Vision precedes reality. Visionaries stir people to action by creating a picture in their minds of what can happen. Share the opportunities more than the needs. Build with inspiration, not shame or guilt. Inspire people with what will happen when the vision is accomplished. If you want to build a ship, describe the ocean you will sail on more than the wood you will build with!

5. Share your vision consistently.   

Changing from one vision to another creates confusion and lack of credibility where trust is quickly lost. Stick to your vision and share it everywhere and with everyone!

6. Proclaim the vision as widely as possible.   

The vision should be given visibility. Cast it from the platform, in newsletters, via video, on audio tape. Use slogans, banners and brochures. Drive it home to your staff, board, friends, family, leaders, and supporters.

7. Share your vision over and over again.    

Sharing vision takes time, effort and sacrifice. It requires planning and effort, with continuity and repetition. It must gain trust through consistency and perseverance. It must be perceived as more than a pipe dream. It takes ruthless determination, unswerving dedication, relentless tenacity, and honest evaluation. Repeat the vision every time you meet. Never presume that people remember why they are working so hard and meeting so much.

8. Connect from the heart.   

Share from your heart what motivates you. Be personal. Let people know how you feel about the vision, and their part in it. Find out what motivates them, and what they dream about. Find out what makes them tick, their concerns, their fears. Express your need for them – and tell them why.

9. Tell your vision passionately.  

 If you are not excited and committed, will others be? Share the stories of how people are buying in to the vision and how they are making it happen in their lives. Story, story, story!

10. Build a team that owns the vision.   

Share ownership with others. Speak of “our” vision and what “we” are doing. Delegate important responsibilities to key people, but make sure they understand the values the vision is built on. Ask their input, listen to their criticism, start where they are, evaluate frequently and go together toward the goal. Have ideals but avoid idealism. Start where people are at. Encourage their hearts and listen to them in order to work a 'fit' that gives them a share in what is being built.