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

There is so much I want to happen.  Now!  I want my kids to fall in love with Jesus.  I want Rick and I to be on the same page in life and ministry (or at least the same chapter).  I want my brother to show complete signs of his mind being healed.  I want the songs God gives me to bring people into relationship with Him.  I want our church to stay in the stream of God's Spirit where we see Him working powerfully in our lives and the lives of those we come in contact with.  I want the body of Christ to love each other...sincerely.  I want people to worship God with all they are, whomever they are, wherever they are.

I better stop there, because the list just gets grander.  Anyway, I believe that many of the things on this list will come true.  But unfortunately (or fortunately), there is no formula to create the result.  Sometimes, I don't really accept this reality though, and I force and push and end up just struggling.  Like the Little Engine who CAN'T and NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO without God.  My mind says, "Well, if I spend this much more time on my face before God and that much more time in study and if I pray in this way with that kind of boldness and also seek the right amount of wise counsel, then these things have to happen."  Guess what?  I'm wrong.

You see, we hear sermons and teachings all the time that attempt to give us THE tools to various successes in life, earthly and spiritually.  But God told me something new this past week (new to me anyway).  He said, "If you think you have all the tools, then what do you need Me for?"  Ouch!

Jesus said in John 5:19 that He can do nothing apart from the Father.  We're talking JESUS here...can do NOTHING...apart from the Father.  Well, how much more should that apply to us? A lot!  God also told me, "Melissa, just listen to me."

So now when I have a dream, I'm going to seek God's voice.  When I've been given a promise, I'm going to seek God's voice.  When I'm depressed, I'm going to seek God's voice.  When I am frustrated, I am going to seek God's voice.  When I'm in a hurry, I'm going to seek God's voice.

That means I have to be still and listen.  And that takes strength, real strength!  How ironic.  But that is what that verse above says in Psalm 27.  He knows the best answers, time, reasons, and He knows the future.

I love you, God, really I do,

Melissa