Calming the Storm | Miracle of Jesus Christ

Have you ever been in a situation where it felt like there was no way out? Maybe you were facing something so overwhelming it felt like you would not make it? Was there ever a time when you felt like if God did not intervene you would lose everything?

When we think of the miracles of Jesus Christ we may think of how He healed lepers, opened blind eyes and deaf ears. Those are actual miracles Jesus performed. These historical accounts serve to deepen our faith and remind us that God loves us and wants to help us. While those miraculous events are encouraging, sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we need God to move quickly and that is what we will see today as we read from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. As we read what happened in a life-threatening situation long ago, we can hold onto faith knowing Jesus is still able to meet our needs rapidly today.

Matthew 8:23 And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him.

The first thing Matthew tells us is that Jesus boarded a ship and the disciples followed Him. These are men in relationship with Jesus. He talks with them. He has performed miracles in their presence. They know and trust Jesus. Do you? Have you spent time with the Master? Are you familiar with Jesus? If He went onto a ship, do you trust Him enough to follow Him? Would you first want to ask some questions about the destination or perhaps the weather conditions? Would you need some time to think about whether or not you should go? The disciples followed Jesus without questioning Him. 

Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.

Things were going well at first. Jesus lays down to rest. Have you ever been on a boat and the waves begin to rock the boat and the sun is warm against your skin, and then a cool breeze blows out across the water? Recently my family took my mom and my sister's family out on the water. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed our time together. My son fell asleep and my brother-in-law stated he was so relaxed he could take a nap, too! 

The disciples had no idea everything was about to change! A storm comes up quickly and the waves start crashing against the sides of the boat, and then the waves get bigger and they are getting soaked. The Bible says in Matthew's account that the ship was covered with waves. I can imagine that would be terrifying and anyone who may have dozed off was no longer sleeping! Except, it says that Jesus was asleep! The storm did not move Jesus. He was not concerned about the waves or how threatening the situation had turned. He is asleep!

Sometimes we may feel like we have been blindsided. Maybe a diagnosis or a loss of some sort has taken us by surprise and it seems like our only hope is not around. Maybe we feel overwhelmed and attacked on every side. Where is Jesus when the storms of life rage around us? He may be near but it feels like you are fighting this battle all alone.

Matthew 8:25 And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

The disciples went to Jesus. Have you gone to Him? In their desperation they beg for Jesus to save them. They feel as though they will die. They want Jesus to calm their nerves, to put their minds at ease, and to fix it. Do you want that? Are you in a place where you are running to Jesus to save you because you think you are not going to make it? It is not wrong to do that. We must turn to our Savior and ask Him to get us through these circumstances, but we have to want more than a life preserver from Jesus. We need to know that Jesus can solve any problem we have, but when we are asking, do we believe that He can change things, or do we just hope so?

Matthew 8:26 And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 

Notice that Jesus speaks to the disciples before He speaks to the wind and sea. He asks the men why they are afraid and why they have so little faith. You see, He has done miraculous things in front of these disciples. They know the power that He has but they ran to Him in fear instead of asking from a place of faith. It is sometimes very difficult to remember that Jesus wants to help us. We are safe just because He is with us. Keep in mind, Jesus does not reject the disciples because they asked in fear, but rather once again displays His power right before their eyes. He commands the situation to be still and immediately it is calm. Jesus did not calm the disciples, He changed the circumstances. 

Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!

The disciples are surprised that Jesus answered their prayers. They are safe. They are with the Peace Speaker and everything is okay. Now they see Jesus in a different way. They are in awe that Jesus has power over nature. There is no limit to what He can do.

Mark's account is quite similar to Matthew, but let's see what Mark's experience was.

Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

The disciples are with Jesus in the evening and Jesus suggests they cross over to the other side of the sea.

Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.

So Jesus and the disciples sent the multitude away after Jesus had been teaching them, There were other little ships near where people were most likely boarded to listen to Jesus speak. Jesus and His disciples are all on the same ship at this point in the evening.

Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so it was now full.

Mark shares that a terrible storm came upon them and the ship they were in was filling up with water as the waves are beating into the vessel they are in. The water is high enough to splash over into the ship. This is no small matter. They are in danger of losing their life if something is not done.

Mark 4:38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish?

Did you catch that? Mark says Jesus is laying on a pillow! He is good and comfortable. Jesus is in the stern of the ship sleeping while they are scared out of their minds! They wake Jesus and ask Him if He even cares that they are about to die. Have you ever asked something similar? I know I have. I have felt like Jesus was not concerned about how bad things were in my life and in my health especially. I wondered if He had forgotten me. We all can face circumstances that feel so overwhelming and heavy that it can feel like we are left to fight the winds and the sea alone while Jesus is safe and comfortable somewhere else.

Mark 4:39 And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

In Mark's account, Jesus got up and told the wind and the sea to be still and there was a great calm. It wasn't just an absence of stormy conditions, but there was a big change in the atmosphere. Have you ever been in a situation where God came on the scene and it was instant peace? I know I have and there is nothing like experiencing the power of God in that way.

Mark 4:40 And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Jesus calmed the storm and then addresses the disciples and asks them why they were afraid and how is it they have no faith. Of course Jesus understands that the storm and the waves crashing overboard is a scary situation. He knows the humanity of the men that are with Him. He is not telling them they are wrong for being afraid of the storm. He is reminding them there is no reason to fear anyone or anything when they have their confidence in Him.

Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

The men who witnessed the power of Jesus were in awe that He had authority to do more than the healing miracles they saw with their own eyes. They had never encountered anyone with the ability to command the wind and sea to obey. Jesus does not condemn the disciples for being fearful and lacking faith, but rather challenges them to think differently about who He is and what He can do. It is almost as if He is saying, "Guys, you are with Me so there is nothing to be afraid of. Simply believe in Me."

We have heard from Matthew and Mark, now let's turn our attention to the book of Luke. The physician takes four verses to discuss what happened that day on the lake.

Luke 8:22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He went into a ship with His disciples: and He said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

Again we see, as in the other Gospels, Jesus is with His disciples and wants them to go with Him to the other side of the lake, and so they did. I think this is very important to highlight that it is Jesus's idea to take this boat trip across the water. Could it be to show the disciples, and ultimately all of us, another side of Jesus we have not encountered yet?

Luke 8:23 But as they sailed He fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

Luke states that as they sail along Jesus falls asleep. Again, not an unusual experience. Jesus may have been exhausted after ministering to the multitudes for so long and now He is resting before they go to the other shore and He begins to minister again. Luke's account says that as the weather changed they were in jeopardy. This is not just a scary moment because of the high winds and choppy water, but the ship is taking on water and Luke lets us know their lives are at stake.

Luke 8:24 And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Again, we see the disciples turn to Jesus. Something about Him makes the disciples run to Him to save them and help them. If Jesus was just an ordinary man, would they have ran to Him to save them? It is doubtful. Why are they not looking to one another for help. Instead, they run to Jesus. It is important not to gloss over that fact. We Christians know that Jesus is our hope and our answer, but the disciples do not have the New Testament to read. They are living this out and it is important to note that they expected Jesus to do something to help them.

Jesus gets up and rebukes the wind and the "raging of the water." It is important for Luke to describe the situation. There was a violence to this storm. It was not just a rain shower. There was a real threat felt by all the men aboard the ship. Luke says they call on Jesus and state, "We perish." This is a different perspective than Matthew or Mark had. Luke remembers the encounter as they were in danger of dying and so they addressed Jesus with that news. Luke says that when Jesus rebuked the storm, the raging ceased and there was a calm.

Jesus will take the chaos and the raging of spiritual storms in our own lives and will rebuke them, leaving us with a peace and a calm that can only happen with His authority. We must not think we are alone to fight these rough battles, because Jesus is with us and we do not have to be afraid.

Luke 8:25 And He said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for He commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey Him.

We should note that Luke only quotes Jesus asking where is their faith. He does not mention that Jesus asked why they are afraid. Perhaps this stuck out more to Luke that Jesus is questioning their faith. Jesus could have said a lot of things to them. He could have bragged about His ability to calm the wind and sea, but He did not do that. He gently asks them where their faith is. He was teaching them to put their trust in Him. He is teaching us that today as we look at these passages.

What battle are you in? Do you feel like you are facing some storms that came on suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere? Did you find yourself following Jesus and doing what He asked of you and yet this raging, angry storm appeared knocking you off your feet and you feel as though you are in jeopardy? Friends, don't be discouraged. That same Jesus who calmed their storm and removed their fear, is the same Jesus who is offering you the same solution. He wants to be your storm chaser. He will provide peace and calm to the chaos that threatens to destroy you. Where is your trust? Where is your hope? Where is your faith? Let it be found in the Peace Speaker, the Master of the Wind and the Tamer of the Sea.

I have enjoyed looking at these miracles of Jesus Christ with you all. It is so rewarding and enriching for me to dig deeper into the Scriptures and reflect on what Jesus did when His disciples felt as though they were going to drown. It reminds me that He is not going to let me go under either. I pray that you are encouraged today and that this has given you strength for your journey and light for your way.

God bless you!

Bridgett Owens

Psalm 31 | Bible Study Wednesday

Welcome back to Bible Study Wednesday! This year God has pressed upon my heart to study the book of Psalms. Each Wednesday we take a closer look at a new chapter. Today we are going to chapter 31. If you have not done so, please take the time to read through these 24 verses. I will be sharing some thoughts about today's passage and break down this chapter below. Please pray and ask Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes and ears to receive everything He has to teach you in today's passage. Let's begin!

Verses 1-6

David writes this psalm to God as he has done many times before. He starts by telling God he trusts Him. Do we tell God how much we trust Him? My family and I are in a really hard journey. We believe it is nearing the end. We sure hope so! I am telling God that even though I don't understand the process or His methods, I still trust Him. David asks for God to listen to his requests. He tells God he needs Him to be his Rock and fortress. He needs direction/guidance. He feels as though he is in a trap set by the enemy and He calls on God to deliver him because God is his strength. He makes a statement in verse five that we see again in the New Testament out of the mouth of Jesus. LUKE 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost. 

Jesus took His last breath to say this. Why would David say this? He is crying out for deliverance based on God's faithfulness. He knows how God has been there before and has no doubt He will hear and answer David's pleas. Jesus and David have this in common: their great faith in God's guidance over their lives. We see time and again Jesus praying to the Father for help and guidance and assurance. David has done the same thing throughout the Psalms and ends this block of text repeating how much he trusts God.

Verses 7-15

David reflects on how God has seen him through before when he was in trouble. Instead of allowing David to be handed over to his enemies, God put him in a large space which indicates freedom of movement, ability to roam freely, and it is not the trap of the enemy that he feels like he is now. Even though he trusts God, he is still in distress, so he asks for mercy. His body is feeling the grief and turmoil. He is under great stress and emotionally he is not well. He feels the effects of a lifetime of hardships, battles, and fighting. He felt isolated, alone, even from those he was acquainted with. He felt forgotten, and useless, like a broken vessel. Have you ever been there? Yesterday was that day for me. It was torment and pain in the depths of my soul but my anchor is Jesus and I hung on with all the strength I could muster.

David felt like he was surrounded by enemies. He could hear those slander and gossip about him. He felt fear on every side. They took counsel about David and chose death for him. I have felt the sting of harsh words and gossip. I have heard a family member say some pretty hurtful, untrue things about my family and myself and it felt like we had no one but each other. We felt abandoned and there was fear and torment in that moment. Do you know who else experienced this? It was worse than what I felt. It was worse than what David went through. Let's look in the New Testament. MATTHEW 27:1-2 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death: And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. We will never understand that kind of fear, turmoil, and stress as knowing you are walking to your death. Jesus knew it. He knew He had to be crucified for the people. He knew His Father's Plan.

I love the way David says it in verses 14 and 15. "But I trusted in Thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in Thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." David reiterates that even though he sees the circumstances for what they are: evil, he still maintains his trust in God.

Verses 16-22

David wants God's face to shine upon him and be merciful to him. He wants to not be put to shame for trusting God. In fact, he wants those who do not trust God to be ashamed. He asks for them to be silenced from speaking ill toward the children of God. He is encouraged when he thinks of God's goodness. David says, "Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; and those that trust You." (verse 19) We have put our trust in God so we can count on Him to show up in love and mercy and shower His goodness upon us. We are not alone. He hides us and shields us from the mouth of the enemy. David thought he was as good as dead, but he now sees God heard his prayers and came to his rescue! He will do the same for us.

Verses 23-24

David ends this beautiful chapter with instructions for us. Let's read it together:

"O love the LORD, all ye His saints; for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer." In other words, God will save and keep us who are faithful to Him. He will also give a generous reward to the proud doer, but their reward is nothing His children would ever want. We do not want to be prideful and arrogant. They will receive their reward in the end for disobeying God and not trusting Him.

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." My situation did not change today from yesterday, but my sister prayed for me. My friend prayed for me and I do not know who all prayed but I can say that today I feel so much better. I have peace where I had fear. I have hope when I had despair. I am trusting God no matter how bleak things look right now. I know God is going to see our family through this adversity and we will come out stronger for it and hopefully will be able to encourage others in their times of waiting and wondering.

Friends, I started a new job and it has been a varied schedule of training and learning and working on my own, so I hope to have a better routine to get these blog posts up earlier. In the meantime, I will do my best to post as often as I can. I hope you have been encouraged and helped. I sure feel like God was telling me that He sees me in my pain and my struggling and He is not far off looking down at me, but He is near to me and walking through this valley with not only me and my family, but any of you who are experiencing trials and tribulations as well. Let's pray for one another.

God bless you friends.

~Bridgett Owens

Show Up Anyway | Fuel For The Weekend

Each Friday God wants me to share my faith in such a way that it causes you to think, ponder, consider, and reflect on all weekend long. My desire is that each Fuel For The Weekend post is so thought-provoking that you begin a dialogue with your family and friends and discuss the ideas further. I may never know on this side of heaven if I am making a difference in anyone else's lives, but these blog posts strengthen me, stretch me, and encourage me to keep going in this race.

A friend asked me to do something for them recently. At first, I hesitated. I have not been feeling the best and did not want to do it, but I did not say no. I thought about it and was just not sure how to politely decline. I did not have any good reason not to do what was asked of me. So, I finally said I would do it. I was fasting at the time and that really takes a lot out of me physically. It is really draining and I already was not feeling well. I knew agreeing to do what was asked of me would be a good thing to do, but I did not fully understand the impact I would make.

I was able to minister to my friend, share about something deeply personal, and watch as tears filled their eyes. They found hope again and a different perspective than they had before. Sometimes it helps when someone who has walked in your shoes before gives you a glimpse of how your story could end.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-7 (1)Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: (2)Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (3)Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (4)Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (5)For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (6)And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (7)And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

Paul, Javan, and I went out to look at some land. We thought it might be a good option for us and we were full of hope and excitement. We saw the property and it was nothing like we saw in the photos online. It was a disaster and even though our hopes were dashed for that particular property, we knew it was a definite "No" from God. That is encouraging because we got our answer immediately. We continue to believe there is something coming for us very soon. Until God answers, we will keep trusting and hoping.

PSALM 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

PSALM 71:5 For Thou art my hope, O LORD God, Thou art my trust from my youth.

What do you plan to do this weekend? Who do you hope to bless? Whose situation can you speak life into? What encouragement can you give? Have you asked God to make plans for you this weekend? It is Mother's Day weekend. Some have lost their mothers, others are estranged, and some have toxic relationships with their mother. Not everyone has a Hallmark experience and I understand that. I hope that you will celebrate this weekend, thankful for a good mother, or a good mother figure, in your life. Was there a neighbor, friend, grandparent, or elder at your church you looked up to? If you are a mother, I want to wish you a very happy Mother's Day. Some have wayward sons and daughters. This Sunday may be hard for a lot of mothers who mourn their children in one way or another. I pray that God allows you to feel honored and loved like you deserve. Remember Jesus loves you so much. He will be your anchor, strength, refuge, Mighty Fortress to run to when times are overwhelming and hard. Don't miss the chance to bless someone else this weekend. You never know when your words can speak life into a dead situation and cause someone to hold a little tighter to God's unchanging hand.

EPHESIANS 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 13 | Bible Study Wednesday

We are in the book of Psalms all year. We have studied 12 psalms so far. Today we turn our attention to chapter 13. If you have not done so, I encourage you to take a few moments to pray and ask Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes and ears to what He would have you to know. Read through the text and then with your Bible remaining open, come back to this post and we will study it together.

David has written many of the psalms, and this is yet another one that he penned. In six short verses he goes from being distraught and sorrowful to trusting and singing to God. What happens in verses three and four that change David's song? Let's find out.

Verses 1-2

David spends both verses asking God questions. "How long will You forget me, O LORD? Forever? How long will you hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?" Those are some big questions. David is desperate for answers. Have you ever been there? Are you there now?

David feels a distance between himself and God. He feels like God has forgotten about him. We read later in Psalm 27:8 David says, "When You said, Seek My face; my heart said unto You, Your face, LORD, I will seek." We see this happening here in verse one, David is seeking God's face and he feels like there is something in the way where he cannot press in like he wants to. The fellowship he has with God feels strained and he just wants to know how long this will last. 

In the margin of my Bible I wrote this on October 3, 2021, "I relate to 'how long'? waiting on our house." You see, Thanksgiving Day, November 2020 God told my husband and me to move back to Indiana and that He had a beautiful home for us there. We were living in Alabama at the time. We received further instruction to move before the end of the year and everything fell into place so quickly and smooth that we knew it was God's provision. We left our wonderful home in the Gulf of Mexico on my daughter's birthday, December 27, 2020. So when I wrote that statement it had been almost one full year since God made us that promise and each time we tried to rent or purchase a home of our own, the doors were slammed in our face month after month. I was weary of waiting. April 27 will be 16 months since we moved back. We were in Alabama for 16 months so I am hoping that something breaks for us soon because it is a challenge to live with other people for so long when you have your own family and you just want your own life back. I have more determination now but the waiting is hard. I try to remind myself we are much closer now than when we moved back. God never promised the home would be available as soon as we got back to Indiana, but we certainly hoped it would be that way. What are you waiting for God to do that feels so long?

David is saying in these first two verses that he is seeking God's face. He is not necessarily asking for God to do something for him, but he longs to be in fellowship with God. He wants that connection he felt before. As we went from month to month, we were seeking God's hands for a home, and now we are seeking God's will and His fellowship. We know He has not forgotten us, like He had not forgotten David. Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. What a beautiful promise!

Verse 3-4

David says, "Consider and hear me O LORD my God." This is personal. He wants God to think about him. In other words, he is asking God to concern Himself with David; to give careful thought to him and his situation. Is that not our prayer as well? Lord God remember me. He asks God to allow him to see His face again. He is asking for life from the Life Giver. Life is not worth living if we do not have close communion with God.

In verse four he says he wants God to vindicate him and protect him so his enemies will not be able to mock him and taunt him while he is down. He does not want them to celebrate his failures. None of us want the world to see us fail. None of us want to lose face to our friends and loved ones. David is asking for God's grace and mercy.

Verses 5-6

David starts to get his strength back. He remembers something. He says, "But I have trusted in Your mercy, or loving kindness." What are we trusting in? Are we trusting in God's mercy to sustain us? Are we truly remembering that His mercies are new every morning? (Lamentations 3:22-23) Are we drawing strength from knowing God is fighting for us? David said his heart rejoices in knowing God has saved him. Do we rejoice in knowing we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb? Are we rejoicing in what God has already done for us?

The last verse in this chapter, David says, "I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me." David sees how God has generously given him all things. The Message Bible translates this to say, "I've thrown myself headlong into Your arms --- I'm celebrating Your rescue. I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers." How full are we of answered prayers?

Last Sunday I went to the altar to ask God yet again, to open the door for us to get our own home. I told Him I was coming to Him with all the faith I had and if it was not enough, I asked Him to give me more. I was so broken because I really want our own home again and I know that is not a selfish desire. It is a basic need and He said in His Word that He would provide for us. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I memorized that one long ago. I love that He promised to meet our needs according to His riches and not mine; and He does it through Jesus Christ, not through me. I could not pray for a house anymore, and I just fell to my knees at the altar and poured out my heart in tears. I uttered no word, just wept and wept and wept. I felt as though God was pouring something out of me.

A woman was singing in her heavenly language softly in my left ear. My face and ear grew so hot that I felt it might catch fire. It was a beautiful song, a sweet expression that melted my heart and so much was poured out. Another lady was summoned to pray over me and God began to heal my broken heart. It took some time and they were patient with me. They allowed Holy Spirit to complete the work. I got up from that altar, lighter and happier than I have been in a very long time. I thought I was going to pray about a specific need but God saw the greater need and met that one instead.

I know that God has promised us a beautiful home. I do not ask for anything fancy or elaborate. I want a home with my husband and our two children. I want to clean my own home, cook our meals, have a place for everything, see all our clothing, important papers, and possessions anytime I want instead of having to drive to the storage unit to try to locate something. It is a challenge, but we do have a roof over our heads and God has supplied many needs we have had. He continues to provide. I do not know when He will choose to free us from this situation and allow us to enjoy our own home again, but it is so hard on this mama's heart to see her kids live a life I never wanted them to experience. I do trust God and I know He knows best. His ways are not mine and I certainly do not understand all the steps we are taking right now, but maybe one day I will. For now I choose to keep my hand in God's hand and trust Him with every twist and turn this life might throw at us.

I hope you have been encouraged today with what I have shared. I know it has encouraged me. I hope it has done the same for you. Do you have a need I can pray for? Please reach out to me and I will pray for every request I am given. I hope that something you have read on the blog today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 11 | Wednesday Bible Study

Welcome back to the blog. I am so glad you are joining me today. We are turning in our Bibles to Psalm chapter 11. This is a Psalm written by David. There are only seven verses in today's passage. If you have not already done so, please take the time to read through the passage and we will jump right in.

Verse 1

David makes a declaration at the opening of this chapter. He proclaims in the LORD God David trusts. Who have we trusted? The expected answer is God, but we must carefully examine our hearts. Do we trust God? Some trust the news, some trust social media, some trust religious leaders. We can trust in our spouse, our friends, our parents, our families, but we should be trusting God. We are told to not lean on our own understanding, but rather we are to trust God. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. We read later on in Psalms where the psalmist had been taken by the Philistines at Gath and this is what he said: Psalm 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. It's time for us to read our Bibles more than we watch the news; to sit and talk with God in prayer more than we talk to friends and loved ones about our problems. It is time to fill ourselves up with God's Word and God's truth instead of blindly believing everything we hear and not bothering to check the Word for ourselves.

David says in verse 1, "How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" Isn't that like the world's message today? If something is uncomfortable, run! Indulge your flesh, follow your heart, and trust that everything will work out in the end. No! We must run to the Rock of Ages, the stone that the builders rejected. We do not run to the mountain; we run to the Mountain Mover!

Verse 2

This verse is saying that the wicked are preparing their bows and arrows to hurt us. They secretly do this, or the Bible says it literally means in darkness. They are not in the light. They are the ones in this world who live for themselves, seek to please themselves, and desire others to tell them how wonderful they are. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." The shield of FAITH. That is your trust in God. That's how we put the fire out of the darts and arrows slung at us from the enemy. You may say what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is made up of what you are expecting God to do for you. It is not an idea that it might happen. It is a surety, a strong confidence that God is going to come through. It is proof of what you cannot see. You may not see it now, but you are trusting God to come through in His time and in His way and you are not backing down from that. You are trusting God.

Verse 3

David poses a question here. He says, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" In Psalm 82:5 it reads, "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course." In other words, the world does not know God, they cannot understand His ways, they walk in darkness, or ignorance. The very foundations are crumbling. We must build on a sure foundation. Do you remember the foolish man and the wise man building houses? Matthew 7:24-25 (24)Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (25)And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. The rock is Jesus! When we hear His words, read His Words, obey His words, we will no longer be in the darkness. We can suit up in our armor and hold high the shield of faith and quench every fiery dart of the wicked who are in the darkness shooting at us.

Verse 4

David says God is in His holy temple, and God's throne is in heaven. He is watching all of us and he examines the hearts of men and women, boys and girls. He sees it all. Nothing gets by the watchful eyes of God. He is seeing everything that is going on all at once and no one is getting by with anything! Revelation 5:6 in the Amplified Bible says this, "And there between the throne (with the four living creatures) and among the elders I saw a Lamb (Christ) standing, [bearing scars and wounds] as though it had been slain, with seven horns (complete power) and with seven eyes (complete knowledge), which are the seven Spirits of God Who have been sent [on duty] into all the earth." So we know that God's watchful eyes are everywhere. The enemy thinks it is hidden and that it is doing something in secret, but God knows what the devil will do before he even does it.

Verse 5

There are two categories of people: the righteous (those who love God and follow in His statutes) and the wicked (who love violence and revenge and pleasing their flesh). God tests the righteous. We face circumstances we do not like but it is to show whether we trust in God or not. Remember how God had tested the children of Israel in the wilderness? There was purpose in the journey. Deuteronomy 8:1-2 (1)All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. (2)And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no. If you continue to read this passage, it is a beautiful recounting of God's faithfulness to this rebellious group of people. God made them a promise and He planned on keeping it. God has made us a promise too, and when we do what He instructs us to do in His Word, we will receive all the promises of God.

The second part of this verse is that the God hates the wicked. He hates the violent and those who enjoy hurting other people. This goes against the nature of God. God is love. He loved us first. He loved us in our sin but He hated what we did. The same is true here. God hates the wicked ones. The book of Ephesians reminds us we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against these evil forces and that is who God despises. They will receive their reward: hell. God loves all of the people He created, but some choose to live for the devil and allow him to influence their lives. It was never God's will for anyone to die lost and undone, according to John 3:16.

Verse 6

This verse tells of what will happen to the wicked. They will not always slide by like they think they are doing. No, one day the judgment of God will fall on the earth and the wicked will receive the judgment coming to them. Matthew 25:41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The devil was kicked out of heaven when he tried to be like God. He wanted to overthrow God's Kingdom and power. That is impossible and he lost! We know he goes around the entire world trying to block God's message of love, freedom, and forgiveness. The devil wants everyone to be separated from God because he knows he has lost his chance. He will suffer greatly one day and all his minions with him. We do not want to find ourselves on the left hand hearing Jesus tell us to depart from Him and cursing us to the pit and everlasting fire. Friends, we want everlasting life with Jesus our Savior. But we know the wicked will have their judgment in that awful place. 

Verse 7

What a sweet picture of God in this verse. It is a wonderful way to end this chapter. "For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright." God is righteous and He loves righteousness. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines righteousness as, "acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin." We know Jesus was without sin according to, 1 Peter 2:21-25 (21)For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: (22)Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in His mouth: (23)Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again: when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: (24)Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed. (25)For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (overseer) of your souls.

If you are going through a valley right now, it can be so hard and feel so lonely, but remember God promised to never leave us or forsake us and He will keep His promise. He is walking beside us. We are never alone. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will do it. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Let's ask Him to cleanse us and purify us and then let's make up our mind to trust God, regardless of what the circumstances look like. Circumstances can change, God does not. Put your hand in His and never let go!

I hope you have enjoyed today's Bible study. He has truly encouraged my heart and helped me with some things I have been facing lately. God is so wonderful and I love serving my King. He has blessed me so much and lifted the heaviness from me. I hope something I shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 7 | Bible Study Wednesday

Welcome back to another Wednesday Bible Study. We are moving through the book of Psalms this year and today we turn our attention to the book of Psalms, chapter seven. This is a Shiggaion of David. According to BibleStudyTools.com, using Easton's Bible Dictionary, shiggaion is, "The word denotes a lyrical poem composed under strong mental emotion; a song of impassioned imagination accompanied with suitable music; a dithyrambic ode." David composes this particular song under great distress and persecution. If you have not done so, please take a few minutes to read this chapter. It is only 17 verses. We will break down what is being said here and hopefully you will continue the study on your own to cross-reference verses or perhaps do word-mapping.

Verses 1-2 David has been cursed at, rocks flung at him, and ridiculed by a man from the tribe of Benjamin in 2 Samuel chapter 16. This was a time when his son was trying to take the throne away from him. He was in a lot of mental distress and he knew the One he could go to was God. He knew that God always helped him. David knew that even if God did not change David's circumstances, he would still feel better, comforted, and encouraged after going to God in prayer.

Here in the opening two verses, David proclaims he has full confidence and trust in what God can do. He remembers the lions that would like nothing more than to tear the flesh off the sheep he used to tend. He feels like one of the sheep and his enemies are the lions.

Verses 3-5 David is asking God to search him for sin. He asks God to allow his enemies to trample him into the dust if he has done wrong. If he has paid evil back to men that were at peace with him, and he even reminds God that he has shown mercy to those who hated him without a reason. This is David showing God that he wants to be found pleasing in His sight. He wants to be clean before God, but he is willing to suffer the consequences of what he has done.

Verses 6-11 In these verses, taking up a bulk of this chapter, David expresses how God is a just judge and angry with the wicked daily. He asks God to rise up in anger against those who have come against David in this time of stress and chaos. He says God will judge the people, and he even asks God to judge him. David wants God to check his integrity, check his motives, to check his heart. David says God will make the wicked come to an end, but the righteous God looks at people's hearts and intentions. David says he is defended by the God who saves those upright in heart. 

Verses 12-16 David describes what will happen to the wicked. He says they will fall into the very ditch they made to snare someone else. The pit they dug for someone else will be the very pit they fall into when God gets through with the wicked. David said the mischief they thought to do to someone else will come upon their own head. The violence they thought to do to others, David said will return to themselves. Whatever evil they imagined to do unto others will come right back to them.

Verse 17 David ends this psalm with praise. He has petitioned the LORD for what he needs. He has encouraged himself with remembering the character of God. He is satisfied with the way he knows God is going to handle the matter and now it is time to praise Him. Notice David says he will praise the LORD according to His righteousness. David's circumstances have not changed yet, but he is not allowing circumstances to dictate whether he is going to praise God or not. David knows God is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory because He is God and He is good and He is holy. David's last words in this passage is, "I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."

You may feel surrounded by people who talk about you, lie on you, throw you under the bus, and watch for you to fail. You may feel overwhelmed and in mental distress like David. You may feel like you are outnumbered and alone, but God is on your side! He is fighting for you. He comes against the workers of iniquity and fights for you! He will take care of the matter. Ask Him to search you for sin and if He reveals to you anything at all, put it under the blood. If you have bitterness, ask Him to help you forgive. If you have hate in your heart, ask God to give you love for your enemies and those who wound you. He will do it. And once you have been cleansed by God then begin to praise God and stop thinking about the mess and the problems. Stop worrying about the things they did to you or said about you. It's over. God has taken care of it. He is on the scene working and you can carry on. He is for you and He loves you. That is something to praise God for.

I hope you have learned something new today. I certainly have learned a lot. I am taking away just as much, if not more, than what I am giving today. Trust God to handle these circumstances and do not give up. God is fighting for you and He will deliver you. I hope something I have shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you.

~Bridgett Owens

 

Encouragement From God | Thankful Thursday

We are edging our way to the weekend. I don't know about you but this has been a crazy week for me. I have not had a normal day since Sunday! But I am so thankful that even in the crazy times God will meet us where we are and get us back in a good spot. Amen?

Many of you know that I have been in a season of waiting and expectancy since Thanksgiving 2020. I mentioned it here on my blog before and in some videos, but I was really battling the past couple of days and so this morning I took some time to be still and opened my prayer journal. I just asked Him to speak as I was listening. I didn't know what else to say that I had not already said. He blessed me so much and I am excited to share with you the scriptures He gave to me!

I will share the scriptures below. If you need more encouragement, feel free to watch the video I will include at the bottom of this blog post.

PSALM 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

MATTHEW 28:29 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

2 CORINTHIANS 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.

DEUTERONOMY 31:8 And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

JEREMIAH 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

PHILIPPIANS 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

PSALM 56:4 In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

JOHN 10:27-28 (27)My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: (28)And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. 

PSALM 1:2-3 (2)But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law doth he meditate day and night. (3)And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall propser.

JEREMIAH 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 (13)Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14)I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

EPHESIANS 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

In this video, I spent some time sharing about my spiritual journey, explaining where I am, and in the middle of recording this video I received a text message and wow! God is turning things back around. He is helping me to not only go forward, it felt like I was launched forward a lot! I am so excited about what He is doing in my life and I am hoping that something I share in this blog post or in that video will be strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Who Are We? | Fuel For The Weekend

Another week is drawing to a close as the weekend is upon us. For many, today kicks off spring break, and marks the final days for others' spring break. I have thought back to the beginning of 2021 and it does not seem like we should be in third month of the year. I think back to goals I made at the beginning of January, and goals I reassessed in February, and now I am not sure how well I am doing with any of the goals made. Have you experienced that too? It's kind of a time to reflect back at progress made and sidetracked, derailed plans. The good news is that we can gather our thoughts, go back to what is most important to us, and start fresh with new goals. It's never too late to get started if you haven't made any goals.

Something I like to think about is God and His plan for my life. I don't have all the answers. Some days I don't feel like I have any answers. I know He does and that gives me peace and comfort in the tough days. It's been a rough season. We had hoped to find a house by now and others are in our same boat: nothing is available, and then once something good hits the market it is quickly snatched up, or it is grossly overpriced. Even when things look like they are not changing, no progress is being made, and even when it looks like things get worse instead of better, God is still good and He still has good plans for our lives.

I like what the Psalmist wrote in chapter eight. He talks about the excellence of God and how in awe he was that God would not just create mankind but He actually thinks about us and cares for us. Isn't that inspiring. Even if we are doing all the right things, waiting as best as we can, and keeping our eyes on Jesus, it is so hard to hold on when the winds beat our vessel, tossing us to and fro. It is in the times of uncertainty and not knowing that I can read this passage and be reminded if God can do all that, He surely can meet my needs and answer my prayers. Let's read it together.

PSALM 8:3-9 (3)When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; (4)What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? (5)For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. (6)Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: (7)All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; (8)The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. (9)O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!

It is the expression of my heart as well. I look at the night sky full of stars and the moon shining in its glory. I see the beauty in the night sky as stars form into amazing constellations and the earth is given light from these created light sources made by the spoken word of God. He breathed and the stars were formed. He named them and hung them in the exact location He wanted them to shine. Who am I that God would crown me with glory and honor? Who am I that He would take the time to think about or plan a glorious journey for me? Who are we that He would not only know our name and have a wonderful plan for our lives, but then He strategically placed us in the place we would shine brightest?

What would cause the majestic LORD and Creator to give us dominion over the beasts in the field and air and sea? What an excellent Savior we have who not only saw that we were lost and undone in our sins, but selflessly laid down His life for us so we could be free and forever live with Him in paradise! What an incredible gift of love and sacrifice that we will never know or experience because Jesus paid it all.

Friends, as we embark on this weekend and whatever that may look like for each of us, let's remember the God who created us is thinking about us and He has great plans for us. My father-in-law will be laid to rest on Monday and we have comfort and peace in knowing that Steve made his heart right with the Lord. He rededicated his heart to the LORD and now as we lay him to rest, we can continue the journey we are on toward Home knowing one day it will be our turn. One day, and no one knows when, it will be our time to step into eternity and if we have surrendered our lives to the Lord Jesus, put our faith and trust in Him, and believe the saving work He did on the cross at Calvary, we will be with our Savior. The Creator, the Savior, the Planner, the Healer, the Comforter, the Joy Giver will welcome us Home. Why wouldn't we want to serve Him? He is so wonderful.

May His name echo through all the earth. You are excellent in every way God Most High. Let's honor Him with all that we do and say this weekend. I am hoping something I shared today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Pacifier | Fuel For The Weekend

God told me to share my faith on Fridays and call it Fuel For The Weekend. It's my desire that the posts I put up on Fridays will give you something to think about, ponder, consider, and reflect on throughout the weekend. 

My mom told me that when I was a baby I loved my pacifier! She said I would have a fit if I lost it or couldn't find it. She tried to hide it in the cabinet from me but I would just keep crying until she gave it to me. 

Some kids love pacifiers and others don't want them at all. My daughter, Kadesia did not care for a pacifier. She was content without it. I offered it to her because I knew how much my mom said I enjoyed one and was surprised when she would try it and spit it out. It was not for her!

My son, Javan took a pacifier for a while. It was longer than his sister but apparently still not as long as I had one. It was a little hard to wean him off the pacifier because he liked to chew on it more than anything.

According to Merriam-Webster's definition, a pacifier is to soothe the anger or agitation of; to restore to a tranquil state. Babies may enjoy pacifiers, regardless of the various names everyone calls it, but adults do, too. Adult soothers may include drugs, alcohol, sex, overspending, overworking, violence, or overeating. These lead to more problems that require more soothers, but for Christians we have soothers that include prayer, reading the Bible, Bible study with others, attending church, encouraging and uplifting one another, singing, praising, and worshiping God.  Our soothers do not create more problems for us, and are available in abundance! We have hope that this life is not all there is.

What happens when Christians do not use the pacifiers we have, and we instead turn to other things to soothe us? We must be careful because God alone is the source of our peace and hope and joy. We can search but we will not find what we are looking for if we do not seek God.

JEREMIAH 29:12-13 (12)Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. (13)And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.

This is the beginning of a new month in a brand new year. Many people are hopeful that things will turn around and be like they were before March last year. The truth is, it might not. Covid is a terrible problem all around the globe. There's a new president going into office, and whether we like it or not, that will also be a change. We must remember things are never going to be perfect. I hear so many say they will be glad when all this is over. Some trust in the government. Some trust in money. Some trust in the stock market. Some trust in their jobs. Some trust in their spouse. Some trust in themselves. We must put our trust in God. He is the author and finisher of our faith.

PSALMS 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

The news is not going to tell us how to have hope; it is a joy killer. The world is not going to teach how to get closer to God; they hate Him. The economy will let us down. Look at the stock market through all the years. It is up and then it is down. It is good then it is bad. People gain a lot of money. People lose a lot of money. Bright, talented, and incredibly gifted men and women, young and old have taken their own life because of the outcome of the stock market. It is heart-wrenching.

What if things get worse this month? You want to be encouraged and I am going to encourage you; but, for a moment imagine that things don't improve this month? Are we looking at our circumstances? Or are we standing on God's Word and what He said about it? Whose report will we believe?

HEBREWS 4:14-16 (14)Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15)For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16)Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

God loves us! He loves His children. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus paid the price for our healing. He is in control. He sits on the throne and He is not shook or scared about the condition this world is in. He hates the wickedness; He hates the sin; but He is not nervous. He is all-powerful. He is in charge and He told us over and over again in His word to Fear Not! We cannot give up!

PSALMS 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Life may not go as planned. We may have to change course in the middle of what we thought was a good idea. We may have to get creative in finding ways to connect with other believers, but we must not give up or give in. We must refresh at the feet of Jesus. Let's help each other make it Home!

PSALMS 90:14 O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

ISAIAH 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Take comfort in the Scriptures. God will guide us continually! He satisfies our soul in dry seasons. He makes our bones healthy! We are like a watered garden. We are growing, thriving, and flourishing because the Living Water does not fail. Instead of reaching for the carnal pacifiers that can never satisfy, tap into God's unfailing love and mercy and grace. Read God's Word and find joy in His presence! There is nothing else like it.

In 2020, while the world was in an uproar over Corona Virus, racial tension, politics, and the various storms and natural disasters that occurred, I was in perpetual peace. The Bible promises to keep us in perfect peace as we keep our minds on Christ. I was not always care-free or worry-free but I had peace. I had peace in my soul, peace in my marriage, peace in my home, and there is nothing like the peace God gives.

If our year is not starting out the way we thought it would, or if we find ourselves looking for ways to soothe our fears, let's turn to Jesus. He will return us to a tranquil state. He will soothe the agitation and anger we feel. He pacifies us. He is all we need.

I hope you have a blessed weekend! Be sure to check back next week for more inspiration. As you enter the weekend I hope something I shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

 

 

 

 

Oven vs God | Fuel For The Weekend

God told me to share my faith on Fridays and call it Fuel For The Weekend. I wanted to do it. I thought about it. I tried coming up with ideas on my own, but I just came up short, so I put the idea toward the back of my mind, but the Holy Spirit continued to nudge me in this direction. I am going for it and it's my desire that the posts I put up on Fridays will give you something to think about, ponder, consider, and reflect on throughout the weekend.

The theme this week is patience. We studied patience together Wednesday in James for the Bible study here on this blog. Then I talked about how I waited on God to give me a child in my Thankful Thursday post. God continued to deal with me on this same topic but gave me a whole new perspective on it and I am going to share that today for the Oven vs God Fuel For The Weekend post. I hope you are as blessed by this as I was when He gave it to me.

How many people have you watched bake a cake? Maybe you are the cake baker and can relate to what I am about to share. I took a Wilton cake decorating class and prior to that I used to bake cakes and cupcakes all the time. It was a quick treat and most people enjoy eating a piece of cake. Usually it does not take long to whip up the ingredients for the batter, mix in a bowl and pour into a prepared pan, and place in the oven. Once inside does anyone start yelling at the oven? "Hurry up! You're working too slow! I want to eat my cake right now and you are taking too long. It's like you don't want me to enjoy my cake. Why are you making me wait so long?"

The oven is working. It is baking the cake inside. If we turn up the heat, continue to adjust the temperature, or fan the door to see if it is done yet we will ruin the cake. It won't finish baking all the way through. No one wants to bite into raw cake batter. Why do we rush the Master with our prayer requests? We beg and plead and cry. We complain the results we want are taking too long. We get impatient and we cry and beg and plead again. We don't truly believe God will give us what we desire. Instead of preparing our requests according to scripture and presenting them to God then walking away trusting He will do the job, we stand around and attempt to rush Him and fan the door to check on the progress. This is not faith.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

This verse tells us not to be anxious for anything but in every situation and for every request we are to pray and plead to the point of almost begging with a thankful heart and grateful attitude present our petitions to God. He is our Heavenly Father. He wants to give us good gifts and the desires of our heart. But there is a formula for this. We know that if we do not have faith the Bible says it is impossible to please God. It tells us that He does not work when people are doubting and full of unbelief. If we say things like, "It's never going to happen. I don't think God will do this for me. He probably is too busy to care about my concerns. I am not important enough to bother God with my problems," then we will not get God to move on our behalf.

JAMES 1:6-8 (6)But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

We have to first ask in faith and not waver. We can't go back and forth between trust and fear. If we ask God to do something for us and He doesn't do it, there is a good reason for it. God is not up in heaven waiting on requests to say NO! He has a plan for our lives and if the request aligns with His purpose and His plan for our lives He will do it. If getting what we ask means straying from God or compromising our integrity, like any good father, God is not going to grant our request. Going back and forth in our minds about whether we are worthy or not, whether God wants to do it or not, and whether He will do it or not is like the waves rising and crashing in the ocean. The Bible tells us that no one who thinks like that should expect anything from God. And it further states that a person who thinks like that is unstable in all that they do.

My mom sings a song at church that says:

You can't hurry God. You'll just have to wait. Trust Him and give Him time. No matter how long it takes. He's the God that you can't hurry. He'll be there don't you worry. He may not come when you want Him but He's right on time.

I love that song and it's so true! You can't hurry God. His time is not our time. His ways are not our ways. He has a big picture in His mind of how things need to go for us. He wants to give us the things we ask for when we pray but we have to trust Him. We have to wait. Just like we trust our oven to bake the cake and we wait on the timer before we start checking on the progress and fanning the door. We know that we put batter into the oven but we trust that we are pulling out a cake. We may give God our mixed up messes but we hope to get back a beautiful blessing.

Let's put all of our hope and trust and faith in the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is faithful. He is true. He is lovely. He wants to bless us with the fruits of the Spirit and if we are working on patience this week, then Holy Spirit complete the work! Forgive us for being impatient and teach us Lord to wait well upon You!

Be encouraged friends. God is going to take care of His children. He always has and He always will. He will not abandon us. He will not forget us. He will not ignore us. He is working on our behalf even when we cannot see it. He is working all things for our good and we just have to learn to lean and depend on Jesus. Like the old song says, "I'm learning how to lean and depend on Jesus. I found out if I trust Him He will provide." No matter what you're going through, trust God, our Heavenly Father, and watch Him do great things!

I hope something I have said today encourages you. I hope it's been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens