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Sacred Whispers Devotional

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Disappointed with God? Yield to the Right-of-Way
Jan 02 3:56 AM

Disappointed with God? Yield to the Right-of-Way

Jan 02 3:56 AM
Jan 02 3:56 AM

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:32

John 11:1-44 is a beautiful narrative of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, the friends of Jesus.  At first blush, we see a strange way for Jesus to treat his friends, especially when they are in need.  In fact, John makes a point to emphasize in vv. 5-6, that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” This is a great place to insert the ‘shocked face emoji’!

Now, if you are like me, I have serious problems – and quite a few questions – with the actions that Jesus chose to take, or not take, in this situation.  A few of my questions are: ‘If you loved them, why would you wait?’  ‘Why would you not come when they called; why would you not meet this need?’  ‘This was not a trivial ask for those that you love; Lazarus needed a legitimate thing and apparently you did it for others, why not for them?!’

I can only imagine the myriad of emotions Mary and Martha experienced during these days of waiting for Jesus to answer, and then the unthinkable happens, Lazarus dies. Surely there was  worry, anguish, fear, and possibly even anger at his delay. What is clear, is that when Jesus finally shows up, Mary is overcome with grief, and I detect disappointment too.  She clearly verbalizes what I have in seasons of my life; “God, I expected this, but instead, I got that.” Or to carry that further, “I expected you to do this, but instead, you gave me that!”

This disappointment has been so tough for me to handle at times, that I even resolved to just stop asking; to stop praying.  Not the “God, I know you are in control, so whatever you do is fine with me” kind of stop, but rather, the “I cannot bear the pain of not having what I am asking for” kind of stop.

This disappointment reflects that I have misunderstood the point of asking in prayer. Prayer is the intersection of my will and God’s will.  Much like two cars that show up at a physical intersection, one has to yield to the other because he has the “right-of-way”. When it comes to praying, I know instinctively that I should be the one to yield, because it is best that God’s will gets the right-of-way.  But, how exactly does that happen when I want what I want, think what I think, and even sometimes, legitimately need what I need?

This story helps us to see a key factor in the way God answers prayer.  Notice what Jesus says when he first heard that Lazarus was sick, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)  Jesus deliberately delayed going to take care of this family’s need, not because he did not care, but because He had a greater purpose than just healing Lazarus of this sickness. He was creating an opportunity to be glorified above this sickness. He was placing His priority over their priority.

I am reminded that I, too, should elevate His priorities above my needs and desires, and make my priority, his priority.  This is the cure for disappointment in prayer,  yield to the right-of-way –  God’s glory.

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Deborah Russell

A reminder that God's presence in my life is for His glory and His purposes even when I don't clearly see or understand. I must constantly seek Him for guidance thru prayer and reading the word and yield not to my own understanding.

Posted on Sat, Jan 2, 2021 @ 7:24 AM CST

Cathy Austin

I've always enjoyed listening to your sermons and how you break it down to make me think. You're so right it's not about our will but God's will. This was beautifully written.

Posted on Sat, Jan 2, 2021 @ 8:30 AM CST

Brenda Madison

And I too have to realize that God's priority may be different than mines and that I have to be patient and wait on him to lead and show me the way. Every day I pray Lord your will not mines, your plans for my life not mines, your schedule for me to follow not mines, .....some things are easier said than done. But I'm learning. Even though Mary was upset and disappointed, she still had the faith because she bowed down at Jesus's feet. She wasn't hollering and screaming and calling him all kind of names. I feel she knew in her heart that Jesus could still heal her brother. Be blessed.

Posted on Sat, Jan 2, 2021 @ 6:32 PM CST

Barbara Love

Oh My God ~ What an excellent devotional to understand this passage on a whole new level... It's true God's priorities (must) exceed mine. Thank you ~ Minister Botts

Posted on Sun, Jan 3, 2021 @ 3:35 AM CST

Chandra Lemons

Awesome message! Thank you for confirmation!

Posted on Sun, Jan 3, 2021 @ 6:29 AM CST

Chryston

Beautiful

Posted on Tue, Jan 5, 2021 @ 9:19 AM CST

Nakia Means

“Prayer is the intersection of my will and God’s will”... I had to write that down. I love the illustration of God having the right-of-way, and us yielding to His will. Thank you, Sabrina for a very helpful and timely word.

Posted on Tue, Jan 5, 2021 @ 10:05 PM CST

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Day 1
Jan 01 12:32 AM

Day 1

Jan 01 12:32 AM
Jan 01 12:32 AM

Before reading today's devotional, listen to "Goodness of God" from the Sacred Whispers Playlist.

WHAT DO THE BIRDS KNOW?

By Marlin D. Harris

“Look at the birds of the air...”

Matthew 6:26

My wife has a very peaceful pastime activity.  If the weather is right, she loves to sit out on our back patio and look out into the trees in the backyard and watch the birds melodically singing while perched on one of the tender branches.  They come in red, orange, dusty brown and ever so often, blue.

I have often wondered when I would sit with her, what do these birds know that we don’t?  They seem to be so at peace nestled on a tiny branch, or nipping at a leaf or berry for food.  Gently they come, and haplessly land on some tree and softly belt out their melodic tunes as they call out to one another in a ritual that they never tire of repeating.  This they faithfully do each morning as soon as the sun rises over the eastern hemisphere. They sing.  Even after the fiercest storms, they sing.  Even when the clouds hang low and the morning sky is smeared with a gloomy grey, they sing.  Even when the trees have lost their leaves and the berries have all fallen away; yet still, they sing.

Perhaps this is why Jesus instructed us to “Look at the birds…”  We have not learned faith and trust in God until we have learned how to be at peace.  Peace is that one emotional quality that when possessed, it has the power to master all of our other emotions.  Peace has been called the great stabilizer.  Real peace locks anxiety away in its cell, and refuses to allow worry a voice in the meeting chambers of our hearts.  Peace transforms the darkness from being a paralyzing presence that haunts us in the night, into a comforting blanket that lulls us to sleep.  Peace is that rare treasure that few people have been able to find.  But we need not lose heart; God has laid bare in His Word how we can find it.

Isaiah 26:3 tells us clearly how to find peace.  It says, “God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed in Him, because he trusts in You.”  Without using any ambiguity, the Bible teaches that the man who would be at peace, keeps his mind on God and trusts in Him.  

Perhaps the birds know this.  They have learned how to trust God.  It is as if God has established a covenant with them whereby He has promised to provide for their food, and their shelter and they simply fly about trusting that.  It seems too simple to be profound – but it is.  Trusting in God is the only way to peace.  Trust in God happens when you are absolutely convinced of His trustworthiness.  When you are convinced that God is faithful and will always honor His promises, then you will trust Him.  When you are convinced that God is wise and navigates the circumstances of life in such a way as to bring about the greatest possibilities for personal growth, then you will trust Him.  When you are convinced that God loves you and will walk with you through every season of your life’s journey, then you will trust Him.

Be assured that trust is not a casual matter. You only learn to trust over significant periods of time.  Trust is not a confidence that is easily achieved, but it has to be nurtured through the intimacy of relationship.  The more you know someone, the more you trust them.  The more you do life with God, the more you learn to trust Him.  Peace can’t be found without trust, and trust can’t be found without relationship.

Secondly, the birds know how to sing.  I am not proposing that you learn how to physically sing, but rather I am suggesting that you and I learn how to adopt the ‘spirit of singing’.  We must learn how to sing even when the deepest sorrows are knocking at our door.  You see, your song is your victory, and you can only sing it when you have found peace.  No matter what happens to you, don’t ever lose your song.  In that beautiful hymnbook of the Old Testament, the book of Psalms, we are admonished and instructed to sing a song unto the Lord over 55 different times.  We are told to sing unto the Lord a new song (Psalm 96:1), to sing of His wondrous works (Psalm 105:2), to come before His presence with singing (Psalm 100:2), to sing of His mercy and judgment (Psalm 101:1).  On and on, verse after verse, the Psalms instruct us to sing.  Could it be that the psalmists understood that when we sing, somehow we defy the sadness and sorrows that seek to silence our voice and rob us of our joy?  Your song – your worship of God – that is your power.  And if you can push past the sorrow and sing your song, you will soon see peace welling up in your soul like springs of water overflowing the banks of the river. 

I truly believe that this is what the birds know.  This is why they sing, even when the wind is contrary and the storm clouds loom above.  They sing because, like Job, they know that their Redeemer lives (Job 19:25).  They sing because they know that weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).  So the next time you see a bird singing sweetly in the trees, don’t let him sing alone.  Wipe the tears from your eyes, and muster up the spiritual strength to sing your own song.  And when God hears your song, surely He will dispatch His angels to come to your aid and strengthen you with His peace.

PRAYER

Be our Peace-Giver, O God. Let not our hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  You are our hiding place and in You we find our peace.  O Lord, be our refuge from the noise, and our shelter from the storm.  We look to You to calm our hearts from our fears, and grant us, Your children, peace.  In Jesus’ Strong Name we pray, Amen.

DAILY SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

Take a few minutes every day this week to listen to your favorite Worship song.  Perhaps when you are driving in your car, or just as you rise from bed to prepare for your day.  Press the pause button on your life for just a moment, and take time out to worship.  You will find that it is very difficult to worship and worry at the same time.  You have a song. Find it, and sing it with all of your might.

 


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Download Fasting Guide

Listen To Sacred Whispers Playlist

Day 31
Jan 31 12:51 AM

Day 31

Jan 31 12:51 AM
Jan 31 12:51 AM

THE WEIGHT OF THE WAIT

By Marlin and Monica Harris

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;and they shall walk, and not faint

Isaiah 40:31

We (Monica and Marlin) wanted to share a few thoughts with you as we come to the close of this fast. What a journey it has been sitting at the feet of Jesus each day and listening to the ‘sacred whispers’ of the Holy Spirit as He speaks His peace and hope to our hearts. We have all cried, laughed and learned together as we have been on this amazing journey of self-discovery. We are becoming our best selves. We are challenging the old habits of our past, and finding new paths to walk in. 

 

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Day 30
Jan 30 12:23 AM

Day 30

Jan 30 12:23 AM
Jan 30 12:23 AM

Streams in the Desert 365 Devotions, Pages 452-453

By L.B. Cowman, Editor

“…there we saw the giants.”

Numbers 13:33

Yes, the Israeli spies saw giants, but Joshua and Caleb saw God! Those who doubt still say today, “We can’t attack…; they are stronger than we are” (v. 31). Yet those who believe say, “We should go up and take possession... for we can well able to do it” (v. 30). 

These giants represent, for us, great difficulties, and they stalk us everywhere. They are in our families, our churches, our social life, and even our own hearts. We must overcome them or they will devour us, just as the ancient Israelites, fearing those in Canaan, said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size” (v. 32). We should exhibit faith as did Joshua and Caleb, who said, “Do not be afraid..., because we will devour them” (Numbers 14:9). In effect, they told the others, “We will be stronger by overcoming them than if there had been no giants to defeat.” 

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Day 29
Jan 29 12:21 AM

Day 29

Jan 29 12:21 AM
Jan 29 12:21 AM

YOUR BEAUTY IS NOT FOR SALE

By Marlin D. Harris

What do you see when you look in the mirror? What does the image that looks back at you say when you walk by a reflecting glass or even see yourself in a photograph? 

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Day 28
Jan 28 12:43 AM

Day 28

Jan 28 12:43 AM
Jan 28 12:43 AM

THE WIDOWMAKER

By Dr. Reggie Anderson

(Content taken from “The One Year Book of Healing: Daily Appointments with God”)

“No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.”

Acts 2:26-27

 As a primary care physician practicing rural medicine in a small town outside of Nashville, Tennessee, I have witnessed a lot of healing. Some of it has been through the work of medical professionals, whom God uses to carry out his good work, and some have happened supernaturally—the result of God’s direct intervention.

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