Gaining An Eternal Perspective - pgs 223-226
Realize
1. Describe a time when you prayed for something, and it took God a long time to answer. (Or describe a prayer request you have been praying for a long time and are still awaiting God's answer.)
2. What do we learn from the following Bible characters?
*God promised to end Sarah's barrenness and give her and Abraham a child. How long did they wait for that promise to come true? (Genesis 12:4-5; 21:5)
* How long was Joseph in prison (for a crime he didn't commit) after the cupbearer promised to bring Joseph's case to Pharaoh? (Genesis 40:23-41:1)
* Joshua prayed for victory over his enemies. How quickly did God answer his request? (Joshua 10:12-14)
*Mary and Martha knew that Jesus could heal their sick brother, Lazarus. How long did they wait before Jesus returned to them? (John 11:17)
Reflect
3. What purposes might God have for not solving our problem or not changing our difficult circumstance as quickly as we wish? In what ways does God's waiting to answer our requests achieve His hold, eternal purposes in our lives?
4. According to Revelation 21:1-7, what do we have to look forward to? How can this vision help us to endure pain and suffering in this life here on earth?
Respond
5. Read Psalm 130:5. Waiting is a deliberate action that often requires more courage than taking matters into our own hands. It requires trust, obedience, hope and perseverance. What is one current situation in your life where you need to simply and quietly wait on the Lord?
Prayer of the Day
Father, sometimes it is so hard to endure when it seems like nothing is changing in my circumstances. Help me to wait for Your timing, Lord, knowing that You will act at the right time. Until then, teach me to trust, obey, hope and persevere. Be glorified in my life, Lord. Amen.
1 comment:
This is a good reminder for me to take my focus off the world and what's going on now and put my focus on Christ and eternity. It is so easy to become fixed on wanting something to change right now. We live in an instant world- look at all the fast food places, the microwavable meals-even Instant oatmeal- this makes us want things to change instantly. God works in His timing and uses the time that we think "takes forever" to start taking away things that are between us and Him. Don't be cheated by rushing God's timing.
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