Hmmmmm.....

It seems that here lately God is really emphasizing many of the things He has already taught me. A few weeks our pastor spoke of God's providence and in that message he said almost word for word something I'd heard another speaker say the previous week...God won't ask you to do something and then not make a way for it to happen. Yesterday, God pointed out once again that His promises are true and that what He says He'll do, He'll do.
     Today, the speaker for our upcoming teen camp preached in both our services. This morning he preached on having victory God's way. He reminded us that God is in charge...even when we don't understand the circumstances. How many times have I had to come to terms with not understanding why God chose not to answer this by the end of school?  He then reminded us that God's way is always right. I wanted this to have happened already, God has a better plan in store for my kids. He then said to remember sometimes, God works covertly. There will be times of silence, times when it seems God has forgotten or has stopped working, the speaker said, God is working, even in the silences. How many times has it seemed to me God was no longer listening? I have no idea what God was doing on behalf of this request during those times. It is also possible, God stayed silent to see if I would remain faithful. Last he said God rewards courage. He said obedience to the parts of the plan God has laid out is courage. God doesn't always reveal the entire game plan to us, He reveals it in parts, step by step. It's not always easy to follow something that makes no sense to us,but God rewards us when we do. God told me that early on in this journey...be obedient to what I've told you to do and I'll take care of the rest. He said that God will bring the victory, just stick around to see it happen. He asked what would have happened had Israel stopped on lap 5 on day 7 of marching around Jericho? They would have come so close to a victory and not realized it. Several months into this journey, God impressed upon me to not give up, even when this got hard, because wouldn't it be terrible to come within a day, an hour, a minute of an answer and not get it because I gave up.
     Tonight he made a statement in his sermon that reminded me of the few weeks after school ended, weeks in which I wasn't sure I wanted to keep on in this journey. He said we need to keep our lives in an area where God can still bless. We so often miss God's blessings because we stop praying and seeking Him. I am so glad God was able to get through my hurt and perceived betrayal and show me He wasn't finished with this request. I am so relieved I once again set aside time every day to pray because it has put this prayer back into an area where God can bless.
     I became curious this afternoon as to why God was going back over so many things He had taught and shown me. It could be the drilling it into my head that He revealed yesterday. It could mean a battle is up ahead and God is gearing me up by reminding me of all He has said. It could, however, also mean that God is getting ready to answer this and He is reminding me of all that He has said so I'll remember when the answer comes that it was He and He alone that made the answer possible.
     Either way, I'm so glad God hasn't forgotten all that He has said and promised and I'm so glad He is telling me that He hasn't forgotten...it helps.