Watch

Amazed baby

“Look at the nations and watch–and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5

Every so often one person will completely amaze those around him or those who know him. He will do something very different, completely out of normal character for him. Sometimes that action will be of good character, while other times it can be something terrible.

As things like this occurs, people are amazed and often cannot really believe what had happened, even when they see the action themselves.

Habakkuk had just asked God why He tolerates all the violence, why God is not answering his prayers. God’s answer was that He was about to do something so great that it would amaze him. The answer was that God was going to use the heathen enemy to answer their prayers.

To this day millions of people are asking God the same question about violence. They are also asking God many other questions about many other issues in life.

Often when people pray, asking God for some answer, they are expecting God to answer in a certain way. God, being God, is able to answer in thousands of different ways than one may expect. He always answers with the perfect answer in consideration of every one involved and in light of eternity.

The best thing a believer can do is to trust God to answer in His time and His way. God’s ways of thinking and acting are always above those of any person. It is common for God to use the enemy, even the worst of enemies, and his actions for His purpose, for the good of those who love and serve Him.

There will be times when you have questions or requests of God. When you do, you must trust God’s way to answer you. Know and understand that God is for you and not against you. God only wants what is best for you. He wants what will draw you closer to Him and make you more like Jesus in holiness and righteousness. God will do anything to make that happen.

As you sit back and watch God work in your life and in the lives of those around you, you will be amazed. God will do things in different ways, but with much better results. Allow God to do what He does best.

I pray today that you will trust God with your life; that you will seek God’s way of doing things; that God will open your eyes to what He is doing; and that you will trust God with how He answers your prayers.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38

Jesus was getting ready to be betrayed and crucified. He went into the garden to spend some time in pray. He told the disciples to pray also. When He came back from praying for an hour He found the disciples asleep. Then He speaks today’s verse.

Jesus states there are two things that a person must do to keep from falling into temptation. The first is to watch.

When a person is watching, he is alert to what is going on around him. He knows when there is trouble starting to occur.

As you watch you will see when temptation starts to arise. You will know trouble when it arrives. At that point you have the ability to turn and flee from it.

If you are not watching you will not see it coming and will fall into temptation and sin.

The second thing stated was to pray. When a person prays, his focus is on God. All of his attention is directed towards God.

When your attention is focused on God, you will not focus on yourself and sinful habits. You will not be looking at the world and what the world has to offer.

During times of prayer, God can fill you with His Holy Spirit to give you strength to turn away from all sin. God can reveal to you ways to get away from the temptations being presented.

Most believers will easily state that they do not want to sin. Their hearts desire is in the right place, but their sinful self gets in the way. Most will fall to the desires of the flesh–sin.

God is Spirit. Your spirit needs to be in tune with God’s Spirit to walk the correct path. Allow your spirit to stay aligned with God’s Spirit. Allow God’s Spirit in you to control your flesh and desires.

Do not allow yourself to fall into temptation. Stay awake and alert and focused on God. Allow God to help you flee from temptation. Do not fall into temptation’s snare.

I pray today that God will keep you alert and watching; that you will stay focused on God; that you will pray continually; and that God will give you strength to flee all temptation.