Organizing the Inside 365 Days
Empowering Christian Women To Get Organized and Discover God's Plan for Their LivesArchive for Patience
Organzing the Inside – Day 266 God’s Small Appliances Cook Up Great Results
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:7 (NLT)
God doesn’t fulfill dreams using the microwave. He often does it in the pressure cooker or the slow cooker. Understand clearly that faith and patience will ensure victory. Rest in the goodness and grace of God, which is able to bring about results in your life. Who doesn’t want what they want, when they want it? I’d dare say most of us do. The real test of true Christian character is found in our willingness to humbly accept the timing and plans of God. Sure there are times when we think, dear Lord, this is taking too long. God has a process and His plans toward you are good. (Read Jeremiah 29:11)
I’m reminded of a one of my favorite episodes of I Love Lucy. Lucy and Ethel were working in a candy factory. They had to individually wrap each piece of candy as it came across on the conveyer belt. Lucy, being impatient, had another of her hair-brained ideas and kept calling out to have the conveyer belt, “speed it up a little,” Each time she did only created more chaos, as the candy started coming at a rate much faster than they could handle. Eventually the two of them had a huge mess with chocolates in their hats, pockets and mouths. What a mess we make when we try to do things our way because of a our lack of patience. Trying to rush the plan of God only creates chaos and calamity. Trusting God starts with having the faith to believe He really does know what He’s doing and that He’ll leave no work undone. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Allow God time to build. He is working to get you ready to receive all the glorious gifts and blessing He has in store for your life.
The process of fulfilling God’s will for our lives is simplified in two ways.
1. Be willing to listen and obey as God directs your life.
2. Be willing to submit to God’s own timing.
The farmer knows that seeds planted at the right time will produce a much different result than seeds that are planted in the dead of winter. Planting at the wrong time will never reap the harvest you desire. There is a process and this all takes time. Much cultivating occurs between seed time and harvest. It’s imperative to submit to the will of God about every detail of your vision, allowing Him to prepare you for the work that is ahead. Be open to the timing that He has planned and adapt your plans according to His good pleasure. As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” Genesis 8:22 (NLT)
Organizing the Inside – Day 206 Rooted In Love
14When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:14-19
God’s love gives strength to fulfill the call.
God’s love and power is fully capable of preparing and equipping you for ministry. Many Christian women have the “Super Saint” syndrome. You look around – first mistake. You must keep your eyes on Jesus for He alone is the author and finisher of your faith. (Hebrews 12:2) When you consider what sister “someone else” is doing, or how they have grown, or achieved, or seemed so blessed in what they do, you begin to lose focus on what you are supposed to do. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. Galatians 6:4 (NLT) If you were totally honest you would admit you sometimes want to be able to speak like her, sing like her, some even try to pray in tongues like someone else. But God wants you to have faith in Him and His ability to make you grow.
Strive to be like Christ.
You, yes YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God.(Psalm 139:14) You, yes YOU are His dear child and there are certain things that God intended for you to do. Sister Suzie, as blessed as she is, has not been called to carry out God’s plan for your life. There is a purpose that is especially meant for your life. God took the time to make each one of us different, and you do the Creator a disservice when you emulate someone other than Christ. Have faith in God. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
God’s power is more than enough.
God’s peace is surely enough.
God’s strength is quite enough.
God’s love is plenty enough.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20, 21 (KJV)
Patience and Faith are the productivity partners.
Trust God to make you strong in Jesus Christ. Have patience as God develops your gifts and talents. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4 (NIV) God’s love will give you the spiritual growth and strength to carry out His plan. Leadership is important and God puts leaders and teachers in place to help the church grow. Just remember, your personal spiritual relationship with Christ is the single most important relationship you will ever have. Put your eyes on Him, and God will help you to continue to grow. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Ephesians 2:20 (NLT) The foundation has already been laid and it’s up to us to do the work to build upon it. God wouldn’t give you work to do and then not strengthen you to finish it. No matter how many come along with great revelations said to be truth, no one is going to rebuild the foundation again. Therefore as Paul said, “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:12, 13
5After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (NLT)
In conclusion, let sister Suzie do her, you do you, and I’ll do me, as we all work together to be like Christ. Each of us, with our own personalities and unique style, are authentic creations in the perfect plan and will of God.
Organizing the Inside – Day 146 Lord I Have A Big Dream, Now What?
When you have a dream always remember to trust the one who gave you the dream. Joseph went through a lot before he saw his dream come true. His life and hope will inspire you to keep the faith and stay on course. God really does make dreams come true, we just have to trust and obey.
Whenever you have favor expect to encounter jealousy.
When God gives you favor you will always meet those who are jealous of you. Often it’s the people who are closest to you, those who “knew you when” who will be the most jealous. This is when you must operate in the fruits of the spirit. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. 4When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them; they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Genesis 37:3, 4
Be careful about who you share your dream with.
Most people, who have a dream, can appreciate the dreams of others. Be mindful about sharing your dream to receive affirmation or confirmation from family and friends. If the people you are telling your dream, don’t have a dream of their own they may not understand and become resentful. Even those closest to you may not support you.
Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. Genesis 37:5
The haters will sometimes laugh and make fun of you and often try to stop you from fulfilling your dream. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” Genesis 37:19, 20
In spite of the situation, trust God to work things out and bring your dream to pass.
Stay right in your relationship with God, even through adversity and know that God will always work things out according to His purpose and plan. When God gives you a dream He will prosper you in whatever you do towards fulfilling that dream. Remember no matter what things look like God is always right there to ensure your success. The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered… Genesis 38:2 …And in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3
When God has a plan for you He will go to great lengths for you to be in postion to fulfill it. Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. Genesis 37: 36
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Remember your relationship with God is paramount to the success of your dream.
Others will favor you when they see that God is with you. God will ensure your timely promotion, so don’t be concerned if you feel things aren’t happening fast enough. Your promotion is on the way. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. Genesis 39:3, 4
Don’t get caught up.
When you have a dream and God starts to prosper you, this is a time to be especially careful about your choices. We’ve seen the results of many Christians who let prosperity and position cause them to sin. They gave in to the lust and temptations of the world, and sin leads to death. (Romans 6:23) There are a lot of dead dreams and dead ministries because of sin. Joseph stayed right with God and chose to remain faithful; he chose not to get caught up in sin.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8But he refused. Genesis 38:6c-8a
Be loyal and remain faithful.
God wants us to stay faithful to Him and respect those who are in authority over us. God places authority in our lives to protect us, whether they are Christians or not. We should always remain under the protection of authority; and God will honor our choices. Being trustworthy will prove to be the right choice in the end.
“With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Genesis 39:8b-10
We can learn a lot from the life of Joseph. He lived righteously and his life serves as a blueprint for behavior, for those of us who have a dream. If you have a dream I encourage you to read the remaining chapters, Genesis 37-50 to find out more about how God brought Joseph’s dream to pass. You will find more helpful insights about how to handle having a big dream inside your heart. A few last notes about the life of Joseph.
- He never became bitter about how he was treated.
- He relied on God.
- He did not fear man.
- He waited on God to promote him, and didn’t try to promote himself.
- He used his gifts at the appropriate time.
- He understood the importance of family and accepted that he was born in the right family for a reason.
- He honored his father and God blessed him with a long life.
Organizing the Inside – Day 90 My Vain Attempt to Comprehend Love
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. ~ 1 John 4:16-18
Organizing what’s on the inside is about organizing your inner man
and bringing your will and desires in line with God’s will. To have a life of order and peace you must acknowledge the current state that you are in. Then move on to recognize that God is fully capable of regulating your heart if you would simply yield. Avoid trying to do things your way and try to open your heart to do things God’s way. God is completely organized and He gave us a “Check List” in 1 Corinthians 13 where we learn that LOVE is not really something you do or give it is deeper than that, it is who you become. Can you really have true love today and tomorrow well maybe not so much?
If you love your neighbor you are patient.
If you love your family you are kind. If you love your enemies you don’t keep track of how they have wronged you. Love is what you become. Realizing that you will never be perfect, (not until mortality puts on immortality) but love can be made perfect in you. It is your obedience that brings about this great reward.
To actually love seems so impossible.
The bible tells us that with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 God made every provision that is necessary. First He sent His son Jesus to take away our sinful hearts, then recognizing that we still are human; He gave you and me the Holy Spirit to teach us and to live in us and keep us in LOVE.
Now this is the confidence that we have that we are in Him:
Not loving the world or the things of the world.
2Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
We love each other.
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7, 8
We have fruit in the basket.
22But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22
If you find that your fruit basket is looking a little scarce, Jesus didn’t leave you hopeless. He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Love only comes by way of the Spirit. In your flesh dwells no good thing, so forget about trying to do this on your own. (I tried for years, not to suggest that I have already obtained it. I just realize that, hey… I have to press toward the goal and not stop reaching) Ask God for His forgiveness for past failures and mistakes, and accept the help of the Holy Spirit. Not by power, not by might but by His Spirit.
Who can comprehend love? God is Love.
Day 47- Patience and Passion the “Power Twins”
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. ~James 1:4
Who doesn’t want their dreams to happen right away? If you are working toward a goal and know that it’s because God has placed a vision in your heart… keep pressing forward. The enemy is working overtime to distract you and get you off course. Jesus came to bring life and life more abundantly. I suspect if more Christian women would trust in the Lord with all our hearts and rely not on what we thought we knew we would get better traction on this journey to find and fulfill our purpose.
If you know that a life of order, peace and contentment is what God has for you then stay focused. Set goals that are smart and look to the hills, for in God you’ll find your strength. Your patience and passion are the power twins that will enable you to accomplish your dreams. When the work of patience is fulfilled you will be, perfect, complete and wanting nothing. God promised that He would give you the desires of your heart, that’s what passion is!
Also read Proverbs 13:4
Organizing the Inside 365 Days 