helped you – Praying Pint

25.i. “Working together with him”

2 Chorinthians 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Hebrews 12:25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

God wants us to be workers together with Him, not “couch potatoes” or “pew potatoes” together with Him. Instead of trying to get God to help us with our work, we need to find out what God’s work is, ask Him to help us carry it out, and do it with Him. What does it mean to receive the grace of God in vain? It means to receive the goodness and favor of God, yet to hinder the work of grace in one’s life. It means to receive the favor of God and to fail in what Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 15:10: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Is God supposed to do it or am I supposed to do it? Many struggle with this. The answer is, “Yes!” God does it and we do it in obedience through Him. Trust God, rely on Him, and then get to work and work as hard as you can! That is how we see the work of God accomplished. If I neglect my end of the partnership, God’s grace doesn’t accomplish all that it might or could if I am an active, obedient, and willing worker, therefore the grace given to me is in vain. “God’s grace is always coming to my heart and life in the very wonderful and blessed experience of now. Yesterday’s grace is totally inadequate for the burden of today, and if I do not learn to lay hold of heavenly resources every day of my life for the little things as well as the big things, as a Christian I soon become stale, barren, and fruitless in the service of the Lord.” (Redpath)

Waiting in Faith

“but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.”

Psalms 119:121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me. My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken. Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

Psalms 119:81-82 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

Psalms 69:3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

Psalms 130:6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Psalms 143:7 Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

Lamentations 4:17 Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.

Psalms 63:6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

Psalms 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.

Lamentations 2:19 “Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord!

Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

“He looked to God alone, he looked eagerly, he looked long, he looked till his eyes ached. The mercy is, that if our eyes fail, God does not fail, nor do his eyes fail.” (Spurgeon)

This waiting expectation shows us that faith came before experience. The Psalmist was willing to have faith until the experience came, and would wait for God’s salvation, and wait as long as it took.

The Psalmist wanted understanding; but not so much to know the future or some hidden secrets of his soul or that of someone else. He wanted this understanding so that he would know the testimonies of God better.

There is much that confuses us, but none more than the interference of waiting, in faith, for God’s plan and purpose. Waiting is good, for it keeps our heart, mind and soul desiring and seeking to see God’s provision. Waiting takes faith.

In our waiting satan will throw many temptations of action our way – none of which, if acted upon, are going to be in line with God’s will for us. Our actions, apart from those being God directed, in a time of waiting will never satisfy or fulfill the need we seek

Though it does not seem like it, waiting is action – Action of the heart and mind committed and purposed to see, hear and understand the will of God.

In waiting faith we grow anticipation of God’s action. The best place to be while waiting, is in His word feeding on His promises, grace, mercy, strength, power, and steadfast love. It is in our waiting that we hear more clearly the whispers of His quiet small voice leading and confirming action to come.

Not my will Lord God, but yours. Your plans are perfect for my life. Your timing is faultless.

And my reason returned to me

“The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

Psalms 93:1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

Psalms 96:10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

Psalms 97:1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Psalms 99:1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Psalms 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.

1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Daniel 4:34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

Psalms 75:3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars.

Isaiah 45:12 I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.

Isaiah 49:8 Thus says the LORD: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people,

Isaiah 51:16 And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”

Hebrews 1:2-3 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

“and my reason returned to me” We all battle the thoughts that come in and deny God’s power greater than what is attacking us, strength greater than our fears, love, grace and mercy greater than our sin. Paul says to take these thoughts captive. We are not going to stop them from jumping into our head but we can bind them in God. We can acknowledge them and then discard them. Sounds easy but in reality it may require us to continually repeat this especially when we are in a situation that seems unbearable or so big we are totally lost. Keeping God’s word in our heart and mind gives us other brain food to dwell on and fight these thoughts when they appear. It is also good to be mindful of others who may be going through a rough spell and we need to be filled with God’s word so that we can speak hope, faith and love to them. Helping each other in these times can be very uplifting.