I feel sorry for squirrels. I know some of you don’t like squirrels because they can be such a nuisance. They eat your bird food, chew through wires, get in your attic. But I feel sorry for them. They are so indecisive and often their indecisiveness leads to tragic results. You know how they are.
As you approach in a car if there is a squirrel on the side of the road, you can bet they are trying to decide whether to go or stay. They dart out, come back, and zig zag. You try to avoid hitting them, but often you don’t know which way to go because the squirrel can’t decide. Because squirrels can’t decide, often it doesn’t work out too well for them
Humans can be indecisive, too. But, life boils down to the decisions made or not made. It is interesting that in making decisions we often go one of two ways.
• We either decide too quickly without proper consideration of the facts and consequences, or we consider in such detail that we never decide.
• We either look without leaping or leap without looking.
Some folks are ready, aim-aim-aim-aim and never fire. Others are ready, fire and never aim. Which one are you?
There is a time to study and think and weigh things out, but when it comes to faith there is a time to step out and trust God and believe. So much that is so good, so many of God’s blessings are missed because we never step out in faith. If you want to know what God can do, then give Him a chance to do it. Step out in faith.
In the Gospel ( Luke 18:1-8) we are introduced to the Pharisee - now he was in prayer - but not stepping out in faith His prayer, if it can be called that, is largely an advertisement for himself. He's selling himself to God. The tax collector, on the other hand, didn't have to tell God who he was. He knew who he was and he knew that God knew who he was.
His prayer is not an exercise in self-promotion, but a confession and a plea for mercy. He is not selling himself, but opening himself. And Jesus says, "It is this man who went home justified." To be justified means to be declared "not guilty." It means to be declared right.
The famous actor Brad Pitt was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating and new tables weren't opening up very fast. They weren't even that close to the front of the line. Brad Pitt's friend became impatient, and he said to Brad Pitt, "Why don't you tell the maitre d' that you’re a famous actor?" Brad Pitt responded with great wisdom. "No," he said, "if you have to tell them who you are, then your not that famous."
Part of getting over indecisiveness and living confidently and abundantly - is to always remember who we are and whose we are and not get too caught up in ourselves but rather that God is the famous one:
• God has a plan
• God can make a provision
• God gives the growth
• God has the solution
And if we live our lives not ready, aim-aim-aim-aim and never fire nor ready, fire and never aim - but rather ready, He will Help Me Aim and Show me when to fire - that God is decisive
Not only is indecision taken away, but so too is the pride of thinking we are someone more than we are - but rather we are His and He is with us -we can’t do it all-but He sure can!
As we arrive on this Lord’s Day - how do we pray ?
• Is our prayer a resume of accomplishment or is a plea for mercy?
• Is our prayer a list of what is wrong or a litany of thanksgiving?
• Is our prayer totally focus on us or does it include the needs of others?
• Is your prayer dependent upon God’s answer or are you giving God the answer - FYI?
• Is your prayer a leap to call it a prayer - or a leap in prayer & faith- dependent on Him
So don’t so squirrelly in life
• God has a plan
• God can make a provision
• God gives the growth
• God has the solution
Leave it with Him in prayer. He is never indecisive trying to figure whether to aim or fire - but rather God is always ready.
As you approach in a car if there is a squirrel on the side of the road, you can bet they are trying to decide whether to go or stay. They dart out, come back, and zig zag. You try to avoid hitting them, but often you don’t know which way to go because the squirrel can’t decide. Because squirrels can’t decide, often it doesn’t work out too well for them
Humans can be indecisive, too. But, life boils down to the decisions made or not made. It is interesting that in making decisions we often go one of two ways.
• We either decide too quickly without proper consideration of the facts and consequences, or we consider in such detail that we never decide.
• We either look without leaping or leap without looking.
Some folks are ready, aim-aim-aim-aim and never fire. Others are ready, fire and never aim. Which one are you?
There is a time to study and think and weigh things out, but when it comes to faith there is a time to step out and trust God and believe. So much that is so good, so many of God’s blessings are missed because we never step out in faith. If you want to know what God can do, then give Him a chance to do it. Step out in faith.
In the Gospel ( Luke 18:1-8) we are introduced to the Pharisee - now he was in prayer - but not stepping out in faith His prayer, if it can be called that, is largely an advertisement for himself. He's selling himself to God. The tax collector, on the other hand, didn't have to tell God who he was. He knew who he was and he knew that God knew who he was.
His prayer is not an exercise in self-promotion, but a confession and a plea for mercy. He is not selling himself, but opening himself. And Jesus says, "It is this man who went home justified." To be justified means to be declared "not guilty." It means to be declared right.
The famous actor Brad Pitt was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating and new tables weren't opening up very fast. They weren't even that close to the front of the line. Brad Pitt's friend became impatient, and he said to Brad Pitt, "Why don't you tell the maitre d' that you’re a famous actor?" Brad Pitt responded with great wisdom. "No," he said, "if you have to tell them who you are, then your not that famous."
Part of getting over indecisiveness and living confidently and abundantly - is to always remember who we are and whose we are and not get too caught up in ourselves but rather that God is the famous one:
• God has a plan
• God can make a provision
• God gives the growth
• God has the solution
And if we live our lives not ready, aim-aim-aim-aim and never fire nor ready, fire and never aim - but rather ready, He will Help Me Aim and Show me when to fire - that God is decisive
Not only is indecision taken away, but so too is the pride of thinking we are someone more than we are - but rather we are His and He is with us -we can’t do it all-but He sure can!
As we arrive on this Lord’s Day - how do we pray ?
• Is our prayer a resume of accomplishment or is a plea for mercy?
• Is our prayer a list of what is wrong or a litany of thanksgiving?
• Is our prayer totally focus on us or does it include the needs of others?
• Is your prayer dependent upon God’s answer or are you giving God the answer - FYI?
• Is your prayer a leap to call it a prayer - or a leap in prayer & faith- dependent on Him
So don’t so squirrelly in life
• God has a plan
• God can make a provision
• God gives the growth
• God has the solution
Leave it with Him in prayer. He is never indecisive trying to figure whether to aim or fire - but rather God is always ready.