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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
As children of God, we have times where we have to commit a person’s circumstances to God’s care. Aren’t we always in His care?
When we pray for a friend who needs special guidance from God, we may ask Him to wrap His arms of love around them. Our next request asks the Father to draw our friend close to Him. Then we beseech our Creator to whisper words our friend needs to hear. Sometimes we speak in specific terms, other times, we ask God to convey the words our friend needs.
At my dad’s funeral, our pastor ended his final prayer with these words, “Now we turn Mr. D. over to Your grace and care.”
When we ask for God’s will for a circumstance, don’t we turn the particulars over to God’s care? I believe we do because we realize that we can’t do anything to change the problem in our own strength. As I typed this, I realize that two situations I saw this past Sunday belong in this category. I need to turn these things and those involved over to the Lord’s care.
When we have situations and people on our prayer lists for a lengthy time, shouldn’t we ask God to take over and let Him work out the solution for the good of all involved? Sometimes, we, as God’s children have to let go of the hurt, step aside, and let God address the issue. The things that we see are not always as God sees them. We have to ask Him to give us His eyes in order to view things correctly.
Several years ago, a friend told me that we have times when all we can do is pray about a need or a circumstance. As I have matured in the faith, I understand what she meant.The lesson I have since learned was complex:
· God is the only one who can fix issues to His liking. Because we aren’t infallible, we probably will mess things up more than they were.
· God sees the big picture; we only see what is right in front of us. What we could do might be a short-term fix—a Band-Aid –when He wants to completely remedy the situation.
· God knows the hearts of those involved; We don’t. We can only see what other people allow us to see. God sees the heart.
· When God works out a need, He does it completely—with nothing undone. Because we are finite human, we tend to leave loose ends.
· God fixes things in such a way that He brings glory to himself. If we do the fixing in our own strength, we might be glorifying ourselves.
Right now, a very close friend faces a situation that only God can remedy. Her sister, a nursing home resident, no longer recognizes her. Hearing this now brings back a very sad memory from what is now our family history. I have to allow God to work out my friend’s circumstance. I also have to surrender my apparent sadness to God’s care.
Dear God: Thank You for caring for our hurts and our special needs that come upon us. Thank You for Your presence. Thank You that your care for us is complete; You have everything under Your control. I praise You for these qualities that make You so special to me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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