Things To Do While Waiting On God: Shop

Shopping has always been a great escape for me. When I’m upset, depressed or just plain bored, a good ol' trip to the mall can do wonders on my mental state. They say spending money releases good endorphins in your brain -- until, that is, you check your bank statement the next month!

There is one shopping trip you can take that won’t cost you a dime but will, however, fit you with new threads for where God is taking you. In Ephesians 6, Paul speaks of five must-haves in your wardrobe if you are going to stay strong while waiting on God. When doubt starts to fill you and trouble starts to cause you to doubt God's love and plan for your life, there is only one person to blame and that is Satan himself.

“Put on all of God’s armor so you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. The devil wants nothing more than to trip you up and hinder you from bringing glory to the Lord. He doesn’t play nice and seems to step up his antics the more you focus on living a life pleasing to God. I have always wondered why it is easier to believe the words the devil is placing in my mind than it is to believe God and his written word.

As I sit here right now typing this blog and thinking about an area I’m trusting God with (I can multitask in my mind), Satan is driving me batty with thoughts that make me want to run from the very situation I’m believing God to work out. I guess I’m getting a true lesson on what I’m trying to convey to you.

The words the devil says can seem oh so real at the moment. When God speaks, it seems so distant. Though he speaks truth, it is hard to see the unseen. So why is it so important to wear the wardrobe Paul speaks of (the belt of truth, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit)? You need them to battle the devil.

So I rip out my sword of the Spirit and point it straight at Satan and say, “I am a child of the most high God, and I believe my God is working in this situation and great glory will be brought to him through me, so get behind me, Satan.” Sometimes that is all I need to say and then I’m filled again with God’s peace. When I need more than just my sword, I bring up my shield to protect my heart from Satan's continued attacks and put on my helmet to keep God’s word running through my brain. There are times when you start your morning off in your bedazzled wardrobe, but it feels as though it is not protecting you. That's when you remember true warriors, even though they get knocked down, keep fighting and win the war. God will reward you for your battles.

Lindy Biglieni

411 Dec. 18

Things To Do While Waiting On God: Run

So you have grown tired of waiting on God and what little patience you had is long gone. Oh, that horrible "P" word. Patience. The one gift the majority of us were not blessed with when God handed out his gifts.

When we seek to live a life that is pleasing to God, it means life does not always follow the timetable we have planned out in our minds. At so many times, I have felt the leading of the Spirit in an area of my life. I would begin to move with God, and a great peace would fill me as I moved along. But then I would hit a bump or someone, like in "Forrest Gump," would throw rocks at me. From there, I would question the path I was on. I would ask myself, "Why, if I’m following God, are things not going smoother?"

I would turn back to God, seeking his guidance, but all I wanted to do was run from the rocks or, in my case, run from the unknown. You want to throw your hands up and say, "I’m done," and run as far as you can get from the situation, the thing or the person you are praying for, placing as much distance between self and God's plan.

But that is the last thing you need to do. Running away from God’s plan will give you temporary relief, but, long term, you miss out on the blessings he has in store for you.

Instead, you must run to God for peace as you wait on him to move you. He is a faithful God and will not leave you hanging. Trust in him to guide your every step through his word. "Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3

Lindy Biglieni

411 Dec. 11

Things To Do While Waiting On God: Introduction

So, you have been praying for a person, a situation at school, or a potential college. You have seen a little movement from God, but the BIG movement has yet to happen. You start to wonder if God has heard you or even if you were seeking him right to pray the way you have been praying. Then, the Spirit reminds you to wait on the Lord, that his ways are not our ways, his timing is not our timing.

“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” Isaiah 55:8-9, The Message.

So how do you handle the down time while God is working his sky-soaring magic? Starting Monday, I’m going to spend five weeks giving you the five things to do while waiting on God that have brought me peace during the waiting.

Lindy Biglieni

Lindy Biglieni is pictured on the right.

411 Dec. 4

Earn $ for Summer Missions

Interested in earning money for Summer Missions 2012?  

Sign up to help with the Choir Christmas Banquet!

Wednesday, Dec. 14

6-9 p.m., in the FC

Sign up starting now at the kiosk in the FC foyer!  Spots are limited so sign up soon!

Questions?  Contact Jessica at jstone@ridgecrestbaptist.org.