I Can't Catch a Break!

"Why is this bad stuff happening to me? Boy, I can’t believe the bad luck I have - I just can’t get anything done! It seems like it's always one step forward - and two steps back. There must be a dark cloud following me around....floating over my head".

Well….maybe not.

God wants us to believe. God wants us to trust. Even in the middle of the storm, lightning and thunder….Believe. The devil sometimes has more belief in us than we do in ourselves. He sees the potential, the talents and the purpose God has for us. He can sense it. So he wants to take you out before you can fulfill it. He is very organized (he and his legion of demons). He knows your weaknesses (because you voice them all the time) and knows what pushes your buttons (because of your negative reactions to certain situations). He uses these to get you irritated and upset with people, things, and life that you get off track and you lose sight of what God needs you to do.

So, when bad things are happening to you for seemingly no reason, first of all - know it's not God doing something to you. Take into account that it might be just an attack (a spiritual attack). You might be getting closer to your purpose – to what God wants you to do. So, if it gets difficult, don’t just give up and think “I guess that wasn’t for me”. Maybe it’s time to push through because the devil knows what you’ll accomplish if you actually (truly) started believing. Many times we blame God for something, but the devil should be getting all of the credit for it. God's goal is to give you abundant life. The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

So, try to see beyond what is actually happening in the natural. Keep pressing forward. Your success may be just around the corner. And just in case it isn't, keep going to the next corner.

Endure

The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time (Eccl 9:11).

It doesn’t have to be that I’m doing something wrong – I could be doing everything right. It’s just not time yet. Ever see people who are very intelligent or very talented, but they are struggling in life?  It may be because they gave up on their dream before their “right place” or “right time” came. I believe God has an appointed right place/right time for my purpose to be realized – I just need to listen to His direction and keep going until I meet up with that “right time…right place”. What other alternative do I have?....Give up and quit? I already know the answer for that alternative.

Timing is ALWAYS a factor. That’s why this verse is often enhanced by adding “….but to him that endureth to the end”. Don’t have the job yet?...Endure. Don’t have health yet?....Endure. Don’t have the victory yet?...Endure. Tired of enduring?.....Endure. And having done all to endure…..endure (Eph 6:13). I’ve found that the more you want to quit – the closer you’re getting to a change God wants to make IN you…or THROUGH you. Don’t give up. You may get knocked down, but you’re never knocked out. You may get pushed around, but your destiny can’t be pushed aside. You might slip and fall, but your spirit still stands tall. Get up. Get back up. Engage. God made you a Winner.

Lord, help me to endure - to keep going every day. Knowing that You are guiding me - every step of the way. Your prayer-poem for the day!

"Why Can't They See?"

When you truly let go of life (the operative word being “truly”) and let God direct your path, you find it very difficult to understand why others wouldn’t want to live the same way. In addition, you find it difficult to believe that you ever lived any other way!

It's very scary to let go of life, but on the other hand, it makes life tougher when you don't (trying to make things happen, trying to control situations so that you're never uncomfortable, trying to figure everything out, living based on what others might think, etc). Why can’t we see that’s not the way we should live? Why can’t we see that there’s a better, more fulfilling way?

The song “Why Can’t They See” is not only an Christian anthem that points to nonbelievers, but also points to Christians who still haven’t really “let go” to allow God to lead their lives. The origin of the song is an Easter production for a small church in mid-Texas. The song was written from the standpoint of Mary kneeling at the cross of Jesus – speaking to Him just before He died. But the song has grown to have a more far-reaching meaning. There are many reasons why people can’t ‘see that Jesus is the way. Situations in their lives, how they grew up, continuous feelings that nothing’s going to go right anyway can easily deter us from our path. But as the song states, we still must declare that Jesus is Lord and that He came to save us and bring us life. Our declaration and the way we live our lives will be the proof that others need. They will see Him….through us.

Go to www.waynetolbert.com to hear the song

Youtube link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q_qovGDZA0