Like a root out of dry ground

Jesus did not start his ministry until he was in his 30s.  He spent a-lot of time preparing for a three year mission.  He was rooted in his Father and never strayed from his message.  I often look for immediate results and instant answers to prayer.  Today thinking of the time Jesus spent preparing for his ministry I am reminded that God's timing and plans are much bigger than mine.   It is my prayer today that I would seek to align myself with God's timing and that I would pray with his plan in mind. 

Isaiah 53:2-6

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Opportunity - Choices - Decisions

 

For most of my life I made decisions, followed opportunities and selected between choices based on how I felt, or how I would benefit and or avoid a consequence.   I reserved prayer for the times when I really got in a bind, hit a dead end, or had no other option.  It was as if I had some sort of mental block that only allowed me to discuss a situation with God if it was "big enough".  I still struggle with this although I will say that prayer has become a much bigger part of my life.  Consulting God has become less of a fire drill and somewhat more routine.  I am thinking about this today because my family has been making a-lot of decisions lately.  I have decided to take a new job and move my family to Bend Oregon, we have decided to sell our home and search for a new one, and we will soon be deciding which church in Bend will be a good place for our family.  My wife and I have done a-lot of praying as we have made these decisions, and in much of it we can genuinely say that we see God's hand at work.   It is my prayer today that I will continue to partner with my wife in prayer, seeking God's will for our family in all that we do each day.  For whether we are coming or going I pray that we give thanks and rejoice in the loving God that we serve.

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.