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We should never be too hard on ourselves when we fall short at a certain
task. We must remember that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness
and when we fall short at times, the Lord is the One will lifts us up and
places our feet on solid ground letting us know that we are not failures.
It is the Lord who forgives and makes clean and He has given us His Word
showing us that we are mighty warriors through Christ. Rest in the Lord's
strength and do the task that has been laid on your heart confident that
the outcome will be to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 12:9) (Philippians 1:6)
Whatever task has been assigned to you, do it heartily as to the Lord and
not to men and of the Lord you will receive a righteous reward. The Bible
says that God pities us as a father pities his child. Always keep in mind
that God loves you and gave Himself so that you may live Eternally. He is
cheering you on and wishes for your great success. Believe it and receive
it for yourself today. (Colossians 3:23-24) (Psalm 103:13) (Ephesians 6:10)
I hope this message encourages your heart to stay determined in fulfilling
your dreams knowing that God wishes for your success and complete victory
in life.
A BOYS RACE PRAYER
My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short
time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block
of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to “dad”. That
was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to doing
things with his son. But Gilbert tried. Dad read the paper and scoffed at
the idea of making a pine wood derby car with his young, eager son. The
block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed. Finally, mom stepped
in to see if I could figure this all out.
The project began...
Having no carpentry skills, I decided it would be best if I simply read
the directions and let Gilbert do the work. And he did. I read aloud the
measurements, the rules of what we could do and what we couldn't do. Within
days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. A little
lopsided, but looking great (at least through the eyes of mom). Gilbert
had not seen any of the other kids' cars and was feeling pretty proud of
his “Blue Lightning,” the pride that comes with knowing you did something
on your own.
Then the big night came. With his blue pinewood derby in his hand and pride
in his heart, we headed to the big race. Once there my little one's pride
turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely
on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool
paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed.
A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's, lopsided, wobbly,
unattractive vehicle. To add to the humility Gilbert was the only boy
without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who were from single
parent homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their side, Gilbert
had “mom”.
As the race began, it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing as
long as you were the winner. One by one the cars raced down the finely
sanded ramp. Finally it was between Gilbert and the sleekest, fastest
looking car there.
As the last race was about to begin, my wide eyed, shy eight year old
asked if they could stop the race for a minute, because he wanted to pray.
The race stopped. Gilbert hit his knees clutching his funny looking block
of wood between his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with
his Heavenly Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a
half. Then he stood, smile on his face and announced, “Okay, I'm ready.”
As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their car
sped down the ramp. Gilbert stood with his Father within his heart and
watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with surprisingly great
speed and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second before
Tommy's car.
Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud “Thank you” as the crowd roared in
approval. The Scout Master came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and
asked the obvious question, “So you prayed to win, huh, Gilbert?”
To which my young son answered, “Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask
God to help me beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I didn't
cry if I lost.”
Children seem to have a wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to
win the race, he didn't ask God to fix the out come, Gilbert asked God to
give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars he
didn't cry out to God, “No fair, they had a fathers help.” No, he went to
his Father for strength.
Perhaps we spend too much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race,
to make us number one, or too much time asking God to remove us from the
struggle, when we should be seeking God's strength to get through the
struggle.
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippines 4:13
Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He
never doubted that God would indeed answer his request. He didn't pray to
win, thus hurt someone else; he prayed that God supply the grace to lose
with dignity.
Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his Father also showed the
crowd that he wasn't there without a “dad”, but His Father was most
definitely there with him. Yes, Gilbert walked away a winner that night,
with his Father at his side.
By Peggy Porter
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the
humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and
let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and
delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 37:23-26 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He
delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am
old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging
bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: THROUGH THE STORMS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem9.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: WHO WILL DELIVER ME?
Click here to read --- http://www.godswork.org/testimony112.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
