Paulette Talks Faith: 2017

Monday, February 6, 2017

Week 173: Strategically Placed

Strategically Placed

Have faith in God. Mark 11:22

• Positioned. . .

• Located. . .

• Situated. . .

God has His people strategically placed all over the world. I remember when I first started working in a particular school I asked God to show me who the Christians were. Not long after, He connected me to a group of ladies who were truly devoted to serving Him. They ended up being the first prayer group that I was a part of. Did God strategically place me there for them, or were they strategically placed for me? I think we were placed there for each other.

I’ve heard stories about people who were stranded on the side of a road ending up being rescued by a stranger. Did the stranger need them, or did they need the stranger? And, stories about people who were rushed to the emergency room only to find out their emergency was just an excuse to get them there, because God wanted them to minister to a patient.

Wild goose chase or strategically placed? Hmmm!

God has people strategically placed even when the circumstances are not obvious. He has people walking down the street, waiting at a bus stop, or standing in a grocery store line impacting someone’s life without them or anyone else ever knowing about it.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2 NIV)

Humans are not the only ones strategically placed, but so are angels. They may not be in their heavenly garb, but could be in rags sleeping in a ditch. (See Week 69: Costumes). God’s ways and methods are far beyond our scope of comprehension. We must have the faith to believe that our lives are not our own, but for God’s purpose.

So the next time you’re wandering around lost, or bothered by some annoying stranger, or victim of a bureaucratic mix-up, or sitting in an audience bored stiff—think:

Am I strategically placed?

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Monday, January 30, 2017

Week 172: Processing . . .

Processing. . .

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

• Processing. . .

• . . . . . . . . . . . .

• DONE!

We are hopeful when we see the little hour glass on the computer screen that tells us—information processing. When we pray, our faith tells us—information processing.

God has already answered the prayers that are prayed in His will. However, quite often, we lose hope when we don’t see the manifestations right away. True faith is in the middle of making our request and seeing the manifestation. It’s the in between stage that test our faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

How can we stay in faith while waiting?

One way to stay in faith is to prepare our minds that this might take some time. (See Week 24: This—Might Take A Minute!) If we make preparations to, let’s say “camp out” for the long haul, it might help us to understand that waiting is a part of the process. Preparing our minds that we might have to wait—disarms doubtful thoughts. The prospect of hope replaces fear.

Questions we should ask while our prayers are being processed:

• Is my faith unwavering? Matthew 21:21-22

• Am I fully leaning on and trusting God? Proverbs 3:5-6

• Am I operating from God’s timetable, or my own? Psalm 37:7

• Am I waiting with a positive attitude? Isaiah 40:28-31

• Do I treat those around me with love? Galatians 5:6

• What am I saying about the situation? James 3:5-10

• What/Who am I listening to? Romans 10:17

Processing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DONE!

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Monday, January 23, 2017

Week 171: Right Place- Right Time- Right Stuff

Right Place—Right Time—Right Stuff

• Perfect configuration. . .

• Perfect alignment. . .

• Perfect formation. . .

Being in the right place, at the right time, with the right stuff—what more can one ask for? The problem, however, comes when trying to figure out: Where is the right place, when is the right time, and what is the right stuff? Hmmm!

It’s good to know that we don’t have to guess our way through life hoping and wishing. Why wander around with blindfolds on when the Holy Spirit will direct our path? (Proverbs 2:5-6) In Isaiah 48:17-18, God tells us that He is our Lord who teaches us what is best and will direct the way which we should go.

God has information that we are not privy to.

But, the Holy Spirit isn’t going to do all the work. We have a responsibility to be obedient to Him, read His Word, and learn His ways. Following God guidance, will position us to receive His blessings. For example, let’s say God puts a desire in our hearts to: get our finances in order, or to start a certain project, or to mend a relationship. Promptings like these could be Him telling us to get our business, or “stuff” together because an opportunity is coming our way; but in order to receive it, certain things must be in place. When we sense the Holy Spirit’s directions, or even think He’s directing us, we have to step out on faith, and prayerfully do it—according to His timetable.

While we are doing our part getting prepared, God is doing His part setting things up: opening the right doors, positioning the right people, making the proper arrangements, and causing appropriate circumstances to work in our favor. Then by faith, God will guide us to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right stuff.

A winning combination!

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