Cease Striving and Know That He Is God
by Kay Arthur

God had not given Zacharias what he had wanted, what he had prayed for throughout a good portion of his life, yet he remained faithful-totally faithful. He lived a righteous life. By righteous, I mean that he lived according to God's standards, "walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord" (Luke 1:6). He did what God says is right-without bitterness, without anger. He continued to serve God.

If this were your circumstance, if you didn't receive from God what you had asked for, what you had longed for, or, let's say, what was your "human right"-a legitimate need-would the same thing be true of you?

Have you understood, my friend, that . . .

God sees what you need-what you want. He is not blind.

God hears what you pray. He is not deaf.

But you say . . .

God could have moved sooner! Yet God is never late.

But God did not do what He is perfectly capable of doing if He's God! Right!

Yet, it's not because God didn't know-

because God is omniscient-all-knowing.

And it's not because God couldn't do it-

because God is omnipotent-all-powerful.

And it's not because God was occupied somewhere else-

because God is omnipresent-everywhere.

Although it wasn't done your way, the way you dreamed it would be, the way you longed for it to be, never forget-God is sovereign.

So does this mean He loves you any less because you suffered greatly in the process? No, God is love.

It simply means that God is God. We are man, and as man we, like Zacharias and Elizabeth in Luke 1, are to walk blamelessly before Him. And if God chooses then to utterly surprise us in this life, even as He did with Zacharias and Elizabeth, we will have our answer, our proof of just what God had in mind all the time. However, even if God does not choose to surprise us, we will have shown our Father that we love and trust Him for who He is-God.

In the very process of it all, my friend, the world will see and know the reality of our faith, the sufficiency of His lavish, extravagant grace, and the destiny of our soul-for we are His people.

And someday, as His people, we will have exceeding abundantly beyond what eye can see, ear can hear, and mind can comprehend-for we will have it all as heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.

Do you have something to give thanks for? Thank Him daily and trust Him.

Our world is filled with bitter, angry, hostile, hurting people who, when it comes to relationships and eternal matters, do not really know their right hand from their left. Let's not join their ranks even for a second.

Cease striving, Beloved, and know that He is God. The Lord is in His holy temple-He never leaves His throne. You are secure. Now walk blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord by walking under the power and control of the Holy Spirit. Celebrate each new day with a grateful heart! Thank Him that you know these truths, and because of His mercy and grace in bringing you to Him, you can walk in them. Then live the way He says to live.

Like Zacharias and Elizabeth, you will find peace in the acceptance of His will.

Kay Arthur
Host, Precepts For Life
Co-CEO, Precept Ministries International

Saturday, August 15, 2009