Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Tuesday January 6, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Genesis.

Today's Message: God's Timing. It is very important that we wait on God to answer our prayers in His time, not ours. It can be very hard to wait for prayers to be answered, but we must let God answer them in His time. He knows what is best for us and while we wait for the answers He is preparing us to be able to handle them.

Today's Bible Reading: Genesis Chapters 16-18,
You can read them here by clicking on the link or you can copy ans paste this link into your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2016-18&version=9

Although God had promised Abram that he would be a father of many nations he and Sarai were childless. At the age of 85 he and Sarai began to doubt God's unconditional promise given by him. Then Sarai came up with an idea that Abram agreed upon. "Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee." (Genesis 16:1-5). Sarai thought she was helping Abram succeed, but she soon found out that it was not wise to interceed in God's plans. She grew to despise Hagar when she conceived.

At the age of 86, Abram did receive a son, Ishmael, by Hagar. It was thirteen years later that God spoke to Abram. "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Genesis 17:1-5). I am the Almighty God, means the One who is All-Sufficient. God truly is the One and Only who can supply us with all of our needs.

Abraham was now 99 years old and Sarah was 90. At her age, it was humanly impossible for Sarah to have a child. But God revealed to Abraham that she would bare him a child. "And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him." (17:15-19). Through Abraham, God would teach us how our faith can be strengthened by allowing a 90 year old woman to concieve a child.

One of the great tests of our faith is waiting upon the Lord. It may take two days, weeks, or years, or as in Abraham's situation, 25 years for our prayers to be answered or desires to be fulfilled. However, God has the perfect plan for us and knows when the time is right to give us what we need. It can be tempting to help God out and take things into our own hands, but all we do is make things worse. Every time we go above the Lord we go backward instead of forward in our walk with Him. Then God has to go back to square one and show us that we need to slow down and wait for Him. What we think we need in the present is nothing compared to what God has in store for us, all we have to do to get it is wait on Him.

Christ is Revealed: As the seed of Issac. "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him." (Genesis 17:19). Jesus Christ was Christ was a descendant of Isaac.

Today's Psalm: 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, I know that You have great plans for me, but I also know that I must wait on You to receive them. Bless me with the patience I need to let You prepare me for the prayers I need answered. Walk with me, guide me, and abide in me, bless me with the power of your Spirit to allow me to follow Your Will and wait on You no matter how long it takes. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and know that God is with You.
God Bless,
Christina

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