Wait, Don't Give Up!!

Today I thought about possibly giving up. I thought about how some things in my life are not going the way I wish they were. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I am not really hearing the Lord's voice. I thought about the fact that I am His child, one of His sheep, and His sheep DO know His voice. So, why was I feeling like I am not hearing Him?

I did feel the need to question God, so I asked Him why others seems to prosper who are doing the same thing I am doing but I am not. I had to ask Him why, since I am willing to work hard and do, are things not as far along as I think they should be?

I had to dig down inside to the "honest" area of my soul and spirit. I had to come clean with myself (because I'm certainly NOT fooling God). I had to honestly say that I need to get myself together. Am I allowing the "things in life" that I want to overshadow the Lord and His place in my life? I could not just answer, "No" so quickly. When I looked back over the past few days, I could see where I moved Him to second place, at a minimum.

How could I allow this to happen? I was studying my Bible, praying, being faithful to Him......but then I let life get in the way and started working very on the life issues and events, forgetting about God. Forgive me, Lord. Here I am doing it again. When am I going to stop this? Why have I fallen back into this state?

Just when I was ready to give up and throw in the towel, I read a devotional that talked about giving up. It came from I Kings 19 and was dealing with Eliajah and how he wanted to give up. The devotion blessed me so much but it was a statement at the bottom of the page that caught my attention. The statement read, "When you're working for Jesus, it's always too soon to quit." In my life, the thing I am working on so hard was given to me by the Lord and I dedicated it and gave it back to Him and always acknowledge that it's His and not mine. Yet, I was going to give up on it. This is His and I cannot give up. He will see it through. He will bless everything to progress in His timing. He will take care of it; He's able.

Thank You, Lord, for taking care of my thinking that was getting out of hand again. Thank You for pointing me to something that would bless me. Thank You for not giving up on me. Thank You for always being with me, always being at work around me and always asking and waiting for me to join You where You're at work around me. Open my spiritual mind, heart and soul to Your will. Remove life's clutter so I can hear You clearly.

Whatever it is, whatever it is, don't give up! Keep on working for the Lord and it will come to pass.