HOW LONG...?

"Lord, how long will You look on [without action]? Rescue me... (Psalm 35:17)

Have you ever felt like that? The feeling that God is not dealing with your concerns as fast as you need Him to. “Why”, you wonder, “is He not doing anything? Has God forgotten about my desperate situation?” No, He has not forgotten. God will never forget to be faithful. He will never forget to look out for you.

You know what? We may not always understand why God does what He does or allows the things He allows to happen, but one thing is sure: God loves you. He always works for your ultimate good!

God's ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. He says His thoughts for you are not thoughts of evil; He’s got a good plan for your life! Nevertheless, it is by faith that we receive the promises of God, and eventually your faith will be tried. When you face such trials, the wisdom of God suggests that you respond by waiting patiently for the Lord.

The “virtue of patience” is a concept that does not chime in sync with the mood of secular society today, a culture that is marked by an increasing appetite for everything fast - from fast cars to fast food, instant messages to fast computers. There is a growing intolerance for any form of delay. But be assured: with God, delay is not denial!

The Word of God does not change with the culture of the day; rather we should be transformed by the word of God. Our attitude to the delays we experience in life should be defined not by the changing world standards but by the unchanging Word of God that says, "through faith and patience inherit the promises of God” (Hebrews 6:12).

Tried faith necessitates a release of the spirit of patience: Be patient and “you will be perfect and complete lacking nothing” (James 1:3-4). I used to think (like most people) that “suffering” was the main point about Job’s life. But I soon found out that God wants to focus our minds primarily on Job’s “patience” in suffering. This is a life-changing insight. Without patience, a victorious Christian life is impossible.

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11).

Patience does not suggest inactivity. Patience, feeding off your knowledge of God's love and faithfulness, will preserve your trust in Him and sustain your faith. God declares you blessed who patiently waits for Him. He will never fail you!

In the same way that the Lord was merciful, and blessed Job, so will He bless you also with blessings that will not only bring restoration and update your life but will also upgrade it and take you to another level in your enjoyment of God.

"How long...?" is a genuine cry of desperation, but don’t get stressed about “how long...” it is taking for help or solution to come. Trust God and wait for Him with patience. In time He will complete that which concerns you if you endure.

Though it sometimes appears as if God is taking too long to respond or act, especially when we are being severely tested, Scriptures, however, assure us that He is always on time. God will never leave us without help or forsake us. So whatever challenge you face today, go through it with faith. This will require you to learn how to allow patience to have its way in you.

There is joy to be experienced; one that does not depend on everything being 100% perfect but flows from God being present and active even in our daily messy situations. God is always near those who fear Him. This is the believer's source of strength and assurance of victory!

Grace and peace to you!

Pastor Victor Ubani

HOLD ON!

Grace and peace to you by Christ Jesus our Lord!

September, the ninth month of the calendar year, is a month of great spiritual significance. It marks the start of the third and final period of the year and signals a shift in focus from beginning and intermediate periods to ending period.

In this period more than others we are preoccupied with questions about of how the year is progressing with regards to whether we are on track to attaining our expectations and goals. With the shrinking time available to the end of the year an inevitably increasing sense of urgency ensues in our hearts, we can sometimes easily succumb to panic and make costly mistakes which then throws us further off course or we may simply resign helplessly to doing nothing and murmur about how time flies. However, neither panic nor doing nothing is God’s design for the time.

God who we serve and whose we are is a God of time and purpose. I would like to encourage your heart and indeed challenge you with two words the Lord inspired in my heart as I waited on Him concerning this month. It is simply this: “Hold On”! Hold on to God trusting Him, hold on to that which you believed from the beginning concerning 2009, hold on to hope which is the anchor for you life.

I believe that God is releasing a special anointing upon His people at this “time” to see us through this third period of 2009, a year that has so far proven to be the most testing year most of us have ever known. It is a finishing anointing, a consolidating anointing to finish what you started and achieve your goals for this year. "Hold On: you will yet see the goodness of Jehovah"!

Believe God to walk in this fresh anointing that enables you to go the rest of the year with a sound mind, a renewed strength and determination, and precise steps that are ordered by God unto fulfilling purpose.

Let me commend to you a beautifully inspiring passage of scripture in Psalm 27 which says, “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living”(NIV).

It is my heartfelt and fervent pray that the LORD will teach you His ways and guide your every step this month. May your faith, the key that unlocks the grace of God, be strengthened to obtain every grace and wisdom you need in this third and final period of 2009, so that you are able to get to where you desire to be in every area of your life by the end of the year.

“Hold On”, the Lord will reward your confidence richly!