Sometimes we expect the Lord to move in the same way He has before. When the situation seems similar, we may assume the strategy should be familiar too. But having that assumption can cause us to miss moments when God wants to do something new, whether it’s in us or through us.
The key to knowing what the Lord wants to do is simple: ask Him. God loves to hear from us. He wants to be involved in every detail of our lives, even the things we may think are too small or unimportant to bring before Him.
As parents, we know the joy of hearing from our children. If you have older children, as I do, you understand what a blessing it is when they come to you for advice or ask you to pray for them. I love when my sons seek my counsel. Even though they are older now, it means so much to me as a mother that they still trust what I have to say.
And if you have a preschooler, as I do (lol), you feel the same joy when they always want to talk to you. I love when he climbs into my lap and says, “Mommy, let’s talk.” Of course, his conversations move quickly from one thought to the next, but I treasure every moment of talking and listening to him.
The same is true of our Heavenly Father. He loves when we come to Him to talk, to ask, and to seek His guidance. God is delighted when we seek His face, and He welcomes us when we come to Him for direction.
In 1 Chronicles 14:8–17, David faced two battles against the same enemy: the Philistines. In both battles, David inquired of the Lord. In both moments, God answered and gave David instructions. To inquire means ‘to ask,’ ‘to seek information.’
The difference was that God’s instruction for the first battle was not the same as His instruction for the second. Same Philistines. Same valley. Different strategy.
- In the first battle, the Lord told David, “Go up.” (1 Chronicles 14:10, ESV).
- In the second battle, God told David not to go up, but to go around and come against the Philistines opposite the balsam trees. (1 Chronicles 14:14, ESV).
David experienced victory in both battles because he did two things: he asked God, and he obeyed God’s instructions.
Maybe your victory hasn’t come yet because you haven’t inquired of the Lord. Or maybe you have asked, but have not followed through on the instructions He gave you. There are times we don’t follow instructions, and it causes us to compromise our walk with the Lord. It causes us to lose our integrity. Sometimes we find ourselves in relationships we shouldn’t have entered because we didn’t seek the Lord’s guidance. We asked for everyone else’s opinion, but we never asked God for His.
We can end up fighting the same battle and staying stuck, not because God isn’t willing to act, but because we’ve grown too used to expecting Him to work in a certain way. At times, we even try to tell Him exactly how He should respond.
Sometimes we miss God’s perfect timing and the opportunities He gives us simply because we didn’t ask Him what to do, where to go, or when to move. I know it’s happened to me more often than I’d like to admit. If we want to see God work in our lives, it starts with obedience. Loving God means obeying Him.
Inquire of the Lord, and then wait for His answer. If it feels like He’s taking a long time, keep waiting and immerse yourself in His Word. I’ve prayed many times and waited for a response, and while it didn’t always come immediately, I often found it when I opened my Bible and began reading. It amazes me every time. When we seek Him, we will always find Him.
Daughters of Fire, trust the Lord with all your heart and watch Him accomplish more than you ever imagined. Don’t let your own understanding lead you astray. What might take years can, through obedience, be done in months or even weeks. God is more than able; I’m living proof. Keep your focus on Him, not the battle. When your eyes are on Him, He gives you strength and sustains you. He will bless you, enabling you not only to possess the land but to walk in His favor while you’re there.
Even if God does not move the way you expected, He is still God. He is still good. Even if He does not answer the way you imagined, He has a better way, and His way is BETTER!
Our focus should never rest only on what God can do for us, but on who He is to us.
Remember to:
- Inquire of the Lord.
- Wait for His instructions.
- Obey, even when His direction is unfamiliar.
- Focus on who He is, not only on what He can do.
Daughters of Fire, I am praying for you. I love you, but Jesus loves you so much more.
Daughter Of Fire 