Word Praize

Delay is Not Denial

"Delay is not denial," my agent said as she assured me that she had not forgotten my manuscript or me. It had been three LONG months since the work was finished, and I ached for publication details. Almost seven months later, her words were more than a haunting hope. They reminded that in God's time, not mine, more will be revealed.

The delay taught me to walk by faith and not by natural sight. Therefore, with the eyes of my faith, I saw the book. I felt the raised letters of the title spanned across the glossy cover. I smelled the fresh-inked pages. I saw myself at the podium of a packed auditorium as I read from sections book marked with neon-pink Post-its peeping over the pages. I experienced the "not yet" as if it already "was." Perhaps spiritual vision is sharpened in the delay.

After we have done our part, we turn all else over to God and stand on His promises while we wait for the results that He alone can orchestrate. His Word reminds us, "... though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely
come."

In this moment, perhaps God is saying to us: "Don't run ahead of me. I AM the Author and the Finisher of your faith. I AM in your past, present and future. My timing is always perfect. In the meantime, trust me and go on to the next thing of your life. When you least expect, I will reveal my perfect will that is immeasurably more than you could ever ask, think or imagine--Creator-made--just for you. Don't curse the delay! I reside in the delay."

Prayer: Father God, we acknowledge that you are still on the Throne. It is you who go before, with and ahead-working together all things for the good of us who love you and are called according to your purpose. Today, we cast our feeble efforts and looming anxieties at the foot of your Throne. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. So be it!

© 2006 Stanice Anderson,Inspirational Speaker and Author www.stanice.com, listen and subcribe to my new podcast, Faith Lift(tm).  Also visit me on MySpace at www.myspace.com/isayaprayerforme - add me as your "friend."

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The Threshing Floor of the Heart

The Threshing Floor of the Heart by Valerie Burgess

I read a sermon by Spurgeon on threshing. He made three points. First, We all need threshing. Second, God's threshing is done with great discernment. It's handled differently for each person and should be accepted as such. Third, it will not last forever. He used Isaiah 28:27-28.

From my own Bible reading and personal study, I've written the following thoughts about the "threshing floor."  I have found out that for David it was a place of grace and great value. For Joseph, it was a place of mourning. For Gideon, it was a place to hear from God. For Ruth, it was a place of redemption. In I Kings, it is a place of prophetic utterance. In I Chronicles, its a place of sacrifice.

Somehow these all relate to the lives of people now. When God takes us through a time of threshing as described in Isaiah 21:10 or Micah 4:12, we find the grace of God is ample. We can recognize the great value of this process. It results in mourning, sacrifice, and hearing directly from God. As with David we find that turning to God rather than man is always the best answer, even when we think God might be angry or disappointed. When the anger of the Lord stops (2 Sam 24:16) and our devotion to God begins, the threshing floor becomes our redemption place (Ruth 3). The threshing floor is a place Satan would like to rob. He wants the good wheat produced.(2 Samuel 23:1) But God wants it to be a place where we can tabernacle with him (2 Chronicles 3:1) and receive from him. (2 Chronicles 18:9) Satan wants to have control, but God always has control of threshing floor (Hosea 9:1,2).

I've summed my personal experience, feelings in a poem written to God. Thanks again for listening. As always I pray for you and your family, your friendship is appreciated.

Still on the Threshing Floor

My inadequacies overwhelm me.

When I consider my lack I tremble.

Yet I rest safely on your threshing floor as I anticipate

The awakening in my soul by my kinsman Redeemer.

I turn my mistake-riddled life over to your guardianship

At the place where you tabernacle

Knowing your grace will keep me from harm

And not turn me away.

I lie still listening carefully as your Holy Spirit

Woos me, healing the hardness of my heart,

Replacing it with love and trust.

The threshing of my soul, the trembling of my body

Eases quickly as I feel and respond to your heartbeat

Aligning my direction with your precepts.

My longing builds as I wait on your threshing floor.

Watching for your every movement.

Desiring to hear your voice.

As your threshing floor winnows my innermost,

The wind of your Holy Spirit whisks away my mourning,

Joy comes.

I trust your Holy Spirit to be my continual companion,

As on this invaluable threshing floor I receive value,

Knowing your goodness and mercy will be my provision,

As I tabernacle with you, my Redeemer.

Freelance writer Valerie Burgess lives in Anchorage, Alaska where she follows her callings of being a licensed minister, homeschool Mom, minister's wife and charter school sponsor teacher for homeschooling families.