The Power To Change

Robbie L. Rogers

When I pray, I ask God to speak to me. It is a mysterious thing indeed, to hear God speak. Some claim He will not, others claim He speaks in loud audible voices. Only on few occasions have I truly known, I heard God. Mostly it is, I perceived God's voice, in the wind, in His Holy Word -- the Bible, from a friend, from many different places, but usually I know. Sometimes though I am perplexed, I seem to hear nothing, or at least nothing concrete that I am willing to accept.

In recent time I have made it a point to become accustomed to hearing and acting upon the Holy Spirit's guidance, which is of course also God's. In my case, His small quite voice in my head although not weak is easily run over and drowned out by my own reasoning. By acquiescing to His, many, many times I found blessings untold. But God mysteriously works in many ways, hence I must learn that voice, not the way it comes.

The power is in you. Now I understand. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but that of power, love, and discipline. For he has given to us each, the power to change things, through God. God gave us this right!

Do you ask your best friend help you when you have a need? The Holy Spirit that is. I do. Where did I place that wrench? Did I forget to do something important this morning? Help me remember to call. Help me be the person I ought to be in this situation. Be with me guide me that I may do God's will. Jesus said, He must go that we might receive a helper. But we must ask. And if we ask, we must hear. Accepting what we heard is the hard part. The power is within you, I heard.

So how do we hear or feel or receive help from our friend. We must learn, sometimes we do not have to try, we know because we know. But what about the important things, our daily walk, our place in God's vineyards. How can we be a good and faithful servant to an absent God? First of all, He is not absent at all and by truly learning who God is we learn to feel His presence in all aspects of our life. We do this by prayer, by reading the scriptures and by fellowshipping with fellow Christians, learning from them too. In doing so we get a true picture of God's character.

Then looking and learning who our savior is, in the same manor, knowing God sent Jesus, that we might be saved from eternal damnation. Ask that the Holy Spirit be loosed on your life, in and through you. Then go to work as He set you about. Let each day be spent like Jesus said to Mary and Joseph, "I must be about my Father's work."

Many years ago I went away fasting and praying for two-weeks. I sought the Lord concerning a mater not small to me and He answered, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God!" 

I don't understand, Lord, I've been doing that for years, haven't I? 

His answer again and again, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God!"

It took me many years, the thing I sought God for was long gone. Then I knew what He was saying. It was simple, but at that time I clouded my own reasoning, wanting direct answers -- not what God would have me do.

To often we look for God to say, first do this, then do that, if you do then this will happen. God was not willing to give me explicit directions, knowing I needed something that was missing. A dimension I had not given into. A deeper knowing. I sought God's voice, he answered, but I wanted other answers.

The power is within me! If I am not right, uncaring, undisciplined, rebellious, I can blame none other than myself, for God answers our prayers, not necessarily the way we want, but the right way -- the way we need.

God says to us all, seek ye first My ways, learn My Character, who I am, do as I am -- as you see in Me, do, and do it in the place I left you! If you are to be moved then I will send word, otherwise as my trusted servant work as you see the need, as you would if I were working beside you. 

Your place in the vineyard, your job, your life's work, your family, this is your ministry, your vineyards place. If called to minister in or through the church, it is also your place, but never, never let it be said that your church ministry is your only calling, your only ministry. 

You are an extension, a living vine, minister love -- all other things will take care of them selves.

Your place in the vineyards is where God calls you, whether in the church, whether in the wilds of the missionary field, or being the parent of a rebellious teenager -- displaying, love, understanding, and compassion, or comforting the sick, or tending a garden. 

Do His work, placing Him first, always knowing someday He will come expecting to find you where he placed you, as He did with Adam and Eve, expecting to see an increase in what He blessed you with. 

Did you use the talents -- the gifts, He gave you as a tool to further the vineyards, putting yourself on the line, risking it all, trusting you heard His words correctly, all the while listening to the helper whom He sent? If you did, then you will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master." Until then, the power is within you my friend.