If not now, when?

A number of years ago I had trouble forgiving someone. One wretched morning, as I was sort of praying, sort of ruminating, wishing things were otherwise, I sensed the question: “If not now, when?”

That stopped me in my miserable tracks. Yes, I knew I was commanded to forgive. Yes, I knew that forgiving was in my best self-interest. I just was stuck.

But the question penetrated every barrier. If I were going to forgive someday, and I knew I would (or would have to), why not now? If I weren’t going to forgive at that moment, when would I? What would make it better to forgive at a future time rather than right that minute?

For me, that question got me over the hump. By an act of the will, I forgave right then. What release! What relief!

That powerful question applies to many things, both spiritual and secular. I’m sure you have a list of “want to” actions that you’ve put off.

There are dangers in waiting. You’ll miss opportunities in the present. You’ll miss blessings now that might not be there in the future. Doors may close.

Is there something you need to do that you haven’t done? What is holding you back? What are you waiting for? What makes it better to do it in the future? What is the problem with now?

If not now, when?

God, over and over, has been teaching me to trust Him.

When I lost a job I loved in a company I loved, He showed me that He is sovereign and that He loves me. I learned He had a loving purpose in reassigning me to other purposes.

When I had a serious eye issue and for some weeks did not know if I would retain useful sight, He showed me He was sovereign, that He loves me, and that He had a purpose for me whether or not I could see. He had a loving purpose.

When I was losing sleep and super stressed over the turmoil in the US and the world, He reminded me that He is in charge. The world is His. He is the righteous judge. He has a plan and is working everything according to the counsel of His will. I am to trust Him.

My technological problems with my web site were trivial, but trying. I hadn’t missed a new Sunday post since I started Pressing On Together in July 2014. And then, piling on, my scanner broke. But God is sovereign; He loves me; He has a loving purpose for this.

And, then! Last night in the middle of the night, I realized that the possible problem was an issue with the interface between my browser and my website! I love learning things and getting directions in the middle of the night!

I am back!

Thank You, Lord!

And now, press on!

Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

A sacrifice costs us something. 

When times are good, when the Lord says “yes” to our prayers, thanksgiving is easy. But when times are bad or the Lord says “no,” it costs us to give Him thanks. Yet we are commanded to give thanks in everything, during good times or bad.

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High. (Psalm 50:14) 

Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  (Hebrews 13:15–16) 

There are rewards!

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.  (Psalm 50:23) 

But how?

Understand. Giving thanks to God is a commandment.

Decide. Resolve to give Him thanks.

Be aware. It is easy to give Him thanks when things are good. Be conscious of your determination to thank when times aren’t good or when you find yourself grumbling or bitter.

Practice. As you, over and over, give Him thanks, you build a godly habit.

Press on!

Our* Common Timeline

Chosen

We were chosen before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)

Purpose Prepared

He prepared good works beforehand that we might walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Born

He enabled our conception and birth. (Genesis 29:31)

Saved

When it pleased Him, He revealed His Son to us. (Galatians 1:15)

Sanctified

Now, He is working in us to will and work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

Glorification 

After He has accomplished His purpose in and through us, He will take us home. (Acts 13:36, Romans 8:30)

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*”Our” refers to those who have repented and put their trust in Jesus Christ; those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior.

Harry Durgin Facebook

God’s Sovereign Love

After I was diagnosed with two macular holes and before I was able to travel back to my doctors, I received a lot of conflicting information. For about two months I didn’t know if I would keep useful vision, and I was uncertain about next steps. I would wake in the middle of the night looking around to see if I could still see. It was a very difficult time.

God’s sovereign love keep me going. I was in the midst of editing my book, When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? I was (and am) convinced that He was (and is) in total control, that I would keep, or not keep, useful vision according to His will (and His will alone). I was convinced that whatever happened, He loved me, was with me, would be with me, would bring good out of this trouble, and would give me ways joyfully to serve Him regardless.

Of course, I wasn’t consistent. There were times fear flooded in. Then I would have to give myself a severe talking-to, reviewing God’s truths of His all-powerful love for me.

I learned, first hand, about His sovereign love, grew in humility and submission (I wasn’t in control of this, He was!), and more and more trusted my holy God.

Sovereign Love

God is always who He is, never changing. He is a unified whole, whose attributes don’t conflict, but complement. God always loves and … (pick another attribute).

God’s sovereign love means He is at work in us.

He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) 

The fact that God’s love is sovereign is immense. It isn’t just that He loves His children (those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior), it is that He makes His love tangible reality. He promises love and He fulfills love. He arranges everything to make His love operate in our lives. He uses every storm to make us into the image of His Son, fitting us for eternity, and helping us through our troubles. (Romans 8:28)

Rejoice in His unfathomable love! 

Next steps

We should examine ourselves: Do you, do I, trust God’s sovereignty? Do you, do I, trust God’s love? Is your, my, confidence in Him?

As always, we must be thoughtfully and prayerfully reading God’s word, learning about Him, relying on Him for wisdom and direction.

He is trustworthy. I pray our lives show it.

We wait … and wait … and wait. We wait for the pandemic to be over. We wait for our health, or that of a loved one, to improve. We wait for news. We wait hoping a problem will be solved. We wait for God to intervene, to bless, to give us strength, to …

God also waits

God waited until the fullness of time came before He sent His Son. Galatians 4:4

Jesus waited to go to Bethany until Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. John 11

God is patiently waiting, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

God waited to reveal His Son to Paul. Galatians 1:15-16

God is waiting for the fullness of the Gentiles to come in. Romans 11:25

After Christ Jesus died, was raised from the dead, and seated at the right hand of God, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet. Hebrews 10:12-13

God is waiting until the day He Himself fixed for judgment. Acts 17:31 

We wait for what God waits

God has a glorious plan and a loving purpose for those in Christ.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You. (Psalm 89:14)

God works all things after the counsel of His will, including everything affecting us. Let’s determine to wait in a way that glorifies Him.

Whatever Your Situation

Whatever your situation: Remember:

God is in control. 

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. (Psalm 103:19) 

God is making you better. 

It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) 

God is giving you opportunities to serve.

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) 

Whatever your situation: Determine to:

Trust Him.

God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:28) 

Praise Him.

Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:15) 

Serve Him.

Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.  (Hebrews 12:1) 

Thank Him.

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) 

Press on!

I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus… one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12–14) 

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• This post is for those who trust in Jesus Christ and have received Him as Lord and Savior. If you haven’t, please see Becoming a Child of God.

Harry Durgin Facebook

Bad Results are Good

A bad result from an action is used by God for good in a Christian’s life.

Huh?

There are at least three ways bad results are good

Bad results help us see our own sin, confess, and walk more closely to the Lord.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:67) 

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. (Psalm 119:71) 

Bad results prompt us to pray—for ourselves and for the people we may have hurt

God promises to work all things, including bad results, for good

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

He is making us into the image of His Son. (Romans 8:29) 

What to do

Strive to live a godly life, of course.

Examine bad results to identify any sin of your own, then confessing and determining to walk more closely to the Lord.

If you’ve hurt others, try to make it right.

Determine to trust God in this, and every, situation.

And!

Press on!

Beyond the Ridge

When we hike, we generally have a good map, showing the route, elevation changes, distances, and destination. By looking at the map, we know how many ridges are left, how many streams still to cross, and how far we have to go.

In our Christian walk, we know something about the wonders of our destination. We are warned that we’ll have trouble along the way. We are told how to think, speak, and act on our journey. We are certain we will have opportunities to serve. We realize God prepared work for us to do. We are promised guidance and help.

But we don’t know how far we have to go. 

God’s word encourages us to have joy and hope in the journey, to rely on Him along the way, to persevere, and to trust Him for the unknown distance still to go.

Through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we … have hope. [It is] God who gives perseverance and encouragement …  (Romans 15:4–5) 

Therefore …let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.  (Hebrews 12:1) 

Press on!