Sanctuary of Tranquility: Sovereignty...It's All About Him, Not Us

Sanctuary of Tranquility: Sovereignty...It's All About Him, Not Us: "Sovereignty is God's control over His creation, dealing with His governance over it: Sovereignty is God's rule over all rea...

Sovereignty...It's All About Him Loving Us

"Sovereignty is God's control over His creation, dealing with His governance over it: Sovereignty is God's rule over all reality."                                  ~ Dr. Norman Geisler

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that God is not sovereign. As a society, we convince ourselves that we are 100% free thinkers.
We believe in coincidences and we doubt the power of our own words spoken into the universe. We give up on our prayers if we don't receive instant gratification and, as much as we try to convince ourselves that we know God, we are clueless of the greatness and mighty power of Our Heavenly Father. 


He wants to bless us in a great way, the questions are these, are we wise enough to trust Him without seeing what the blessings are in advance? Will our doubt and stubbornness get in the way of our receiving all that He has for us? And are we so determined to believe that everything is all about us that we either ignore His promptings, or we go after change, full throttle and miss out on the daily wonders and blessings He provides in our lives?

He knows what we're doing, how we're trying to run the show, how our desire is to make things happen our way and in our time. I wonder what His thoughts are about that? 
A question for later. 

Waiting on His blessings is part of His plan. He wants us to trust in Him *daily* which is not always easy. I struggle with it all to often. "Dad, how much longer?" "Dad, when will we get there?"  
I am certain that like any father He either grins and keeps moving along or makes me wait even longer because of my lack of patience. We get so caught up in our desire for something that we miss the other daily blessings.

For example, this morning I noticed wild Morning Glories have intertwined themselves with my tomato plants. In the early hours before the sun was to bright, I spotted them, they're brilliant violet was amazing. Sadly, I walk by them every morning in my rush to go to work and I have overlooked  them until today. What a shame. How in the world???


Waiting on the Lord is a test of obedience, a test of endurance and a huge test of faith. When we behave like humans and try to make things happen that we have absolutely no control over, He makes note of it, yet He understands. He has told me that I think too much, I guess that's the research psychologist part in me (one of my passions). At any rate it is not beneficial to me in any scenario where I need to wait. This alone makes it wise for me to give it all to Him, each and every worry, and every concern! 
I know in my heart that He loves me so very deeply that every single plan He has for me will be amazing. My gift back to Him is my endurance which makes being patient easier. Without patience we have no faith and without faith, we have no patience. 

James 1:2-4 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Because of His sovereignty, anything that He does is mighty and filled with wonder. 
Because He knows all things concerning all people, we can be assured that the affect will be huge, the  ramifications a plenty and the changes...whatever He desires. A guaranteed trickle down affect, things and people constantly altered and changed; many of those changes will and do go unnoticed. Within ourselves we won't even be aware of them at all or at first. He makes all things new. 
He tells us so. 

Isaiah 43:18 Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old, Behold, I am doing a new thing now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and springs in the dessert. 

Revelations  21:5 And he who is seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 

That is why His timing is so crucial. And it is also why it is so important to be patient. He is always behind the scene moving in our lives in ways we are clueless of. Putting each and every detail of His marvelous plan into place.  He is so amazing.

"The sovereignty of God means that He has total control of all things past, present and future. Nothing happens that is out of His knowledge and control. All things are either caused by Him or allowed by Him for His own purposes and through His perfect will and timing (Romans 11:36, 1 Corinthians 8:6) He is the only absolute and omnipotent ruler of the universe and is sovereign in creation, providence and redemption."  


There is no way to hide from Him, avoid Him or run from His love. He knows us inside out. Where we are and what we're doing. He knows who we talked to on the phone and who's calls we ignored. He knows how much time we spend on Facebook or chasing Pokemon. He knows all about that picture you sent someone on your phone and He knows how they reacted when they saw it. He knows what our thoughts are at any given moment. How else would He know when we need to experience something that will change our attitude or make us grow?  

He knows what we buy, and where we put it. He knows if we lost something and He knows exactly where it is. He knows what we have stashed in our attic, garage, storage units and each and every cupboards and He knows exactly the right time for us to find it. 
Last Winter I kept getting a vision of something like a Birthday card or a book and I couldn't figure out what it was that He was trying to show me. I was having some difficulties at work that were making me crazy. I kept praying for wisdom and the confidence to handle the situation with the wisdom and grace that would please Him. I had seen the vision several times before I finally asked Him to help me. He advised me to clean out a specific cupboard in my living room.There in the cupboard I found a series of Bible Studies from Women of Faith. There were two left on top of the stack that I hadn't completed. The top one was the very image of the book I had been envisioning. 
                                                                        The title, 'Trusting God' A Life Without Worry  

                                    A bit of priceless advice from our maker Himself. 

                                            Trust Him. Never doubt. Never Worry 
                       He loves each of us more than we could ever begin to imagine. 



Daniel 4:34-35 At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar lifted my eyes to Heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I praised and honored Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His Kingdom endures from generation to generation  35.all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"

Sanctuary of Tranquility: I called on Him, but He did not answer. Song of P...

Sanctuary of Tranquility: I called on Him, but He did not answer. Song of P...: When the things we pray for seem out of reach,  unobtainable,  or even impossible; instead of bemoaning it to God,  we must press in with ...

I called on Him, but He did not answer. Song of Psalms 5:6

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Have you ever wondered if God hears your prayers? I am fully confident that He does. Often times the things we pray

Although i am fully confident that he does, sometimes our prayers seem too big, out of our reach, unobtainable, or even impossible, but I believe that those are the prayers he loves the most. After all, Our Lord created the universe and everything in it, so surely anything we could possibly pray would not present a problem. 

The song says, “Nothing, Nothing, Absolutely Nothing. Nothing is too Difficult for Thee”. 
I can say with total confidence, that what we view as difficult, is His comfort zone. Praise God! 

So, instead of moaning and groaning to God and saying things to Him that we really don’t mean or have no proof of, we must press in with total confidence that the plans he has for our lives are on a spreadsheet on his desk, and he’s working on it. 

Biblical Scholars have determined that most of our hearts desires, and the things we pray for were ideas planted in our hearts and minds by God, himself, which makes perfect sense to me.  I can’t count the times when someone I know will suddenly be on my mind and in heart and I know very well that he is prompting me to pray for that person. 
It is his desire to open our eyes, and test our faith. What’s cool, is that he puts each of us in other peoples minds as well so that they npmay pray for us. He is so amazing. 

The Lord has given varying amounts of faith to his people. It has been said that he gives you what you need to get you through his plans for your life. Although that may very well be true, he also gives us countless opportunities to stretch or deepen that original faith, and it has been up to us to determine if we are up for those challenges or not. 

He has been known to test us with long delays when we feel forgotten, or we’re certain He is ignoring us. It has been said that “He will allow the voices of His saints to echo in their ears as if their prayers were rebounding from a contemptuous sky. Believers have knocked at the Heavenly Gate but it has remained immovable, as though its hinges had rusted.”
And like Jeremiah, they have cried, “You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through” Lamentations 3:44 

Have you ever felt like that? I know I certainly have. In fact I’m waiting on a promise right this minute. Waiting, and wondering if He has forgotten about me, or perhaps He changed his mind. Even though these things cross my mind, i know it’s all about His timing and My Faith. 

How does one acquire great faith? 
My answer, obedience. Even when it scares you, be obedient. 

Believe. Press in. Seek him daily, Pray about everything. Talk to him as if He is seated next to you, and pour your heart out...every detail
He hears you, and He will respond. 

Invite him to go everywhere you go, work, school shopping. He wants to be with you and help you make decisions. 

Talk to Him, He will respond. 
Joke with Him, He will joke back.

Certainly you will go through storms, but He never leaves your side. DurHe will each one greater than the one before to examine and strenthen your faith. Pray for Mustard Seed Faith and expect storms. During these storms, cry out to him. Sometimes it is ok to even be mad at him, like any good father, he understands.  
Psalm 56:8 (MSG) You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights. Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. 

He is the best friend you will ever have. and when He knows we trust Him, he stretches our faith. Certainly there will be hormonal days, or days when the evil one attacks you, and tries to convince you that God is a liar, but we know who the real liar is. This knowledge gives us the ability to laugh right in the devils face and tell him to be gone! Remind Him of where he’s heading and praise Jesus for chosing you and loving you so very much. 
Scripture for Today: Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. (Matthew 15:28)
Faith is the key to receiving, not doubt. If you want God to move in your life you have to believe he will. He knows each of us and what degree of faith we have. Don’t let your blessings pass you by because of unbelief. Be blessed and be encouraged. True saints of God have endured lengthy times of patient waiting with no reply, not because their prayers were prayed without intensity, not because God did not accept their pleas. They were required to wait because it pleased Him who is sovereign and gives, “according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13) 

Mark 4:35-38 TPT “Later that day, after it grew dark, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” After they had sent the crowd away, they shoved off from shore with him, as he had been teaching from the boat, and there were other boats that sailed with them. Suddenly, as they were crossing the lake, a ferocious tempest arose, with violent winds and waves that were crashing into the boat until it was all but swamped. But Jesus was calmly sleeping in the stern, resting on a cushion. So they shook him awake, saying, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to die!” Fully awake, he rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, “Hush! Calm down!” All at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm. Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?” But they were overwhelmed with fear and awe and said to one another, “Who is this man who has such authority that even the wind and waves obey him?” 

When you think that God has forgotten his promisses to you, remind yorself of the storm that night, and how before they ever got on the boat that night, Jesus told them they were going to the other side. When the Holy Spirit tells you of things to come, they will happen. It pleases him to cause our patience to be excercised. As a father, should he not do what he feels is necessary with his own children?

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God, must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. 

I'm Sticking with God

I will be the first in line to admit that my patience could use some work, so don't ask me to pray for patience again because I know better. Praying for patience means doing a great deal of waiting. Waiting for trains, waiting to pull out of parking lots, waiting on phone calls, and waiting on God. He likes to make us wait. I must be the poster child for impatience because Jesus tells me to be patient a lot and I still do a great deal of waiting. 
According to renowned Christian author and spokesman,   Dr. David Jeremiah,  "If God sees that making us wait is good for us, He will make us wait."   

There is actually a great deal of reassurance found in those words when they come from Him. He could just tell us "No Way!"  By asking us to be patient, He is making a deal or a contract with us. That goes with anything we ask in prayer for God to change about us or do for us. 
C.S Lewis said, "Being a Christian is not for sissy's", and he wasn't just a kidding. It's tough stuff, especially if you want to be any good at it. For me, being a bench warmer on Sunday morning is not enough, so despite the difficulties that go along with it, I'm sticking with God. And that means waiting on Him.  

Romans 8:25 If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

Pretending that God is a Genie in a Bottle that will give us anything we ask for in prayer is silly and wrong, after all, He is not Daddy War-bucks, nor is He Santa Claus. He loves us dearly and although He does want to give us the desires of our heart, those desires are always contractual. He doesn't just hand anything over, we must be deserving and we must obey. What he gives us is contingent upon our Faith and His Will. Does He want us to have what we're asking for, will it be for the good of His Kingdom, what is our motivation for wanting it? And the big question, the one that throws so many of us off...are we willing to enter into the contract? 
The contracts God has with us don't just mean having Faith in His promises, we must also accept the fact that what we are asking for will happen on His timing, not ours. That is the factor that prevents many people from receiving what He has for them. Their unwillingness to wait on Him. They get tired of waiting, change their mind or find something they believe they would be just as satisfied with. Some loose direction, many actually give up their dreams and unfortunately, there are those who give up on God as a result of their very own lack of patience with God.
They failed to read the fine print in the contract and the Bible is filled with all kinds of contracts.       2 Chronicles 7:14 is a contract loaded with contingencies. 

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Wow, who needs an attorney when they have God? 
IF (His favorite) my people who are called by my name humble themselves (that right there is tough stuff for today's crowd ) and pray and seek my face and turn away from their wicked ways (we have to do all that as a nation?                                                                       - - -wow---what are the odds of that?) 

THEN I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin AND heal their land. 
I pray a flood of people will all take part in and sign this contract. It is huge, with IF being the major contingency. (Please read, pray about and sign this contract.)

Another scripture, that is so full of significance is John 12:46-47

If you are reading this and you have not yet accepted Jesus as your savior, please read it carefully.    

John 12:46-47  "I have come into the world as light so that anyone who believes in me does not remain in darkness. If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world, I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I am saying, is willfully choosing rejection. 


I love His plainspokenness. Jesus tells us quite bluntly that He came into our world to save us from darkness and that will only happen IF (His favorite again) we believe in Him.
That doesn't leave much room for confusion.
He goes on to tell us that IF you hear what He is saying, and refuse to take it seriously, you won't be rejected by Him because He didn't come to reject you... however...(another contractual word).
IF you choose to put Him off, by not believing in Him or by not believing what He is saying,
YOU ARE WILLFULLY
choosing to be rejected from Heaven.

That's quite a contract. 
Would you sign it? 
I did, I'm counting on and sticking with God. 

That Other Scripture

I love to read, study and write about the word of God. I find it so fascinating to know that the words we read  in the Holy Bible were breathed from God and are profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  I also find it interesting to research the amount of times a particular word or subject is addressed in the Bible, assuming (you know what they say about assuming) that those numbers must certainly be significant. In many cases, it is true, however, there is one scripture, a scripture my pastor was kind enough to point out to me, that is truly significant in many of our lives and really blew my theory!

First of all, I am going to show a couple of examples that demonstrate my way of thinking when it comes to repetition.
The word judge is used  286 times in the King James Bible. 
One of the most controversial scriptures...

Matthew 7:1-2  Judge not, that ye be not judged, 2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; 
and one of the most highly overlooked. 
Leviticus 19:15 "Don't pervert justice. Don't show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right."  

Judge was obviously a very busy word.as was the word prophet, as it was used 454 times in the King James Bible. A couple of the uses that stand out in my mind are these...
Deuteronomy 18:22  when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. do not have to be afraid of him. 

and  this, which we can currently see a great many examples of

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are raving wolves.

You can see where I am going with this, for a word to be used in Scripture over 400 times certainly should indicate that it was important stuff to God. However, there is another scripture that means the world to many of us, one that has tremendous significance to me.    I recall standing in a very dim, candle-lit church one Saturday night. I was really pressing in and when the pastor spoke of how there is nothing we have done in our lives or can ever do that Jesus won't forgive. 

No addiction, no sin; even the sins we find it difficult, if not impossible to admit and forgive ourselves for. There is nothing that He can't heal and change about any one of us if we repent and ask Him to forgive us and heal us.His love for us is that great!  

The pastor's words that evening opened up a floodgate for me and I will never be the same. I was different, new and although there have been and certainly will be many, many more moments when various scriptures have and will affect me in extremely strong and emotional ways, I was changed that evening and I will never be the same again. 

The Message Bible describes the process I experienced that evening. A process so many of us have experienced and are asked to lead others to... 

5-6 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.

7-8 “So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.”

KJV 5.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6.That which s born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. 7. Marvel Not that I say unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Born Again, so significant and used only one time in the entire Bible; John 3:5-7

You can see where I'm going with this will direct you to a link to a 1-Minute Bible Love Note word study that is fun and fascinating.