Step Seven-Week Four

STEP SEVEN: WE HUMBLY ASKED HIM TO REMOVE OUR SHORTCOMINGS

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips, and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up, and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. Daniel 10:1-12

I read somewhere recently we each have two personalities: –

1. Our public personality – the peronality eveybody sees because it’s the one we want to express to the world. The one who has it all together, who copes with almost everything and doesn’t let life get the better of us. The one who is confident an example of balance and control.
   
2. Our pivate personality – the personality we keep for our alone time becai=use we are asamed and unsure the worl will accept us if they knew the truth. The one of uncertainty, low self-esteem and is afraid to setp put of our comfort zone into unknown and uncommon areas in life. The one who lacks confidence and is an axample of imbalance and little or no control.

We both have each of these personalities and they both need God’s assistance in keeping them BALANCED.

Rest is important

Psalms 127:2 It’s useless for you to work from early morning until late at night just to get food to eat. God provides for those he loves even while they sleep.

Rest is an important ingredient in the recovery formula. Rest is important in maintaining balance in our lives. We live in a world where there always seems to be too much to do.

Rest is an important part of God’s plan for us. On the seventh day, God rested not because He was tired, but to indicate the task was complete. Our full and complete rest begins when we trust Him to complete the task He has begun in our lives through the process of recovery.

In preparation for today’s message, I looked at the scripture above. Focusing on verse 12 in a number of Bibles. From these things, a number of things became apparent to me.

I. WHEN WE PRAY GOD HEARS US even when we don’t get an immediate response. We need to “RELAX’ and be patient that He is n control, He knows what he is doing and He wants what is best for us.

‘Relax, Daniel,’ he continued, ‘don’t be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. Daniel 10:12

II. WHEN WE PRAY GOD IS ALREADY WORKING ON OUR NEEDS

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. Daniel 10:12

III. SOMETIMES GOD’S ANSWERS DON’T LINE UP WITH OUR EXPECTATIONS

Then he said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer. Daniel 10:12

My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. John 10:27-29

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT OUR SOUL

Matthew 16:26What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? What will a man give in exchange for his soul?

-every time I hear this verse I hear the song in my head ‘YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT!”

Deuteronomy 11:13 CEV The LORD your God commands you to love him and to serve him with all your heart and soul.

-everything in my character, personality, thought and behavior is important to God and needs to be submitted to His control.

Psalms 34:2 ESV My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

HUMILITY has nothing to do with what I have done and everything to do with what He has done, is doing, and will do in and through me.

Psalms 35:9 BBE My soul will have joy in the Lord; it will be glad in his salvation.

If I am dissatisfied with my progress in recovery it’s my fault, not God’s.

Psalms 62:1 ESV For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

My recovery progresses in God’s timing, not mine.

Matthew 10:28 MSG “Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.”

I’m in His hands, He has my future planned and prepared and telling others about His love and hope for them is important.

Hebrews 10:39 NLT We are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

BE DIFFERENT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

3 John 1:2 NKJV Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Spiritual growth and the growth of our souls go hand in hand.

Above are some of my final thoughts on Step Seven. My hope and my prayer is that God will use something shared here to influence someone’s life, to point them to Him, and to help them change the things in their character so they may become all He has planned and prepared for them.

Join me next week as we begin to look at Step Eight together.