Spiritual Weight Training: Trusting God's Timing and Preparation
Summary
Continuing with the theme of "God's Gym," we explore the concept of "weight training"—not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual discipline of waiting on God. Just as physical fitness requires patience and perseverance, so does spiritual growth. We often find ourselves impatient, wanting immediate results, but God calls us to wait, trusting in His perfect timing. This waiting is not passive; it involves active trust and faith in God's promises, even when circumstances seem unchanged.
David's story in Psalm 31 illustrates this beautifully. Despite being surrounded by enemies, David declares, "My times are in your hands." This is a profound acknowledgment that our future is secure when entrusted to God. It challenges the modern notion that our destiny is solely in our hands. Instead, we are called to cooperate with God, trusting that He will bring about His promises in due season.
While waiting, we must remain faithful in our current circumstances. David, anointed as king, continued to tend sheep, demonstrating faithfulness in small tasks. This faithfulness prepares us for greater responsibilities. Similarly, we are encouraged to "dig ditches" in preparation for God's blessings. This means taking practical steps in faith, preparing for the fulfillment of God's promises.
Listening for God's instructions is crucial. In moments of pressure, we must resist the urge to make hasty decisions. Instead, like Jesus, we should seek God's wisdom, trusting that He will provide a way that aligns with His will. Finally, we are called to live in expectation, maintaining hope and trust in God's faithfulness. This expectation renews our strength, enabling us to persevere with joy and anticipation.
Key Takeaways:
1. Trust in God's Timing: Our future is secure when we place it in God's hands. Trusting in His timing requires patience and faith, even when circumstances seem unchanged. This trust is an active decision to believe in God's promises. [04:28]
2. Faithfulness in the Present: Like David, we must remain faithful in our current roles, even when we know God has greater plans for us. This faithfulness in small tasks prepares us for larger responsibilities and blessings. [19:33]
3. Preparation for God's Blessings: "Digging ditches" symbolizes preparing for God's promises. This involves taking practical steps in faith, ensuring we are ready to receive and steward God's blessings when they come. [37:13]
4. Listening for God's Instructions: In times of pressure, we must seek God's wisdom rather than making hasty decisions. God often provides a third option that aligns with His will, beyond the apparent choices before us. [49:40]
5. Living in Expectation: Maintaining hope and trust in God's faithfulness renews our strength. This expectation allows us to persevere with joy, knowing that God will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing. [56:16]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:36] - Introduction to God's Gym
[02:50] - The Challenge of Waiting
[04:28] - Trusting God's Timing
[07:18] - Casting Cares on God
[11:28] - Enjoying the Journey
[12:12] - Being Faithful Where You Are
[19:33] - David's Anointing and Faithfulness
[21:00] - Lessons from the Field
[26:31] - The Importance of Faithfulness
[30:42] - Preparing for Promotion
[37:13] - Digging Ditches for God's Blessings
[40:49] - The Balance of Preparation and Faith
[46:31] - Listening for God's Instructions
[56:16] - Living in Expectation
[59:19] - Renewed Strength in Waiting
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "God's Gym: Weight Training"
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 31:13-15
2. 1 Peter 5:7
3. Isaiah 40:27-31
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Observation Questions:
1. In Psalm 31, what does David mean when he says, "My times are in your hands"? How does this reflect his trust in God during difficult circumstances? [04:28]
2. According to 1 Peter 5:7, what are believers encouraged to do with their anxieties and worries? How does this relate to trusting God with our future? [07:18]
3. In Isaiah 40:31, what promise is given to those who wait on the Lord? How does this promise encourage believers to maintain hope and strength during times of waiting? [56:16]
4. How does the story of David's anointing and his continued faithfulness as a shepherd illustrate the importance of being faithful in small tasks? [19:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to actively trust in God's timing, even when circumstances seem unchanged? How can this trust be demonstrated in daily life? [04:28]
2. How does the concept of "digging ditches" for God's blessings challenge believers to prepare for what they are praying for? What practical steps might this involve? [37:13]
3. In what ways can believers listen for God's instructions during times of pressure, and how can this prevent hasty decisions? [49:40]
4. How does living in expectation of God's faithfulness renew a believer's strength and enable them to persevere with joy? [56:16]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to wait for something important. How did you handle the waiting period, and what might you do differently now to trust in God's timing? [04:28]
2. Identify a small task or responsibility in your life where you can demonstrate greater faithfulness. How might this prepare you for larger responsibilities in the future? [19:33]
3. Consider an area in your life where you are waiting for God's blessing. What practical steps can you take to "dig ditches" in preparation for that blessing? [37:13]
4. Think of a recent situation where you felt pressured to make a quick decision. How can you apply the lesson of listening for God's instructions to similar situations in the future? [49:40]
5. How can you cultivate a mindset of expectation and hope in God's promises, even when facing challenges? What specific actions can you take to renew your strength in the Lord? [56:16]
6. Reflect on the role of prayer in your life. How can you use prayer as a tool to dig ditches and prepare for God's work in your life? [51:33]
7. Identify one area where you need to cast your cares upon God. What steps can you take this week to release your anxieties and trust in His care? [07:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
In the journey of faith, trusting in God's timing is a profound act of surrender. It requires patience and faith, especially when circumstances seem unchanged. This trust is not passive; it is an active decision to believe in God's promises, even when the path ahead is unclear. Like David in Psalm 31, who declared, "My times are in your hands," we are called to acknowledge that our future is secure when entrusted to God. This challenges the modern notion that our destiny is solely in our hands and invites us to cooperate with God, trusting that He will bring about His promises in due season. [04:28]
Isaiah 30:18 (ESV): "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's timing? How can you actively choose to trust Him in this area today?
Day 2: Faithfulness in the Present
Remaining faithful in our current roles, even when we know God has greater plans for us, is a vital aspect of spiritual growth. David, anointed as king, continued to tend sheep, demonstrating faithfulness in small tasks. This faithfulness prepares us for larger responsibilities and blessings. It is in the mundane and everyday tasks that God shapes our character and prepares us for what lies ahead. By being faithful where we are, we align ourselves with God's purposes and open the door for His greater plans to unfold in our lives. [19:33]
Luke 16:10 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
Reflection: What small task or responsibility in your life can you approach with renewed faithfulness today, trusting that it is preparing you for something greater?
Day 3: Preparing for God's Blessings
"Digging ditches" symbolizes preparing for God's promises. This involves taking practical steps in faith, ensuring we are ready to receive and steward God's blessings when they come. It is an act of faith to prepare for something that has not yet materialized, trusting that God will fulfill His promises. This preparation is not about striving in our own strength but about aligning our actions with God's will, making room for His blessings to flow into our lives. [37:13]
2 Kings 3:16-17 (ESV): "And he said, 'Thus says the Lord, "I will make this dry streambed full of pools." For thus says the Lord, "You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals."'"
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to prepare for a promise or blessing you are trusting God for?
Day 4: Listening for God's Instructions
In times of pressure, seeking God's wisdom is crucial. We must resist the urge to make hasty decisions and instead listen for God's instructions. Often, God provides a third option that aligns with His will, beyond the apparent choices before us. This requires a posture of humility and openness to God's guidance, trusting that He will lead us in the right direction. By seeking His wisdom, we align our decisions with His purposes and experience His peace in the midst of uncertainty. [49:40]
James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to seek God's wisdom today? How can you create space to listen for His instructions?
Day 5: Living in Expectation
Maintaining hope and trust in God's faithfulness renews our strength. This expectation allows us to persevere with joy, knowing that God will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing. Living in expectation is about having a confident hope that God is at work, even when we cannot see it. It is about holding onto His promises and allowing them to shape our perspective and actions. This hopeful anticipation fuels our perseverance and enables us to navigate life's challenges with joy and resilience. [56:16]
Romans 15:13 (ESV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of expectation and hope in your daily life, trusting that God is at work even when you cannot see it?
Quotes
And so if you read the entire Psalm, and I encourage you to do that at some point today, you find him saying, God deliver me. will. And I believe that he will. And I believe that he will. the scripture that sums up this entire psalm is verse 15 in fact we might as well back up to verse 13 it'll help us to get a little better understanding of what he's saying there verse 13 says for i have heard the slander of many fear was on every side while they took counsel together against me they devised to take away my life but i trusted in thee oh lord i said thou art my god verse 15 my times are in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me notice he said my times the word times there means uh it gets translated also in scripture as due season it's talking about the time when the tide comes in it's talking about that time where you have victory where god has come through and he says my times are in your hands my times are in your hands not my times whether or not this works out for me whether or not my future is what i want it to be is in my hands we hear that a lot nowadays uh and a lot of times people have good intentions when they say that but they're somewhat inaccurate when they say well you know what happens in your future is entirely up to you well yes and no if it's only a matter of time and a lot of times people have good intentions when they say that but up to you, then your future isn't going to be too bright. [00:04:19] (102 seconds)
Here he's saying that my times are in your hands. I love what the New Living Translation says or how it translates this. It says my future is in your hands. My future. In other words, whether or not I come out of this, whether or not my future is what I want it to be, is up to you. I'm trusting you with that. And we can see that's where he's going with this by looking at verse 5. He says in verse 5, into thine hand I commit my spirit. [00:06:03] (39 seconds)
So he's saying here, he's able to say my future is in your hand because he placed it in God's hand by choosing to trust God in the middle of this circumstance, by choosing to believe that God would take care of him. And that's exactly what we need to do as well. We've got to get to the place where we recognize that my future is in your hands if you've decided that god i'm believing you for this or i'm believing you for that then you put your future in his hands and you got to remember that they are in his hands and you got to recognize that your future is in good hands faithful hands powerful hands hands that are able to provide what god said he's going to provide hands that are able to perform perform what you need god to perform many of us have seen the commercials that say you're in good hands with all state i want you to know you're in good hands with jesus when you put your future in his hands your future is secure you are going to have the future that you want to have go to first peter chapter five i love i ran across a couple of things online on instagram actually and one of them said this it said those who leave everything in god's hand will eventually see [00:06:55] (86 seconds)
And thank God that those things are coming. But, you know, if you're not careful, you'll miss enjoying where they are right now. And one of the things that God wants you to do is to enjoy the journey, is to be able to still enjoy your life, still be happy in your life while you wait for God to do what he's going to do in your future. [00:11:01] (23 seconds)
Because as we've already established, there are going to be times you're going to have to wait for God to produce in your life what you are asking him to produce. It's particularly true when it comes to the dream he's put in your life, your heart. So what do I do while I'm waiting for God to get me to that place I want to be in? For God to open that door, for God to give me that promotion, for God to give me that victory. The first thing is simply this, that you need to be faithful where you are. [00:12:12] (36 seconds)
let me keep moving then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel and he said neither hath the Lord chosen this then Jesse made Shammah to pass by and he said neither hath the Lord chosen this again he said neither hath the Lord chosen this again Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel and Samuel said unto Jesse the Lord hath not chosen these and Samuel said unto Jesse are here all thy children and he said there remaineth yet the youngest and behold he keepeth the sheep and Samuel said unto Jesse send and fetch him for we will not sit down till he come thither it's very interesting to me here that Samuel called Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice and they did not bring David David David was not invited and you know they had to bug him a little bit why do I have to stay behind and watch the sheep and they may not have known why they were coming maybe they did know but the bottom line is David wasn't invited but when Samuel went through every son and recognized that none of these men were the one that God had chosen then he said we will not sit until David comes see man may not invite you to the party but when God gets you it's done you'll have a standing reception [00:15:04] (75 seconds)
so that's what happened man they're waiting till David comes in he was the one that was forgotten and now everybody's waiting to see what happens with David verse 12 and he sent and brought him in now he was ruddy meaning he was red red face, red hair and with all of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to so notice that single people that God will get you somebody that's fine sometimes people think well you know all the fine people are crazy so I got to go with somebody that's crazy to be with somebody I'm attracted to no no no God's got somebody for you that's fine but that fine on the inside [00:16:39] (41 seconds)
David's good looking so the Lord said arise anoint him for this is he then he said to him and Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren he took that oil he poured it on his head would represent God's power coming on him and empowerment to be king and the spirit of the Lord that's God's anointing his power came on David get this from that day forward [00:17:39] (31 seconds)
david was about to fight in some battles but what better way to learn how to defeat enemy soldiers than having to defeat a lion and a bear so sometimes one of the things that then we talked about this last week and i didn't get to put this in there but one reason why some things take so long is because god is developing you he's getting you ready to be able to expect to be victorious in the dream he has for you but remember our point here is what do you do while you're waiting he's waiting and and what we said is that you got to learn how to be faithful where you are but was he faithful as a shepherd even though he was anointed king and he knew one day he'd be king go to chapter 17 we know that the philistines came to fight against the israelites and verse 15 says that david went and returned from saul to feed his father's sheep at bethlehem so now david is not only anointed to be king but he's the king's harpist he's the king's armor bearer and he's still out here taking care of his daddy's sheep don't think you told me that you're not going to be king you're not going to be king just because you've been around for a while because you got a title or two because if you feel like you're too good and recognize you're not going anywhere higher come on you got to stay humble don't think of yourself more highly than you ought you know the bible said in romans chapter 12 pride goes before a fall and the bible tell us that as well it's amazing to me how often we as christians fall for the pride trap we act like pride is not our main goal and sometimes we're just not ready to fight for it we act like pride is not our main goal a big deal i remember something that uh lesser summer all said about preachers he said there are three things that get preachers the gold the girls or the glory we always get the gold part well you know you ever heard of some guy who you know start cheating and lying and end up you know taking folks money there's always a few of those just because there's a few doesn't mean that's the majority it's not even close then we get the girls part there's some guy and you know he he couldn't keep his zipper up but then we don't get the glory part we act like you know if he did this i don't know why i'm talking about this because this is not about my message but we act like you know well if he stole the money then you know hey i understand him him being sat down but if he if he slept with somebody wasn't married to i understand that but if he he got you know big headed if this guy's full of pride unable to recognize errors unable to see himself as god sees him you know just completely selfish well that's not so bad but there are men of god that were in their prime god was using them to heal thousands and reach hundreds of thousands who died because of their pride [00:21:30] (168 seconds)
died so a prideful minister or a prideful person is someone who is in danger of falling so you need to recognize that you should see yourself as god sees you no more and no less that doesn't mean that you walk around feeling i'm nobody no you're somebody man he made you somebody but at the same time he made the person next to you somebody too and without him none of us are anything now i don't know why i went there had nothing to do with my message i'm all i'm already on all right verse 33 we know that goliath [00:24:55] (38 seconds)
has been challenging the people of israel send the man out here him and i'll fight whoever wins that side will dominate the other side bottom line david finds out about this and david knows he's anointed that's one reason the thing is they could have made it tough for him sitting in the field he knew he was anointed and so he goes to saul and says man let me fight this guy and saul said to david thou are not able to go against this philistine to fight with him for you are but a youth and he a man of war from his youth there is an experience gap here there is an ability gap here you are outclassed you're a lightweight he's a heavyweight we usually don't let those two get in the ring together but david said to saul thy servant kept his father's sheep and there came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock and i went out after [00:25:56] (61 seconds)
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