He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. — Ecclesiastes 11:4-5 How many times have you had the "perfect" beach trip? (Hmmm… really, is there any other kind?) Well, there was that time it rained. Or the time you tried a new beach house and got lost for two hours trying to find it. Or the time your toddler got an ear infection the first full day you were there. Or the toilet in your rental didn't work right. Or… Okay, okay. So maybe at the point-by-point level, you've never had a perfect beach trip. So how did you deal with the bumps in the road? Did you manage to make the most of the situation, or did you let it ruin your trip? There are those times we just want — even demand — perfection in order to execute our plans. Planning a wedding. Planning to exercise. Planning a quiet time. The conditions have to be perfect for us to act, or we give up because it's utterly ruined. Planning, planning, waiting, waiting… the moment has to be exactly right. |
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Sometimes we have to simply act and trust God for the next step. |
Sometimes we have to simply act and trust God for the next step. |
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And, to be fair, planning and preparation are important. But if we spend our time waiting for perfect conditions, we're actually wasting our time. The perfection is simply not gonna happen. Sometimes we have to simply act and trust God for the next step. If we make a wrong turn because we misunderstood the Holy Spirit, then we trust that the Father will correct our steps. If we make a wrong decision because we ignored Him, we confess our neglect and trust Him for the next step. And there are times He will wait until we act — because growing our trust is far more important than our knowing the end result. We belong to God: our relationship with Him is assured through the blood of Jesus Christ. So if you look ridiculous, are made fun of, or appear to have failed at something that you've prayerfully considered — do not fear. Trust God with His timing. Our time here on Earth is finite. And none of its days is perfect. There are only so many days we'll spend here — waiting on the perfect one sure seems like a futile way to spend them. Lord, remind me that if I'm waiting for a perfect moment, that waiting may be rooted in fear. As Your child and Your creation, I will never be a failure, regardless of what the world sees and thinks. Sometimes my own plans will fail, but in a way only known to You, they are still successful — because You remain sovereign. Let this truth give me wings and a willingness to take risks, take chances, and never fear failure. I am grateful and thankful to You always, in all situations. What a great gift it is to take refuge in You! |
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Are you waiting for your circumstances to be "perfect" before you act? How long are you going to wait and plan? If the Lord isn't asking you to wait, perhaps you need to step out in faith and trust Him! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Find Peace and Inspiration |
Devotions from the Beach: 100 Devotions |
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+ Get $10 off $45 & Free Shipping with code SCHOOL |
+ Get $10 off $45 & Free Shipping with code SCHOOL |
Life is better at the beach--but you already knew that. Escape with a beach read focused on the beauty of God's seaside wonders. The stunning photography and devotions will take you right to the water's edge, where God's voice is often clearer than ever. Devotions from the Beach is a beautiful gift with: - 100 devotions focused on the beach
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This beautiful book gives you a front-row seat to God's majestic creation. So breathe deeply and open your heart and soul to the One who shaped it all. Devotions from the Beach is the perfect gift for every beach lover, women who appreciate gentle reminders of days at the beach and the call of God's love, and anyone who finds peace standing beside the ocean. |
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What Our Readers Are Saying |
"I love the beach so reading these devotionals brings me back the the calmness and peace I feel at the beach. It is renewing my tired and weary soul!" - Lisa W. |
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"If you love the beach and want to praise God, deepen your prayer life, and gain insights through the Word and beach-life metaphors, this is a great gift for yourself or others! Beautiful hardcover and pictures too." - Laura B. | |
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*Offer valid until August 7, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET or while supplies last. Offer valid online and by phone only. Take an additional $10 off your purchase of $45 or more with code SCHOOL, after promotions and discounts and before shipping and handling costs are applied. Shipping, gift cards, or customization of products does not qualify towards minimum purchase requirements. Receive free standard ground shipping on non-rush orders of $35 or more, valid within the 48 continental United States or to an FPO/APO address; offer does not apply to Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Territories, rush orders, or expedited shipping methods. Offer only available to customers in the United States age 18 and older. To redeem offer, enter promo code during online checkout or provide the code to a representative during phone orders. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other discount offer. FaithGateway reserves the right to de-activate the promo code in the event of fraud or technical issues and limit quantities of individual items eligible for purchase with this discount. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Not valid for resale. *Sale price ends on 8/31/24 at 11:59 PM. Limited quantities available. Sale pricing excludes ebooks and audiobooks. *eBooks purchases are fulfilled by our partner, Glose. Please note that: - To access your eBooks, you can download the free Glose app or read instantly in your browser by creating a Glose account using the same email address you use to purchase the eBooks.
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