Holding Pattern

Many times, God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual growth is a holding pattern. We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided attention and speak to us.
\n\u003cbr\>\nGod put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interferences, and no interruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nWhen we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nA few of God's holding patterns... \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n1. When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed, but you're not yet healed, you are in a holding pattern. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n2. When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n3. When you have been praying for a loved one to return to God, and they have not come back yet, you are in a holding pattern. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n5. When the doors slam shut before you can even knock on them, you are in a holding pattern. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nWhen we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray. Like Jonah, we cannot run from God, because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden from Him. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nWe must remember to praise Him while we're waiting, and remember three things: \u003cbr\>\n1. The pattern has a purpose. \u003cbr\>\n2. The pattern has a plan. \u003cbr\>\n3. The pattern has a process. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nSo stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you." \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n"Father, forgive my unbelief. I know you love me and I will come to see the benefit of everything in my life, even this holding pattern, and the manifestation of my Good is assured through You. You have planned nothing for me but victories and I am ready to receive them regardless of how difficult the path." ",1]
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God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interferences, and no interruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray. When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen. A few of God's holding patterns... 1. When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed, but you're not yet healed, you are in a holding pattern. 2. When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern. 3. When you have been praying for a loved one to return to God, and they have not come back yet, you are in a holding pattern. 4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern. 5. When the doors slam shut before you can even knock on them, you are in a holding pattern. When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray. Like Jonah, we cannot run from God, because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden from Him. We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting, and remember three things: 1. The pattern has a purpose. 2. The pattern has a plan. 3. The pattern has a process. So stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you." "Father, forgive my unbelief. I know you love me and I will come to see the benefit of everything in my life, even this holding pattern, and the manifestation of my Good is assured through You. You have planned nothing for me but victories and I am ready to receive them regardless of how difficult the path."
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strike 3

 Strike Three - You're In!
 Dick Innes
 May 18, 2007

 STRIKE THREE AND YOU'RE IN!

 "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

 Motivational speakers ask the question, "What would you like to do if you knew for certain that you couldn't fail?" Good question. I'm sure that many a life's dream, hope, and/or ambition is lost because of the fear of failure.

 Perhaps a better question to ask is: "So what if you do fail?" What is the worst thing that could happen? Ninety-nine percent of the time you could learn from the experience and be better qualified to try again. I doubt if there is anyone who has succeeded in fulfilling theirblife's dream and goals who hasn't experienced failure - or even many failures before they succeeded.

 What we need to realize is that there is no shame in failure. As another has said, "Low aim, not failure, is a 'crime.'" In fact, failure can be our greatest teacher. It's only as we are willing to risk failure that we can ever succeed and become a true winner. Remember, too, thatbfailure is an event not a person. The only real failure is not to get up and keep trying one more time than we fall or get knocked down. In baseball it may be "strike three and you're out". Not so for a successful life where it's "Strike Three & You're In!"
 STRIKE THREE ANDYOU'RE IN!
 We only succeed when we're willing to fail;
 We only score goals when we're willing to be tackled;
 We only hit home runs when we're willing to strike out;
 And we only win when we're willing to risk failing.

 Consider the high jumper who only discovers how high he can jump when he reaches his failure point.

 Consider Babe Ruth, too, the year he broke the world record for hitting the most home runs, he also broke the record for scoring the most strike-outs!

 Success, however exhilarating, doesn't teach one how to be a winner. In fact, failure is the greatest teacher to help one win in the game of life. So, if you want to hit home runs, stand at the plate, start swinging, be willing to strike out - and begin winning!

 Dick Innes
 www.actsweb.org