The man propose and God dispose

The man propose and God dispose. How many of you live according to that saying on many occasions? We live by that, and you know what? It is very interesting because many times in our lives we can make plans, we can set goals that we want to achieve and on several occasions we managed to achieve them. But what about those moments where those goals are not reached, what do we do? What do we do in those moments when we are praying for things that are very hard, that are very deep in our hearts and we are praying and we do not receive the answers to those prayers, what do we do? Then what do we do?

And I would like to ask you something, just to make you reflect. What would a boy or a girl be if his father or mother gave him everything that boy or girl asks for? What would become of him or her? What would a couple, a marriage, or a dating couple be if one of the parties is always looking for the other to satisfy all their needs at the expense of what the other may think or feel? What would become of that couple? Or is it more, what would be of each one of us, what would be of each one of us if God granted us all the whims of our hearts?

I would venture to say that it would not necessarily be a better world. Because we would be full of spoiled people everywhere. And I am not saying that God does not consent to us, I know that God consents to us but not in everything and it is precisely on this, my brothers, that I want to meditate. What happens in our lives when we do not receive what we are looking for? What do we do when we don't receive what we are, so to speak, desperate for in some way or another?

And I would like to tell you a story, a story so that you can, more or less, see my feeling that I want to communicate to you. A month ago I went on vacation with my family, and we were in Orlando, and we went to one of the amusement parks, we went to Seaworld, which is one of my son Lucas's favorites, he loves to see the whales, the dolphins, seals, all that, so when we went the ticket we bought gave us the opportunity to have a second free entrance to the park. So, I said to myself, well, look how cool how there at Seaworld there are many roller coasters and I love all of that. Well, it's not that there are many, there are at least three. Well, I always like to get into those things, I like that adrenaline rush that it gives you. So, I said, well, this first day let me focus on Lucas, we're going to walk with him throughout the park, so he can see everything he wants to see, and then the second day we come, well, I'll treat myself, and I go on all the roller coasters that I can.

Yeah, that's how we did it. The first day was total concentration on Lucas. We definitely consented to talking about that question. And we went everywhere, we shared with him, it was cool. Now, the second day when he came for us to go, well now I was the one who was like, wow, now I'm going to enjoy. So we arrive and I talk to my wife, to my father-in-law and they say, well, look, you go on the first roller coaster and we stay with Lucas. Fantastic. I go, I get in line, and to my surprise there was only a wait of about 20 minutes. So I go there very excited, I like to get in the front line, that way when you see everything going down, turning around. So, I'm going, I'm in line, and I'm just one lap away from entering and getting on the machine, and suddenly this message appears, we had to stop the machine due to technical defects. Please wait in line. And I stay there waiting, 5, 10, 15 minutes go by and the same message kept repeating itself, kept repeating itself. And it wasn't until 25 minutes later that they suddenly come out and say, we need you to vacate the building due to technical problems. Then everyone had to leave the building, and I was left with the desire.

Ok, I go out like this, kind of sad, it wasn't a big deal, there was another machine. I go and tell my wife, look, they took us out due to technical problems, so I'm going to go to the other one then. Well, fantastic, go to the other one. So I go to the other one, and the waiting line there was like 15 minutes. And me, now, this is my chance. I go, I get in line and I get almost, almost to the front. I have to wait about 15 minutes, and let me tell you, it was a very hot day in Orlando. I don't know how many of you have experienced the heat of Orlando, Florida, but it is hot. That's like a sauna, that steam that you feel there. There I am in the line, the fans that they put in the line, what is blowing is hot air, and one of them was starting to feel kind of weak, I had no water, I saw other people drinking water and I… they can share a little water?

The issue is that I see the car coming, leaving, and another group coming and leaving, and I get closer, and I am, my brothers, literally there at the gate to pass and get on the machine. And when I get there something happened again, they send the message and say, we had to stop the machine due to technical problems. Please wait online. So, from where I am I see the cart that was coming in that stopped in the sun, and the people there, in the sun, waiting. And I wait there, come back and pass on the other message that we had to keep waiting for. And suddenly the girl who was in front of me, I see that the girl completely collapsed, and she was holding on to the fence and suddenly she fell, like that backwards. Wow! A heat stroke hit the girl who was there waiting.

So we had to pick her up, put her on the floor, someone has water, please, to take care of her, give her air. We're going to call the paramedics, something like that, but I don't know, the girl suddenly got up. And we like, look, we're going to look for the paramedics, and she, no, no, I want to ride. And me, but hello, you just fell and you want to ride. Whatever you want! You want to pass out up there climbing. No, no, leave me here.

The thing is, she just stood there and we kept waiting. And look, after 20 minutes, you know what happened? We need you to evacuate the building due to technical damage. And me, no! So, I'm going out and my wife and my father-in-law don't do more than see my face and I, like, they closed again. And they laughed. And that was the joke of the day.

The thing was that we continued walking around the park and around 5:30, 6 in the afternoon, I began to realize that a lot of people were starting to leave, I said to myself, well, this is my chance. I tell my wife, I'm going to see if now I have the break to go riding even if it's one.

So I go back to one of the machines and when I go in to get in line, they pass a message that says: the machine is closed due to an electrical storm. And me, no! My frustration was so great that I put it on Facebook. So those who have seen me on Facebook saw that I wrote there like, this was definitely not my roller coaster day.

But the point was, my brothers, that when I thought about this, I don't know how many of you have said like me, no, if God has to tell me something, lightning has to strike and tell me. I don't know how many of you have said that, but I have said it. And the thing was that for me it happened literally, because I saw the electrical storm pass definitively. But the thing was that when I was there, after my wife and I laughed, my father-in-law made a joke about this, I kept thinking and I said to myself, gosh, the truth is that I would be very ignorant and very immature if I do not realize that there is something that God wants to teach me through this experience.

And literally, my brothers, that's how it was. In the midst of that thought, yes, God led me to that passage from Proverbs that I read, man proposes and God disposes, but that text from Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, was also echoing in my head, which says "everything has its time and everything that is wanted under the sun has its time”.

But also as I say that, I dare to say that not everything that is wanted under the sun is going to be obtained. Follow me? Not everything that is wanted is intended to be obtained. And this is where I want to reflect with you a little bit.

Why do I mention this, my brothers, look, this Wednesday night, last Wednesday, while we were here in the prayer service, we had a very beautiful moment, a moment of prayer filled with the presence of God In fact, remember, don't forget our prayer service on Wednesday nights, if you have the time, we encourage you. Come, gather here in the church for that time of prayer. I close the parenthesis.

When we were there praying the Lord put an impression on my heart. We were singing the hymn Great Things God Has Done for His People, and while we were singing that, the Lord put this print on me and said, tell the people that even if they haven't received the answer to their prayer, with all the declaration of faith It is seen when we can say that God has done great things for us. That although we see that answer, however, God does great things. And I shared that and look we prayed online for that petition. What's more, we even did something that we hadn't done for a long time. I told people, look, take out your cell phone and call someone you understand needs that word. And we did, and we prayed for people through cell phones.

And I know that when we do that there is a blessing that comes out of here and reaches each one of those people. But the issue was that as I left here that day, and I kept thinking and reflecting and I said to myself, look, Lord, I know that you do great things for us, and that you are interested in responding to our requests. , but at the same time I know that not all the time you are going to respond to those requests that we make of you. And maybe you will tell me, but Omar, how is it going to be? If the Bible says to ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock on the door and it will be opened to you. Yes, but even that teaching does not mean that we are always going to receive what we are asking for, what we are looking for, what we are touching.

Because? I will explain. Let me just give you a few Biblical examples of what I am saying. If you remember the story of Moses, what happened to Moses? Moses was the leader chosen by God to lead the people of Israel to the promised land. Moses entered the promised land? No. Do you think he wanted to enter the promised land? Don't you believe that in your time, even though God told you, why did you do this and that and the other, don't you believe that at some point Moses would have said like, God, you know, reconsider, give me a break, let me in? No? No, he went in. He didn't go in.

What happened to the prophet Elijah? After he slaughtered the prophets of Baal and found out that Queen Jezebel wanted to cut off his head, what did he do? He got scared, he ran away and while he was running in the desert, what was he asking God for? Do you remember the story? Look up First Kings Chapter 19 and read it there. He was telling God, the guy became suicidal, he was, Lord, take my life because I can't handle this. He was asking for something very crass, which I know that perhaps some of us have also crossed our minds. And if yes, then, in the name of Jesus, cancel those thoughts because that is not from God.

But he was asking for that, and do you think they granted it? No. What did God say to him, a verse later? He told him, get up and eat because you have a long way to go. But he wanted to end his life, and God told him, no dad, you still need more, so keep going.

Another example that I can mention has to do with Daniel. I don't know if you remember Daniel's story, between Chapters 9 and 10, Daniel begins to pray for the forgiveness of the sins of the people of Israel. And in verse 10 the story is told of how after 21 days of prayer, the archangel Gabriel appears to him and gives him a message, and as part of that message, he tells Daniel, Daniel, don't worry, because from The first day you set your heart to pray for this, your answer was given.

But the answer did not come. Because? What does Gabriel say? Because the prince of Persia, he was speaking of Satan, of the enemy, who was making a noise up there in the spiritual air, preventing that answer from reaching Daniel. So, many times what we ask for finds resistance in the air, not because God does not want it but because there is another who is preventing you from receiving what God wants for your life. And one has to understand that dynamic as well. He received it but received it later.

Another example that I can give you, Peter, look at this, Peter in a conversation he had with Jesus in the book of John, Chapter 13. Jesus was talking about the arrival of his death and Peter suddenly asks him, Lord, tell us where are you going? Because he was insinuating, because I'm willing to go with you, I want to go with you. And Jesus answers him like, Peter, where I am going you cannot go, you are not prepared for that. What's more, before the rooster crows, do you know what will happen? You are going to deny me 3 times. I? It was like that. I? Your most faithful disciple? But that's what happened, he was asking Jesus for something that Jesus himself told him, ah, it's not time for that yet. It's not time yet.

And what's more, look at this example of Pablo, I really like this one. Paul in the book of Acts, Chapter 16. In a very interesting story, because this was one of Paul's departures when he went on some of his missionary trips, that Paul had the intention of stopping in some specific ports, but nevertheless the story when you read it, it specifically says that the Holy Spirit prevented him from getting to those places. Because what the spirit of God wanted is for him to get to another place.

So you see, my brothers, that biblically and even in our lives, we can see that there are times when what we ask for is not intended to be given to us. And I know that it may sound a little strong, but the intention that I have with this message, my brothers, the purpose that I want to share with you, is that we can make peace with the idea that what we are asking for is not always given to us. is going to give, and that is something that is in God.

But even when I say that, the important thing is that we can find a way to discover, to discern and to understand why that is not being given to us. Follow me? are they with me?

Look, let me give you a very brief four points that I want to talk about, why many times when we don't receive something, what is God doing behind all of that? And the first thing I can say, my brothers, is that it completely and basically does not suit you. When you do not receive something for which you are asking, it is basically because it is not convenient for you.

Isn't there a verse in First Corinthians, Chapter 6, that says, “all things are lawful for me, but what does it say next? ... but not everything is convenient”. What's more, he even adds it, and I'm not going to let myself be dominated by any. But that is another message. And later in Chapter 10, verse 23 and 24, he also repeats the same phrase. Pablo is well-intentioned because he says so, everything is lawful to me but not everything builds.

Look, you know what? Solomon, when he wrote Ecclesiastes in Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, he said, he told the people, he was addressing the young people, but I take it for everyone, he was saying, look, pursue your heart's delights, do everything you have in your power to do, wherever your eyes are planted look for it, look for it. If a man you are looking at and you are a woman, and you want that man, follow the desires of your eyes, and vice versa. If you saw a car, look for that car. If you saw a dogfish, go and look for that dogfish. But what that text says is that of all those things that you decide to do, what will happen? God will judge you for each one of them.

So, definitely we have within reach all the things that we want to do, both the good and the bad, everything is within our reach. But be it good or bad, not everything is lawful for us, not everything builds our lives. I can say, ah, well, I'm going to go to Argentina, as a missionary for a year, and it may sound very nice, but if it's not in God's plans, that move that I'm trying to make is not going to happen. . Because it's not intentional.

So, if you don't get something, look, think about it, maybe it's not good for you. Full and simple. The second point, perhaps it is not the time to receive it. Maybe it's not the time. What does Ecclesiastes say when we read it right now? Everything has what? Your time. Read the story, it tells you a lot of things there, there is time for everything. There is a time to cry, there is a time to laugh, a time to hug, a time to detach, a time to talk, a time to be silent. There is time to live and there is time to die.

It may be that for a long time you have a relative who is about to die and you are praying, praying, praying, Lord, that he does not die, give him life, a miracle and it is good to pray that way. But if it is God's time for that person's end to come, it comes. If God wants to do a miracle and give you life, God can do it too. But we have to understand, my brothers, that if there is something that we are not receiving, it is in God's time or it is in our time. Am I wanting to adjust to God's clock or am I wanting to adjust God's clock to mine, for God to do things in my time. This has to be quick, God, I need this right away, it's like going to the ATH or the ATM, you insert the card, take out the money and that's it, Lord, that's how I want you to respond here. And it is clear, there are times when one has to pray in this way, saying Lord, this is urgent. And look, it may be that God in his mercy responds immediately, but most of the time that I know of, God takes his time. And we have to adjust to God's time.

A third point that I can mention to you, my brothers, is that perhaps the way in which we are praying is not in line with God's will. And this is something very, very important to be able to understand. When we talk about the will of God many times we think that the will of my God for my life is this, this very specific. And I know, my brothers, that for some people the will of God is something well marked, well defined, very determined, but even when that is there, the will of God has, as I can say, it has areas that are very vast. to explore. God can do many things and with everything and that we are in the will of God.

If I speak a little about my example, when I received my call to be a pastor, I think I have already shared this before, I remember that I completed my high school studies and for that I knew that God was calling me to be a pastor. . When I graduated from high school I wanted to come here to do a master's degree in exercise physiology, because I wanted to work as a clinical rehabilitator. And I came here to study that and I applied to universities and you know what? None of those universities accepted me. I applied to the seminary and in a matter of two months they gave me a scholarship and everything.

So, tell me when one tries, as if to say, ah, Lord, give me a break from your will, let me come here and do this in another way. Look, if God has something, God is going to do it. But I also give you another example. Once I was in the ministry, then I was exploring, ok, Lord, what is the specific way, right? Because we are not convinced by something so general, we always want something more down to earth. If so in the ministry I say, ok, Lord, where do you want me to be? Do you want me to be here, to be there, or over there, or to do this with this person, with that other? And one begins to explore, like this, in all those areas, and that's where I say, my brothers, that's where I see that God's will has its, how can I say it? It has its areas that are half nebulae, so to speak. I explain? There are fogs, it is as if you go down a street and it is sunny all day and suddenly you come to a foggy area, that when you turn on the headlights of the car you can only see about 10 or 15 meters in front of you, and You have to slow down, be careful so you can see where the road is going, but you don't know the road until you're there.

This is often the will of God. And not for all but with some. There are times when we are looking for, Lord, how do you want me to serve you? What do you want me to do? And it seems that the road becomes half cloudy. And one is trying to discern, Lord, what do you want? And one is afraid that one is departing from God's will because one believes, no, because God's will has to be clear, there cannot be any kind of shadow of a doubt, because it is God's will. That was how they taught it. But look, God allows those times of mists to come, to see how one is heading and how one is testing things until the moment arrives when that mist vanishes and one can see that, all along the way, that through all the way you were in the purposes, in the plans, in the will of God.

Maybe one was behind freaking out, as they say, I already lost line what God wanted. Forget, here I scrubbed. But no, when you come out on the other side and you look to look you say, wow, you were there the whole time. You were there all the time with me.

And I bring that, my brothers, in this sense that many times when we ask, we are asking in line with God's will. Look at this: I had a stage in my life where my prayer was all centered around me, myself, and all mine. Have you heard that expression? My prayer was that, all the time. I know that it doesn't happen to any of you, I know that you pray for many other people, you never pray for yourself. But I don't know if you have heard a lot at times that one is like, Lord, do this for me, and Lord, I want this, and Lord, do that with me. And Father, I need you to do this in my life. And oh, yes, Lord, remember Javier, but Lord, I need this with me, this is my pressure right now. They follow me where I'm going It's like our prayer is our entire environment.

And look, you know what happens? When you spend a lot of time praying in that environment, you lose perspective of what God's will is for your life and for others around you. And therefore, when you finish praying, do you know what is going to happen? You are going to be praying rather to satisfy, what you are going to be looking for is that God satisfies your whims, instead of God truly operating in you according to his will for your life.

Look at this, in Santiago, there is a passage in Santiago that every time I read it fascinates me more and more, in Santiago, Chapter 4. There is a very interesting text. James Chapter 4, verse 1 says: “…Where do the wars and conflicts between you come from, isn't it precisely from those passions that fight within yourselves? In other words, of those whims that one has, those longings, those inveterate desires that one has inside.

You want something and you don't get it, you kill and you envy and you can't get what you want. They quarrel and go to war, they don't have because they don't ask, and when they ask they don't receive because they ask with bad intentions, to satisfy their own passions.

I don't know but for me that verse is very revealing. I was reading him the new international version, just in case, because I realized that it was not the same. Got the idea? When one asks in prayer, one has to know how to line up. Sir, I'm just asking for this on a whim. Or am I asking because there is really something that you are showing me?

So that is the third point, my brothers, it is very important. Meditate on it. When you pray, when you ask for something, are you asking in line with God's will? Or are you asking online with your wishes? What's more, let me give you another example, this is everyone's favorite.

Look what happened to Jesus. What happened to Jesus when he was in Gethsemane, who was hours away from being arrested. If I remember the biblical account correctly, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that in his prayer he was crying bitterly until at one point he said, God, Dad, you made this plan, you sent me here with a purpose. , but that purpose is becoming difficult for me. If possible, can we change plans? did he say so? Obviously, if possible, pass this cup from me. But understand, I'm telling you in the popular version. If possible we can change the plans, God? Because this is making me very difficult. But what did he say next? But let it not be my will but yours.

Look what happens, my brothers, when we manage to discern if we are praying or not, according to God's will, look, our prayers adapt to what God wants to do in us. Jesus himself at one point was saying, Lord, this is hard, this is very difficult, I don't know if I'm ready to die for all these people, so let's change our plans. Send your angels and let's do something else to save the world. But when Jesus realized that this was not the intention, that this was not God's purpose, Jesus himself had to adjust his prayer and began to say, I imagine, reading between the lines of the story. I imagine that Jesus must have said, well, look God, I know what your plan is, I know what your purpose is, so I ask you to give me strength to be able to resist all the lashes that they are going to give me. . I ask you to give me the moral courage I need to accept that one of my disciples is going to deny me. I ask you to give me the grace to forgive that thief who is going to ask me to take him with me to the kingdom when we are on the cross.

Brothers, you can imagine. If Jesus had followed through with his wishes, as he wanted, we would not be here right now. More however, because he understood what the will of the Father was, he submitted to that will and knew how to align his prayer in line with it and because of him we are here now.

One last point that I want to tell you, and with this I am ending. Fourth, do you know why many times we don't get what we want? Because it is part of God's discipline for each of us. There is something that God wants to form, there is something that God wants to mold in you and in me. One of the biggest problems that God has with us, do you know what it is? Our pride. We have problems with our pride. Let's be honest. I can raise both hands, feet. I have problems with my pride. And you know what? One of the best resources that God uses to deal with our pride is to stand next to a person who is even more proud than we are. I believe that there are couples that can prove this. I believe that there are relationships of work colleagues that can prove this. Many of you can tell me, that boss of mine, yes, that boss of yours, both of them. God puts them there.

And do you know why I say that? Because…until when, until when, Lord. I don't know it's God's time. But look, do you know why I say that? Because just as you think of those superiors who are above you, who have a pride problem, others will think the same of you, who are below you as well. And this is very easy, brothers, I am speaking this with the back teeth. I am being very honest.

But this is how God teaches us. That is one of the ways that God uses to shape each of us. Because he knows that what he wants to give us is much better than what we can ask of him, our way of asking is always limited. But what he wants to give us is much more than you can ask for or understand, if I read the biblical context well.

And since he wants to give her something better, he has to make sure that this vessel, that instrument on which he is going to deposit his blessing, has to be in the proper shape, has to have the proper capacity to then be able to deposit all his grace on each one of us.

You know what? Jesus told his disciples when he was preparing to die, he told his disciples, I still have many things to reveal to you, to show you, to speak to you, but you still cannot bear them. It is not the time to show you all these things. Come? God's blessing falls upon us when you pray for something, perhaps you are asking, Lord, I want a red Mustang convertible and the cape is black, and the earrings are how many inches? With 22-inch hoops, and that it have the…., and that it have leather chairs and things like that. And you know what? Could it be that God gave you, really? Well, look, I'm going to give you a blue '86 Volki, with the seats that you're most likely going to have to upholster, and to turn it on you're going to have to give it a handle.

Learn to appreciate that kind of convertible. You wanted a convertible? He gave you a convertible. It wasn't the one you asked for, but at least he gave you a convertible. If what you wanted was to burn there in the sun, and have a fever there with the sun and for the air to blow over you while you went to the beach, well at least you have it. That's an example, well… but you follow the idea, right?

Sometimes what you ask for, God gives it to you but in another way. He gives it to you in another package. He gives it to you under another name. He gives it to you with another flavor. He gives it to you with other scents. He gives it to you through other people. And one has to learn that, ah, no, I can't be as proud as I say, it didn't happen my way, they didn't give it to me as I wanted, it wasn't well done, I was a regular medium, I put the knife in and it came out blood still. I do not want it. If you behave like this with God, do you know what will happen? You go on time out. You are going to go on time out because God, who is our Father, tries to discipline us.

Look, I tell you, as a dad now, I see this dynamic of God with me as I see it with Lucas right now. How many times have I had to put Lucas in time out, because he insists on something, and I know that it is not the time to give it to him, but nevertheless he is there, and give him and give him, and I, oh yes, you want to? We're going on time out. And there he begins to cry and kick as we did.

Look, which of your parents, tell me if it's true or not, which of your parents when you asked him for something and he said no, you... quickly got stuck quickly. And you'd start kicking your legs, and you'd start muttering, or you'd shut yourself up, or you'd start banging your head against the wall or something or whatever to get your father to give you what you wanted, right?

I see some out there who have bumps on their heads. Look, and you know what? The most interesting thing is that I see that God often treats us the same. What's more, there are times when parents, to maintain their children's interest, leave them, as they say, on standby. I don't know if it happened to you when you wanted something and your dad wanted to give it to you, but he told you later. TRUE? I'll give it to you right now, not right now, well, my Puerto Rican right now is like right now, later. But the right now for some of you is like right now. So, they called me, Omar, right now. And do you know what happened when they told me right now? I was filled with hope because ok, they are going to give it to me, maybe not now, but after 5 minutes, what happened? I was coming back. Now do you give it to me? After. Ok, I was back, I was still doing my thing, playing around, but I knew in my mind, ah, what I want is going to be given to me. So, after 5 minutes he came back again, mommy, already? Now? Right now? Ok, right now, it's not later, now it's right now. I mean, the time is getting closer.

Look, tell me if God does not treat us in the same way, that he keeps us, as they say, on the hook, he keeps us hooked there and we are praying, we are praying, and God can bring you a word that that prophetic word, what is saying, right now, later, keep waiting, it's coming. And you come and go, and you come and go, that's the only way God has to keep you there interested. Because if you give it all to him, do you know what will happen? What's more, what happens when you get what you want? Now, I have it, I wanted a phone and I was waiting for them to give me the opportunity to do the…. free so as not to have to pay for free, so, I got the…. and everyone runs to the store, grabs their new phone and once they have it they're like, so what? I already have it. You wanted your convertible car, well, you already have it, and now what? Now I need a partner next to me to share the car.

Look, my brothers, I really bring this message because for me this has been something very revealing. I am not throwing biblical teaching on the floor, I know that God wants us to pray to him, that we ask, that we fill ourselves with courage to be able to seek those things that he has for us, but when we do not receive what we are waiting, my brothers, I believe that God does not intend for that purpose. God does not want spoiled boys and spoiled girls, although many times he can do it. There are times when I understand that God has allowed me in some things. But even so, God also keeps me on the line, not all the time he tells me, Omar, this is not going to come yet. And I know that this has happened with many of us.

But look, we have to keep looking. Perhaps, look how it says Psalm 37. Bruce do you have it around? Psalm 37 again. One of my favorite psalms, every time I read it, it inspires me, it gives me new strength, but look, how does Psalm 37 say? It says, trust in the Lord, I'm reading it in another version, but it says, trust in the Lord and do good. Trust in the Lord and do what is good and you will dwell in the land and feed on the truth. Delight yourself, here is the key, also delight yourself in Jehovah and he will grant you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Jehovah, trust him and he will do it.

Look, my brothers, the Bible is full of all these promises. Jesus himself taught us to ask for what is going to be given to us, to seek because we are going to find it, to knock on the door because sooner or later that door is going to open. So, that sense of asking, of searching, is necessary, we have to insist on it.

But when the answer is not seen, when the answer is not seen at least as we would like to receive it, then we have to enter into a process of discerning, ok, what is happening here? Could it be that what I am asking for is not convenient for me?, number 1. Could it be that what I am asking for is not in God's time?, number 2. Could it be that what I am asking for is out of God's will and I have to readjust myself in that sense? And number 4, it will be that what I am asking for, God needs to work something with me first so that he can then give me what he wants to give me.

Look, as I said, what he wants to give me. Not what I want. I believe, my brothers, that today more than ever, listen carefully to these words, today more than ever, God is calling his people so that they can persevere in his promises. Do you know why I say it? Because today more than ever hundreds of Christians, because they do not receive the answers to their prayers, the world easily seduces them and they end up leaving like the prodigal son.

And God does not want that to happen with his people. Knowing that we are in the end times, today more than ever God wants to keep his people well united, well covered, well protected, well nourished. God wants to do that. But we as a people have to keep that in mind as well. In the world we are living in, any of us can easily be fooled by the world's lies into thinking about French fries and hamburgers. But if we are very alert, to be able to discern what God wants to do in us and through us, through our lives as a community, as a family, look, my brothers, that is where our call is to be able to persevere. .

It's easy to throw in the towel and do something else. It is very easy to be able to do that. But if we follow the example of Jesus who did not throw in the towel when he could have, but nevertheless stood there with his gloves on and endured, and through his triumph we are then where we are.

I believe that we too can wait in our time, we can wait for those prayers that have not arrived, that will arrive in God's time. We can then understand that perhaps if what I am asking for is not in line with God's will, that then I can sacrifice, in quotes, that I can sacrifice that desire, that I can sacrifice that whim, that I can sacrifice that internal passion, then adjust to what God wants.

That is what God is calling us to do now more than ever, my brothers. So I want to inspire you with a sense of hope today. I look at you here, and I don't know if some of you have felt like, why did I keep praying for this if it doesn't work, why am I going to keep insisting on this if it doesn't. And perhaps you have felt that your mood has diminished, as if it has gone down. If you feel like this today, I believe that today is an opportunity to gain new strength and move on.

If you were too focused on something and perhaps what God is wanting to let you know is like tweak your prayers, adjust your prayers in some way, seek to pray in a different way to see if then you will not see your answer. If you find it difficult to change the focus of your prayer, well, look, ask the Lord to show you then what is there, so that your prayer can then have the certainty with which God wants you to give it….. , so to speak. If you are in a time where you are trying to adjust God's clock to fit yours, definitely know that God's clock is more important than yours. Never, listen well, God never allows himself to be manipulated. God is a God of love, God responds to his children, but he never allows himself to be manipulated. God knows what he does in his time.

I can fast, I can throw myself headlong on the ground, I can walk through fire, Lord, I'm doing all this because I want that answer, but if it's not in God, I burned my feet.

I want you to stand up, my brothers, that we are going to pray. I like it when everyone stays very quiet like that. I know they are reflecting. I have already learned my lesson. But brothers, I want to pray for you, those things that I have said here, you know where you are, you know what part of this message is coming to you. You know better than me. You know it.

And if today you need to adjust, affirm yourself, gain strength, or look, who knows if even some of us have to ask God for forgiveness, who knows if any of us here have to come before the presence of God and say, Lord, Forgive me because I have been a hypocrite, I have been proud. Even that, my brothers, if we have to ask God for forgiveness, these are the opportunities to be able to do it.

So I encourage you there where you are, you know, you know what you need. You know how this message applies to the circumstances in which you are, and God is speaking to you right now. I believe so, God is speaking to you. It is not Pastor Omar, I know that it is the spirit of God right now that is convicting your heart.

So spirit of God, in this same solemnity I ask you to be you operating in the hearts of my brothers and sisters. Allow them to receive from you today the strength they need to be able to move forward in their search for you, their search for those answers, for those requests that they are longing for so much, in whatever way that may manifest. It may be that they are praying for a family member, for a situation at work, a financial situation, for some physical healing, Lord, it may be that there is even someone who is asking you to confirm a call in their life and that confirmation has not yet arrived. It may be that they are asking you to give them some specific gift and that gift has not yet manifested. It can be applied in so many ways, Lord, but I pray that according to your knowledge about the life of each one of us, Lord, that this word come to life and that you bring conviction to our hearts. Bring conviction in our minds of what you truly want to reveal to us.

Lord, if our response does not arrive because it is not convenient, well, look, Lord, let it be. That we do not keep pushing on something that you are not going to give us, that we can then refocus in some other direction.

Lord, if what we are trying to do is make you adjust to our time, when what you want is for us to adjust to your time, look, Lord, give us the sensitivity of spirit to do just that. If we are praying outside of your will, if we are asking for things that are not in line with what you want for us, if we are asking for things that are not in accordance with those good plans that you have for our lives, well, look Lord , help us to discern your voice to know how to accommodate ourselves then to what you have, what you command.

And Lord, if in some of us what you are doing is giving us a discipline in order to shape our character, in order to shape the way we talk to others, in order to shape the way we think about the world around us, or who knows if until we can change the way we appreciate ourselves, Lord, then help us to receive that discipline because you whom you love discipline, because we are your sons, your daughters, otherwise we were bastards.

But because we are yours, we are your possession, we are part of the family, you seek to correct us. So, Lord, whatever the stage, or the life situation in which we are, I ask that you speak to us and that we can respond to the call of your voice, that we know how to discern what your intentions are, my God, to then live in that abundant life that you have for each one of us. We give you the glory and the honor, only to you, Lord, and as I said at the beginning, although we do not see the answer, Lord, your people say thank you, because the things that you have done are great, the things that you are doing are great, and the things that you will do in us, in favor of us and through us are great. For this very reason, Lord, we give you all the glory and all the honor, for your son Jesus we bless you, Lord. Amen. Amen.