Question:  Why do some people seem to get exactly what they desire while I rarely seem to get what I really want in life?

Answer: As the saying goes, “the grass always looks greener on the other side.”  It may be true that some people you know are very successful in achieving their dreams while others continue to struggle through life to get to their goals.  However, the bottom line is, are you living your life to please God?  Have you made life choices that have been in agreement with how the Bible says we should live?  If you can answer “yes” to these questions, then in prayer, you should be seeking guidance from the Lord when deciding on and pursuing your goals.   Remember Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (NKJV)

The truth is that many Christians want to just make their “wish list,” then later pray for the Lord to make their dreams a reality.  They never even consider that what they want may not be in God’s plan for their lives.  They may even get mad at God and blame God for not fulfilling their desires.  For example, I’ve known of some women who have wanted to get married so badly -mainly because they saw their friends getting married or they wanted to experience the big wedding with all the trimmings- that they married men who were not God’s choice for them.  In fact, they married these men even when they knew the men didn’t believe in God.  Since we know marriage can be challenging even when you do marry a fellow believer, it will certainly be more difficult when you have opposite beliefs in the role of Jesus in your lives.   They should have waited on the Lord to guide them to God’s choice for their mate.

While the Bible clearly tells us that God hears and answers our prayers, we must recognize that His answer for what we desire may be “yes,” it may be “no,” or it may be “not right now.”  We must accept that He knows what is best for us.  So, drop the “I just want what I want , and I want it now!” attitude, and learn to be guided by God.

Helpful Links:

Focus on the family   http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine   www.worldmag.com

Question:  Is it my imagination, or is patriotism not being taught the way it used to be?

Answer:  You’re right.  Students today seem to be taught more about all the wrongs of America and not much about all the positives of this country.  Let me be clear, students should know about the negative history of the United States.  The times of such things as slavery and racial segregation should not be swept under the rug.  Especially as Christians, we should want our children to understand that these types of events were not just wrong, but outright sinful!

That said, this country offers its citizens more opportunities for achieving one’s dreams than any other country.  Where else can you enjoy as much freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and other freedoms?  Where else can someone start out as one with minimum resources and, through access to free education and self-determination, be blessed by God to become one of the highest achievers?  One such story that I read about recently told of the case of a teenage girl in North Carolina who was neglected and abandoned by her parents.  She became homeless and  later, wound up taking a job working as a part-time janitor at her high school.  All the while, she maintained very high grades.  She ended up being accepted into Harvard University!  This young lady took advantage of the opportunities presented to her in this country and was able to achieve her goals despite her humble beginnings. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/07/overheard-on-cnn-com-teen-janitors-story-like-good-will-hunting-readers-say/

As Christians, we must remember to live by Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV)  Keeping this verse in mind, we have only to go forth  taking advantage of the tremendous opportunities and freedoms we have in this great country.  Also, we must recognize that America can only stay great if we choose to live by the words of our country’s Pledge of Allegiance and remain “one nation under God..”

Yes, in my opinion, there’s no place like home.  May God bless the United States of America!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family     www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries    www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network  www.cbn.com

World Magazine           www.worldmag.com