"State Your Case"

 "Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?" (John 18:29 KJV)

  "LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! Don't turn away from me in my distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you." (PSALM 102:1-2 NLT)

 Maybe we don't really understand it, but most of what goes wrong in our lives, really isn't about us! To be clear, when it says, "All things work together for good," the good that happens, may not be our own, but meant for something or someone else. Just a little thought to help brighten your day! 

 If you read the other illustrations of this event, then you would know that Pilate really didn't want to condemn Jesus, because he was very confused by any of the charges against Him. As a matter of fact, even his wife warned him against it, which was why in the movie about it, Pilate washed his hands, literally, after declaring the sentence against Jesus. 

 This is the point of where I am going: As God's servants, we really seldom get what we want, but we have the honor and the privilege of being a part of what God wants, even if it might hurt or feel uncomfortable in the process! Pilate might not have felt comfortable making his decision, but it was God's choice to see that he did; so, he really didn't have a choice, it was bound to happen, no matter what!   

 If you are going through something, not really understanding why, or wondering how this could possibly happen for the good; don't focus upon the situation you might be in, but focus on the goodness of God, knowing that He loves you, no matter what might happen, you will be with Him always, forever and ever! Thinking upon the eternal, not about the temporary, because this too will pass! 

 Now, this might not feel as though it makes much sense; but sometimes we just don't get the answer we want, when we want it, and the way we expect it to be delivered. When Jesus spoke to the disciples about how to pray, the, "Ask, Seek, and Knock," was about consistent and determined prayer. How often do we pray like that? 

 That was the point Jesus made, saying, "But I tell you this - though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence." (Luke 11:8 NLT) Sometimes we will not get the answers we are looking for; but have we sought hard for the answers? Or are we just curiously wanting to know? 

 Better yet, are we worried about being judged? The answers that you seek, may not be the answers you want; especially if they are brought out into the open. Just saying...

"What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure." (James 4:1-3 NLT)