A few weeks ago my son Ethan surprisingly, at the dinner table, declared that he missed lockdown. Shocked by his statement, I asked him why and he replied, “Mum, you used to make us pancakes everyday.” Honestly, I’m not sure this is something I should advertise! They’re not really a great diet, but my boys loved them and because of lockdown there wasn’t a whole lot you could do to treat them, so why not I thought.
The discussion moved on to the current lack of home made pancakes in Ethan’s life, boo hoo!! Knowing we had a holiday coming up, I promised him that while on holidays I would set my gourmet skills to work again and whip him up some pancakes. The deal was made, he was happy and content not to have to go into another lockdown just to get his much loved treat again.
The morning of our holiday arrived and as I stood packing up a bag of food essentials from the kitchen cupboard, Ethan slipped in a gentle reminder that I had indeed promised him pancakes on holiday. I did a quick check of the ingredients. No eggs! Made a mental note that I would get eggs and flour when we arrived as there was other shopping I would need to get, it really wasn’t going to be any bother.
First morning of our holiday I set off to Asda early morning and got the weekly shopping, including the ingredients for the big pancake bake. Came home and proudly proclaimed I got the ingredients for your pancakes Ethan; however, I had also bought some fresh croissants, another favourite for Ethan so he had them for breakfast. The next morning as I rushed to get ready for our full action packed day, as I was instructing boys in and out of showers and off to breakfast, again Ethan came to me and said, “Mum, I don’t mean to nag, but you promised me pancakes.” So I did and that sweet little reminder was coming at the very worst time and rushing to do stuff on our relaxing holiday just didn’t seem a good enough excuse, so I said, “yes Ethan, I did and that’s what I’ll do as soon as you are showered.”
Now please don’t hear me wrongly! Please don’t for one minute think that in my next statement I am in any way comparing myself to God.
However, I feel the comparison comes from the parent/child relationship. As I stood over the frying pan and watched for those little bumps to appear in the batter, I felt a little nudge from the Holy Spirit, questioning me as to why I don’t do what Ethan did. I felt like God was asking me why don’t you remind me? Don’t you want it any more? Puzzled slightly, I starting to question in my head how I’d got this whole thing wrong… in your time God, not in mine. Those who wait on the Lord! God’s timing is always perfect. Never late, not a word ever spoken in vain, God fulfils all his promises.
As I rhymed off all these well versed statements in my mind, the Holy Spirit reminded me that they are all true BUT, just as Ethan was willing to wait on my timing it didn’t stop him reminding me of my promise, my deal, our agreement. As this revelation unfolded in my heart, I started to question what promises have I forgotten? What dream have I buried? Why did it always feel wrong to go back to God? They were big bold questions with little to no reason behind the seemly pathetic answers. God is not some big unapproachable scary ogre, he does not need any reminding of the promise he made. He is perfect.
Is it possible he wants to know, wants to see, wants to hear that I still want it? Maybe that promise it’s dwindled down the list of expectations, maybe it fell off the radar, DID I JUST STOP PURSUING THE PROMISE?
I think I did. BUT WHY?
I felt lovely, convicted in the fact that Ethan came to me. What if I had walked past the bedroom to overhear him moan to his brother, Mum promised me pancakes and then never made them. He didn’t mope around in a huff. He didn’t decide that I was a crap mum and stop communicating with me. He didn’t DISOWN me, he didn’t badmouth me to his friends. He just simply came to me and reminded me of that promise I made, reminded me he was still wanting that, because he knew he would get it anyway.
So here’s the thing, honestly, I don’t think I’ve experienced this urgent sense to share this revelation “word from God” so strongly before; I just know that I know someone else needs to know this.
GOD WANTS TO KNOW, YOU STILL WANT IT!!!
I get it… words from God are sketchy, open to interpretation, it’s so strange hearing your heart speak. This dialogue from, from, from…. Em! where is it from? My heart? My head? Feels like my tummy some days, some days it feels like my bum.
Let me assure you. You know in your heart when God has spoken, so much so that people who have never spoken a word to God, still know when it’s God!
So firstly, stop doubting it.
Get the evidence…. Scripture, it will be backed up with scripture. For me this is a tried and tested theory. I have always got confirmation for a word from God in the word of God!
Write it down, I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again… journal, journal, journal!! Or as I recommend to a friend that utterly hates journaling, keep voice memos on your phone; these are great!
Tell a friend. Now careful here. I’ve made this mistake before, possibly multiple times if I’m honest. Tell a friend, someone you know loves both you & God and that you know has your very best intentions at heart. Anything less you run the risk of them adding to your doubt, or worse, convincing you it’s wrong. (Peals to swine and all that)
Speak it out. Not a wee faint hearted, I hope some day, but maybe not. If God is gracious enough, he might? STOP!!… I hope, maybe? Gracious. GOD IS GRACIOUS ENOUGH!!! That’s already proven, Maybe?? Maybe what? Maybe I’ll wash my car if it doesn’t rain. I HOPE?, I hope Mum takes us to McDonalds… COME ON!! This is your PROMISE. Speak it out, like it’s certain, without doubt, fear or conditions. IT IS going to happen, it’s happening; be convicted by the words of your promise.
Lastly, and most importantly for this message, TELL GOD. Hey Dad, remember last summer, I read Deuteronomy, you spoke to me and promised me….
Father God, when I was at that conference in 2000 you spoke through the speaker and it touched my heart like it was spoken just to me. I meditated on that and you confirmed it and I’m still holding on to that and believing that you will bring that promise into fulfilment.
King of Kings, all powerful God, my granny told me when I was little, that you gave her a promise for me and my children. I know my Granny’s faith was strong and I believe this word to be true and I will see that come to pass.
WHATEVER your word, whatever that source… if that’s your promise, stand up and claim it in the mighty name of Jesus..
STOP huffing because it’s not happened yet, stop slagging God off for not working in your time frame. Stop saying I’m not sure. Maybe! Be ok with reminding God, you are still expectant.
Believe me, if he still loves me after some of the moans and rants and huffs and puffs I have had with him over the years, he is gonna be cool with you saying, REMEMBER YOU SAID!
Below is some scripture that may or may not help… remember it’s your word, either take it or leave it. It’s your choice, but I pray that if you need to read this and take heed that this will be a very loud, extremely obvious word from God for you today.
“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11
“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”” Luke 1:45 NLT
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 NLT
“Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” Joshua 21:45 NLT
““Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.” Matthew 7:6 NLT
“In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”Ephesians 6:16-18 NLT
“The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalms 145:18 NLT
