WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT

What To Do While You Wait For Your Appointment - (STAND FIRM)

Seek Biblical Truth and Direction
Through Scripture, it is clear you are to use God’s wonderful, holy, Word for counsel, instruction and direction for yourself. Know its God’s will you learn how to use the Bible so He can speak to you giving you’re the answers and direct you desire.

Here are a couple tools to help you find Biblical answers and direction.
Find It Fast In the Bible This book is a must for any Christian! God desires you know how to navigate your way through the Bible and this book will do it for you. It breaks down the Bible in topics making it easier to know where to find scripture. By using the index to find the topic you need, it will direct you to specific scripture for counsel and instruction. This is how God will speak to you and direct you. You can pick up your copy at the Calvary bookstore in the counseling section.

Promise Book This book is similar in style to the reference guide in that it is set up topically. The difference is this book only covers God’s promises for the Christian. It is very encouraging and helps reveal God’s heart. It will fill you with hope and help you press on.
Psalms 119:105 NIV Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Proverbs 19:20 NIV Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.
Proverbs 16:20 NIV He who heeds the Word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Talk to a Christian Friend
While you wait to meet with your Biblical Counselor, talk to a Christian friend. Christian friendships are very important, and the Lord does have much to say on this topic. It’s His will you speak to a Christian friend you trust, to be encouraged and prayed for. True Christian friendships will encourage you to walk in obedience to Biblical truths. A Christian friend puts their opinion aside to encourage you and pray for you according to God’s awesome, powerful Word. You say, “I don’t have a Christian friend I can talk to.” Perhaps the Lord is using this circumstance for you to seek out what Biblical friendships are and how to develop them. If you need someone to listen to you and to pray with after service, meet with a prayer team member. It’s their heart to pray for you and encourage you.  Also, attend a small group Bible Study in order to connect with others.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV
Two are better than one… If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Proverbs 12:26 NLT The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.
Proverbs 13:20 NLT Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm.

Attend Church Regularly
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.”
Attending church on a regular basis is one of the foundations for a healthy, and growing relationship with Jesus. Your Pastor is God’s mouth piece. The Lord will use the teaching to speak directly to you. Through the teachings its God’s will to encourage, direct you, convict and bring understanding and wisdom. Church attendance also promotes spiritual maturity, fellowship, and provides opportunities to serve others and use the gifts God’s given.

No Compromising
While you wait, walk in obedience to what the Lord says in the Bible. The Lord will use His Word to answer your questions, and lead you on the right path of life. (Psalms 119:105 NLT) “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” Through the Bible the Lord desires to strengthen your weary soul, and provide direction down the right path. (Psalms 23:3 NLT) “He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” Through mans eyes the path ahead may look right, but God’s Word needs to be consulted because He know the right path that won’t lead to destruction. (Proverbs 14:12 NLT) “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”
Psalms 119:2 NLT Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts.
John 14:15 NLT If you love me, obey my commandments.
John 15:14 NLT You are my friends if you obey me.
Mat 7:24-27 NLT Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.

Daily Worship
You were made to worship the Lord regardless of your circumstances. Take the time today to pop in a worship CD and praise the Lord. Take the time to go to the bookstore and listen to what is available. Praise Him!! 

Find Christian Fellowship
1 John 1:7 NKJV But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another . . .
Food for Fellowship And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat . . .. (Genesis 2:16 NKJV) We have been divinely designed with the need to eat food. This need isn't a result of our sinful nature because Adam and Eve were able to eat before they ever sinned. God created us this way and I believe He uses our natural need for nourishment in order to facilitate fellowship. When we eat together, the walls seem to come down and we're somehow able to take our relationships to another level.

Consider how Jesus used food to build a bridge of fellowship with some of His closest followers. At a feast with a whole host of 'sinners,' Jesus demonstrated the depth of His love for the lost as He was willing to meet them where they were (Matthew 9:10–13). Some of the most important lessons Jesus ever taught were given when He was in the home of Mary and Martha to eat (Luke 10:38–42).  On His last night, before being seized and crucified, Jesus celebrated the Passover feast with His disciples and concluded it by instituting the ordinance of communion (Matthew 26:26–30). Even in the few glimpses we have of Jesus after His resurrection, we see Him preparing a meal to be shared with the disciples (John 21:9). Jesus certainly used food to facilitate fellowship and I believe there's a lesson to be learned here. We need to make the most of our mealtimes. From time to time we should break bread with other believers. I hear a lot of people say they're too busy to find any time for fellowship. But nobody is too busy to eat, and we can use our need for food as an opportunity to find fellowship.

How do you meet other believers to build Godly friends in order to fellowship?
Here are some suggestions that will not only allow you to meet other Christians, but also provide opportunities to grow and be used.
#1. Sign up for a Bible study
#2. Sign up for a short missions trip
#3. Get involved with volunteering at the church— (Go to the info booth and complete a ministry application)
#4. Pick a ministry and get plugged in
#5. Sign up for a church special event— (Look for events and activities on our web page and in the bulletin)

Intercession and Prayer
 Pray: Pour your heart out to the Lord
1 Peter 5:7 NIV Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Psalms 4:3 NIV Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
John 15:7 NIV If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NIV Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
A person with a good prayer life honestly expresses what they are experiencing and feeling to the Lord. When sharing they come in the presence of the Lord holding back nothing and are being totally transparent. Your prayers should be faithful, fervent, and focused.
This is a time for you to push through your circumstances in prayer. Go to the Lord acknowledging your need for Him. Express honestly what’s going on in your life, repent from any sin, ask the Lord for His help and make your requests known and then praise Him and worship Him. Thank Him for His love, mercy, forgiveness, and direction.

Renew Your Mind: Meditate on and Memorize the Word of God
Renew your Mind through Bible Study. This is the only way to keep heavenly minded and to grow. The church offers many types of Bible Studies to fit anyone’s schedule and interests in order to assist you. 
Romans 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Philippians 4:8 NIV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. *Only what fits these eight points is acceptable for you to meditation on.
(Matthew 22:37 NIV) Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.'

Think about how much you personally know the Bible. Do you have a through knowledge of God’s letter to you? Remember why the Bible was given to you. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT) “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”
The more you know God’s Word, the better the Lord can minister to you and lead you. The more you know God’s Word, the more you can walk in His righteousness. (Psalms 119:11 NLT) “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” In the times of daily life and circumstances the Holy Spirit will recall verses you know to minister to you, encourage you, and witness to others.

Take the Challenge: Start today memorizing verses. As you do your weekly Bible studies pick just one verse to learn that week. Take a 3x5 card and write down a favorite verse. Keep it in your pocket and look at it daily. Look at it when you’re waiting in line, at a stop light and at your meals. Put a card in your bathroom or even on the fridge to help you hide His Word in your heart.

Stop and Pray: Pray that God would help you to hide his word in your heart. Pray that He would help you to apply these verses to your daily life. Pray that He would help you to use these scripture to counsel yourself and minister to someone else who is in need.
Joshua 1:8 NLT Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.
Psalms 119:48 NLT I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your principles.
Psalms 119:117 NLT Sustain me, and I will be saved; then I will meditate on your principles continually. Psalms 119:11 NLT I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

We look forward to seeing the Lord move in your family!

Written by Lori Pachera
Calvary Chapel  Ft. Lauderdale Family Counselor