Today's Reading: "And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." (Matthew 9:19-22 KJV)
Lord, how I wish I had the faith of the woman who dared to touch the hem of your garment! To dare! Only a child, or someone who is truly desperate will dare. Too often I come to you thinking you will hear me because of my many words. I don’t even know for sure that writing in this blog isn’t all vanity. All I know is that I’m desperate for (I was going to say your power or your healing touch, but Lord, I’m really desperate for you!) No one, nothing touches me like you do. Lord, I dare to touch you every time I lift my hands in praise to you, every time my soul feels like it is soaring because I am so overwhelmed by your presence, every time you and I share a moment or you give me a new revelation of yourself. You strengthen me, you heal my mind, soul and body. I’m in awe of you and love you more each day. Forgive me of my many sins! Have mercy, Lord.
Meditation?
Today's Reading: "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee….I will delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word." (Psalm 119:10-11, 16 KJV)
The secret of keeping God’s commandments and hiding God’s word in your heart? Delighting and meditating in God’s Word! Psalm 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
Unfortunately, the word "meditate" has taken on a whole different connotation in today’s world. True, the word meditation can also have its basis in a philosophical, even “spiritual or religious” belief. Through such meditation practices as yoga and some Eastern religions, we are encouraged to “get inside” ourselves often chanting a word or "mantra". (Webster’s Dictionary defines "mantra" as a Hindu formula believed to embody the divinity invoked and to possess magical power.) All this in an effort to “free” our minds--to become "spiritually" open to the universe. Oh, we can become open alright, but to what? Be careful not to open you mind or your soul to wandering spirits seeking whom they may devour (1 Peter 5:8)!
Dear one, God doesn't want to free our minds! No! He wants to free us! He alone has the power to transform our lives by renewing of our minds! (Romans 12:2a) How is this possible you ask? By putting "off" the things that belong to our old sinful natures, and "putting on" Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:22-23 and Galatians 3:27 KJV)!
The secret of keeping God’s commandments and hiding God’s word in your heart? Delighting and meditating in God’s Word! Psalm 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
Unfortunately, the word "meditate" has taken on a whole different connotation in today’s world. True, the word meditation can also have its basis in a philosophical, even “spiritual or religious” belief. Through such meditation practices as yoga and some Eastern religions, we are encouraged to “get inside” ourselves often chanting a word or "mantra". (Webster’s Dictionary defines "mantra" as a Hindu formula believed to embody the divinity invoked and to possess magical power.) All this in an effort to “free” our minds--to become "spiritually" open to the universe. Oh, we can become open alright, but to what? Be careful not to open you mind or your soul to wandering spirits seeking whom they may devour (1 Peter 5:8)!
Dear one, God doesn't want to free our minds! No! He wants to free us! He alone has the power to transform our lives by renewing of our minds! (Romans 12:2a) How is this possible you ask? By putting "off" the things that belong to our old sinful natures, and "putting on" Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:22-23 and Galatians 3:27 KJV)!
A Much Needed Rest!
Todays Reading: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom he hath sent.” John 6:28-29
“For the scripture saith, ”Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him; For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:11-13
There is the rest being offered to both the Jew and the Gentile alike, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) We can cease from our labors (our works under the law) and rest in the work of God that was accomplished in Christ Jesus upon the cross. In Isaiah 40:4;42:16 God promised to “make the crooked way straight” for us. In Mark 10:27 Jesus says, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible. “
One day we will put off this flesh that troubles us so. Yes, we still sin. But, Christ was made the propitiation for that sin. (Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:2; 4:10) Lay down your burden today. Rest in Him. He paid the price. Just believe. Simply believe. He’s promised on that day (the day of Christ’s return) we wont’ be ashamed. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man that he should lie”. Trust and believe today.
“For the scripture saith, ”Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him; For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:11-13
There is the rest being offered to both the Jew and the Gentile alike, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) We can cease from our labors (our works under the law) and rest in the work of God that was accomplished in Christ Jesus upon the cross. In Isaiah 40:4;42:16 God promised to “make the crooked way straight” for us. In Mark 10:27 Jesus says, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible. “
One day we will put off this flesh that troubles us so. Yes, we still sin. But, Christ was made the propitiation for that sin. (Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:2; 4:10) Lay down your burden today. Rest in Him. He paid the price. Just believe. Simply believe. He’s promised on that day (the day of Christ’s return) we wont’ be ashamed. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man that he should lie”. Trust and believe today.
Jesus--the King of Saints!
Todays Reading: “Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” (Revelation 15:3 KJV)
Jesus, friend of sinners (Luke 7:34 ) has become the King of saints. How? His great and marvelous works - His just and true ways. Man could never attain to the moral requirements of a just and holy God. Who among us has ever kept His commandments? (“There are none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10) Yet, how is it we are called saints? Being human we are sinful from birth (Genesis 8:21) and the just wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23) But, “great and marvelous are thy works…” God has provided the Way - the Righteous for the unrighteous; the Just for the unjust (John 3:16). The Great Shepherd has become our sacrificial Lamb. The cross! The shame of the cross has become the glory of our salvation! Christ’s own blood was spilled on God’s mercy seat and atonement was complete (Herbrews 9:1-15)! Once and for all! Shepherd, Lamb, High Priest, Intercessor! Let us marvel at the cost of our sainthood. What an awesome God we serve! His wisdom is beyond understanding!
Jesus, friend of sinners (Luke 7:34 ) has become the King of saints. How? His great and marvelous works - His just and true ways. Man could never attain to the moral requirements of a just and holy God. Who among us has ever kept His commandments? (“There are none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10) Yet, how is it we are called saints? Being human we are sinful from birth (Genesis 8:21) and the just wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23) But, “great and marvelous are thy works…” God has provided the Way - the Righteous for the unrighteous; the Just for the unjust (John 3:16). The Great Shepherd has become our sacrificial Lamb. The cross! The shame of the cross has become the glory of our salvation! Christ’s own blood was spilled on God’s mercy seat and atonement was complete (Herbrews 9:1-15)! Once and for all! Shepherd, Lamb, High Priest, Intercessor! Let us marvel at the cost of our sainthood. What an awesome God we serve! His wisdom is beyond understanding!
Don't Let satan Stop You Or Your Calling!
Today's Reading: " For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan stopped us." (1 Thessalonians 2:18)
Okay, I'm going to take you into a personal conversation with a precious loved one over God's will for my life. Oh, how I pray you have just such a trusted encourager in your life! (Sorry, I'm doing a little paraphasing here, but thank you so much, my dearest Sarah!)
How does satan work to stop someone from fulfilling God's purpose for their lives? Discouragement!
ME: "I've been told that my work is too involved and that I need to trim it down. What do you think? Am I going over people's heads?"
My Loved One: "Who told you that? If they don't get it, tell them to keep reading it until they do! "If God is calling you out and you are receiving nothing but negativity--look for motive!" Satan uses the negativity of others (even believers--probably, especially believers) to discourage us from our purpose. Honestly, people don't even realize what they are doing. A great example is Peter (Oh, read Matthew 16:18). Jesus was able to discern satan being behind the remark and quickly rebuked him! If you have nothing but smooth sailing--that's the time to worry if you are truly in God's will! Remember, "...we fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and rulers of darkness."
Another enemy to accomplishing God's purpose and plan for your life is fear and false humility!
ME: "Sometimes I think it may all be vanity. I'm not really sure that the people I'm trying to lead are at a place where they can hear what I am trying to say. If that is the case, then, I am seeking my own glory. I guess that's what I'm really afraid of--pride--the sin of satan." Please pray that God will humble me and that I not get puffed up with the knowledge He has given me Knowledge without Christ is nothing! Also, please pray that I will be sensitive to serving others in a way that is pleasing to God. It is hard, and I can get prideful!"
My Loved One: "You quit giving the satan credit about his pride and quit walking in fear that you are going to fall. That thing that Job feared came on him. We walk by faith not by sight, which means we do not go by what people say or how things appear, but we press on to the high calling of God. Let God have his perfect work in you that you may want for nothing less. Every time we, as children of God, press into his anointing and purpose for our lives and we are being used by the Holy Spirit, the devil sends his fiery darts to destroy the work of God in our lives, so that we can not touch others. The desire that you have for ministry is not you walking in pride, God gave you that desire that burns on the inside of you and he is not going to let his word that flows out of you go void. Don't be like Lots wife who looked back, your going exactly where God has called you, get ready!"
Perhaps the worse enemy to doing God's will is doubting God's calling, and worse, His revealed word!
ME: "I don't think satan has ever wanted me in this ministry! I just get confused by my own desires and those of God! God has been giving me this message since before I started this ministry, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished". (1 Chronicles 28:20)
The key to accomplishing God's will and purpose for your life? Believing God!
ME: "I will choose to listen to God, and not those who discourage! I love you soooo much, dear loved one!"
Okay, I'm going to take you into a personal conversation with a precious loved one over God's will for my life. Oh, how I pray you have just such a trusted encourager in your life! (Sorry, I'm doing a little paraphasing here, but thank you so much, my dearest Sarah!)
How does satan work to stop someone from fulfilling God's purpose for their lives? Discouragement!
ME: "I've been told that my work is too involved and that I need to trim it down. What do you think? Am I going over people's heads?"
My Loved One: "Who told you that? If they don't get it, tell them to keep reading it until they do! "If God is calling you out and you are receiving nothing but negativity--look for motive!" Satan uses the negativity of others (even believers--probably, especially believers) to discourage us from our purpose. Honestly, people don't even realize what they are doing. A great example is Peter (Oh, read Matthew 16:18). Jesus was able to discern satan being behind the remark and quickly rebuked him! If you have nothing but smooth sailing--that's the time to worry if you are truly in God's will! Remember, "...we fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and rulers of darkness."
Another enemy to accomplishing God's purpose and plan for your life is fear and false humility!
ME: "Sometimes I think it may all be vanity. I'm not really sure that the people I'm trying to lead are at a place where they can hear what I am trying to say. If that is the case, then, I am seeking my own glory. I guess that's what I'm really afraid of--pride--the sin of satan." Please pray that God will humble me and that I not get puffed up with the knowledge He has given me Knowledge without Christ is nothing! Also, please pray that I will be sensitive to serving others in a way that is pleasing to God. It is hard, and I can get prideful!"
My Loved One: "You quit giving the satan credit about his pride and quit walking in fear that you are going to fall. That thing that Job feared came on him. We walk by faith not by sight, which means we do not go by what people say or how things appear, but we press on to the high calling of God. Let God have his perfect work in you that you may want for nothing less. Every time we, as children of God, press into his anointing and purpose for our lives and we are being used by the Holy Spirit, the devil sends his fiery darts to destroy the work of God in our lives, so that we can not touch others. The desire that you have for ministry is not you walking in pride, God gave you that desire that burns on the inside of you and he is not going to let his word that flows out of you go void. Don't be like Lots wife who looked back, your going exactly where God has called you, get ready!"
Perhaps the worse enemy to doing God's will is doubting God's calling, and worse, His revealed word!
ME: "I don't think satan has ever wanted me in this ministry! I just get confused by my own desires and those of God! God has been giving me this message since before I started this ministry, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished". (1 Chronicles 28:20)
The key to accomplishing God's will and purpose for your life? Believing God!
ME: "I will choose to listen to God, and not those who discourage! I love you soooo much, dear loved one!"
Crying out for Justice in an Unjust World
Today's Reading: "And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment--wickedness was there, in the place of justice--wickedness was there. " (Ecclesiastes 3:16)
I don't believe there is a person alive who has not suffered injustice, or wondered at the prosperity of the wicked! Jeremiah 12:1-2; Proverbs 24:1-2; 17-20; 29 may be answering your cries for justice.
Read Jeremiah 12:3. Here, the prophet is not seeking his own revenge, but calling on God to avenge him. Admittedly, it seems even more paradoxical that Jesus goes on to command His followers to pray for those who mistreat and misuse them (Luke 6:28)! True, more often than not, it appears as if the wicked "gets away" with their evil plots against us. Jeremiah 12:4 tells us that even our land, our country suffers because of sin and ungodliness.
However, throughout God's word, we are reminded never, ever to retailiate against evil (see also Romans 12:19). Rather, we are to be still and leave judgment solely up to God. We are told never to fret over the wicked, those have wronged us, plotted against us, those who wrongly prosper and/or succeed in this world. Why? Out of godly compassion for the lost! We should be ever mindful that one day God's mercy will end, (yes, He has mercy for the wicked) and those who have worked evil and wickedness will reap what they have sown (Galatians 6:7)!
One day there will be a reckoning! God's wrath will and is surely coming (Revelation 6:9-7)! (As His children we can take heart in 1 Thessalonians 5:9!) The tables will be turned, and as Proverbs 24:20 says, they (the wicked) have no future hope. Their lamp will be snuffed out! Considering this truth, I'm hope you can understand why we must pray for those who have wronged us, because, unless they repent, they are forever doomed to eternal separation from their Creator God!
In Jeremiah 12:5 and Proverbs 24:5-7, 10 God sees our troubles, our injustices as "little troubles". That sounds insensitive, but our God "sees" the bigger picture--and He "sees" it in light of eternity! Surely we can endure these "light and momentary" troubles since we know we have a grand and glorious eternity awaiting us!
Oh, child of God, build up your holy faith (Jude 1:20) and put on the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-18)! God is working out His plan in and through each of us, but the sad truth is that sometimes our difficult situations, our injustices come in order to bring us back to our first love, Jesus Christ. When suffering and trials come, we first need to seek His face to be sure we are in a right relationship with Him. If we make Him our desire, everything else will work out for our good! (Psalms 27:4-8.)
Proverbs 24, speaks of a great hope for us. Verses 11-12 speak of a mission, a purpose--and in verse 14 God reassures us that there is a future hope and we will not be cut off. Praise God, even though we stumble, or we are made to stumble--we will rise again (verse 16.)
Finally, in verse 27 God encourages us in what He has called us to do (only you know your personal calling). Remember what happened to Jonah when he ran from his calling and what he believed was injustice! Take time to read Proverbs 24:5-6. You may be in a spiritual battle! Seek God and serve Him only. Only He can make beauty out of your ashes (Isaiah 61:3.)
I don't believe there is a person alive who has not suffered injustice, or wondered at the prosperity of the wicked! Jeremiah 12:1-2; Proverbs 24:1-2; 17-20; 29 may be answering your cries for justice.
Read Jeremiah 12:3. Here, the prophet is not seeking his own revenge, but calling on God to avenge him. Admittedly, it seems even more paradoxical that Jesus goes on to command His followers to pray for those who mistreat and misuse them (Luke 6:28)! True, more often than not, it appears as if the wicked "gets away" with their evil plots against us. Jeremiah 12:4 tells us that even our land, our country suffers because of sin and ungodliness.
However, throughout God's word, we are reminded never, ever to retailiate against evil (see also Romans 12:19). Rather, we are to be still and leave judgment solely up to God. We are told never to fret over the wicked, those have wronged us, plotted against us, those who wrongly prosper and/or succeed in this world. Why? Out of godly compassion for the lost! We should be ever mindful that one day God's mercy will end, (yes, He has mercy for the wicked) and those who have worked evil and wickedness will reap what they have sown (Galatians 6:7)!
One day there will be a reckoning! God's wrath will and is surely coming (Revelation 6:9-7)! (As His children we can take heart in 1 Thessalonians 5:9!) The tables will be turned, and as Proverbs 24:20 says, they (the wicked) have no future hope. Their lamp will be snuffed out! Considering this truth, I'm hope you can understand why we must pray for those who have wronged us, because, unless they repent, they are forever doomed to eternal separation from their Creator God!
In Jeremiah 12:5 and Proverbs 24:5-7, 10 God sees our troubles, our injustices as "little troubles". That sounds insensitive, but our God "sees" the bigger picture--and He "sees" it in light of eternity! Surely we can endure these "light and momentary" troubles since we know we have a grand and glorious eternity awaiting us!
Oh, child of God, build up your holy faith (Jude 1:20) and put on the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-18)! God is working out His plan in and through each of us, but the sad truth is that sometimes our difficult situations, our injustices come in order to bring us back to our first love, Jesus Christ. When suffering and trials come, we first need to seek His face to be sure we are in a right relationship with Him. If we make Him our desire, everything else will work out for our good! (Psalms 27:4-8.)
Proverbs 24, speaks of a great hope for us. Verses 11-12 speak of a mission, a purpose--and in verse 14 God reassures us that there is a future hope and we will not be cut off. Praise God, even though we stumble, or we are made to stumble--we will rise again (verse 16.)
Finally, in verse 27 God encourages us in what He has called us to do (only you know your personal calling). Remember what happened to Jonah when he ran from his calling and what he believed was injustice! Take time to read Proverbs 24:5-6. You may be in a spiritual battle! Seek God and serve Him only. Only He can make beauty out of your ashes (Isaiah 61:3.)
Jesus Christ--Able to Save?
Today's Reading: "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (Luke 23:39)
Dear one, because you have placed your faith (weight, trust) in the Lord Christ Jesus, believed upon Him as the risen Son of God, your faith has been accounted to you as righteousness, or right standing with God, the Father. Period! Will others question and doubt that God has, can or will save you? Oh, yes--count on it! Will we sometimes doubt this truth ourselves? Yes, we will doubt, but we must be careful to guard our hearts and never to allow the father of all lies, satan, to deceive us!
Jesus paid a high price on that cross to purchase our salvation, and we can be sure of His faithfulness to bring about our complete salvation because He is called Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11). As His precious children, we are as safe as brother Noah in that wooden ark, even though we may be being tossed around by raging waters! Remember, Jesus Christ was that Ark, and He is an able Protector for each and everyone of his children!
Beloved, build up your most holy faith (Jude 1:20)! Be mature--thoroughly trained (Hebrews 5:14), and have a ready answer (1 Peter 3:15) for those precious opportunities to share the hope and joy inside you--Jesus Christ!
Dear one, because you have placed your faith (weight, trust) in the Lord Christ Jesus, believed upon Him as the risen Son of God, your faith has been accounted to you as righteousness, or right standing with God, the Father. Period! Will others question and doubt that God has, can or will save you? Oh, yes--count on it! Will we sometimes doubt this truth ourselves? Yes, we will doubt, but we must be careful to guard our hearts and never to allow the father of all lies, satan, to deceive us!
Jesus paid a high price on that cross to purchase our salvation, and we can be sure of His faithfulness to bring about our complete salvation because He is called Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11). As His precious children, we are as safe as brother Noah in that wooden ark, even though we may be being tossed around by raging waters! Remember, Jesus Christ was that Ark, and He is an able Protector for each and everyone of his children!
Beloved, build up your most holy faith (Jude 1:20)! Be mature--thoroughly trained (Hebrews 5:14), and have a ready answer (1 Peter 3:15) for those precious opportunities to share the hope and joy inside you--Jesus Christ!
Impossible?
Today's Reading: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
Feel like you don't have a clue in this world???? Oh, beloved, you are in such a wonderful place right now. I know it seems as if you are stumbling around in the dark, and in a way that is what we, as believers are doing. It's called faith! As we read yesterday, Abraham, the father of our faith, was actually called out (set-apart, santified) by God, asked to leave his safe and comfortable home to seek after a place that only God could and would show him. God promised to make Abraham that he would be a blessing, and that through him many nations would arise. Now, talk about a faith walk! You see, Abraham came from a pagan background--he was 75 years old and his wife, Sarah, was barren. More, even if God were to open her womb, Sarah was already well past the childbearing age! Why, even the though of carrying a child at that age would be the death of most women! Talk about stumbling around in the dark! Everything inside Abraham (and Sarah) must have screamed, "This is crazy--impossible! What are you thinking????" But, no, Abraham (and Sarah) chose to believe God. And, God accounted it unto them as righteousness! Right standing with God. Blameless--not sinless.
Oh, whatever lies before you--fear not! With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26)! Walk on, beloved! Walk on!
Feel like you don't have a clue in this world???? Oh, beloved, you are in such a wonderful place right now. I know it seems as if you are stumbling around in the dark, and in a way that is what we, as believers are doing. It's called faith! As we read yesterday, Abraham, the father of our faith, was actually called out (set-apart, santified) by God, asked to leave his safe and comfortable home to seek after a place that only God could and would show him. God promised to make Abraham that he would be a blessing, and that through him many nations would arise. Now, talk about a faith walk! You see, Abraham came from a pagan background--he was 75 years old and his wife, Sarah, was barren. More, even if God were to open her womb, Sarah was already well past the childbearing age! Why, even the though of carrying a child at that age would be the death of most women! Talk about stumbling around in the dark! Everything inside Abraham (and Sarah) must have screamed, "This is crazy--impossible! What are you thinking????" But, no, Abraham (and Sarah) chose to believe God. And, God accounted it unto them as righteousness! Right standing with God. Blameless--not sinless.
Oh, whatever lies before you--fear not! With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26)! Walk on, beloved! Walk on!
Follow the Leader
Today's Reading: "The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3)
It has occurred to me that more often than not we find ourselves in a place much like Abraham, the father of our faith. Yes, like Abraham, God may be leading us to a place we don't know! Some might call this blind faith, and in a way it is. Imagine how Abraham must have felt. When God called him out, Abraham was an old man--by any standard! (Though, to me, that sounds younger with each passing day!) Prior to God revealing Himself to Abraham, all Abraham knew was his family and the pagan gods of the land where he was raised. Yet, he obeyed God, learning to walk by faith and not by sight. Like us, Abraham had no idea where he was going, but he knew God, and he knew God would not fail him. Like our brother, Abraham, we, too, must learn to trust in the faithfulness of our God!
Right now, you may be straining to see or struggling to know what lies ahead. What is God's plan and purpose for your life? How is all this going to work out? Respond like Abraham--walk by faith, trust in the goodness of our God, and most importantly, be obedient to His leading!
Faith, trust and obedience. That's all God ever asks of us. The rest lays in the purpose He has already planned for us since the beginning of time (Jeremiah 29:11.)
Beloved, please know that our fear is the greatest hindrance to our faith! As someone recently said, “Sometimes it's hard to open a door that God has planned for us because of His abundant blessings and gifts behind it! Isn't that a beautiful word picture! I pray that your open door is one such as this!
Oh, dear one, push hard!
It has occurred to me that more often than not we find ourselves in a place much like Abraham, the father of our faith. Yes, like Abraham, God may be leading us to a place we don't know! Some might call this blind faith, and in a way it is. Imagine how Abraham must have felt. When God called him out, Abraham was an old man--by any standard! (Though, to me, that sounds younger with each passing day!) Prior to God revealing Himself to Abraham, all Abraham knew was his family and the pagan gods of the land where he was raised. Yet, he obeyed God, learning to walk by faith and not by sight. Like us, Abraham had no idea where he was going, but he knew God, and he knew God would not fail him. Like our brother, Abraham, we, too, must learn to trust in the faithfulness of our God!
Right now, you may be straining to see or struggling to know what lies ahead. What is God's plan and purpose for your life? How is all this going to work out? Respond like Abraham--walk by faith, trust in the goodness of our God, and most importantly, be obedient to His leading!
Faith, trust and obedience. That's all God ever asks of us. The rest lays in the purpose He has already planned for us since the beginning of time (Jeremiah 29:11.)
Beloved, please know that our fear is the greatest hindrance to our faith! As someone recently said, “Sometimes it's hard to open a door that God has planned for us because of His abundant blessings and gifts behind it! Isn't that a beautiful word picture! I pray that your open door is one such as this!
Oh, dear one, push hard!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)