Sometimes when I’m praying, I feel like I must get God’s attention before He’ll listen…so I jump up and down, yelling, and waving my arms, thinking maybe He’ll notice me. But this verse says quite the opposite. The Lord is waiting for me to speak, listening for my voice, eager to answer my prayer according to His perfect Will. I don’t have to guess if the Lord has heard my prayer…for He’s already at work.
Month: April 2015
Ezekiel 37:26 ” I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put My sanctuary among them forever.”
The sanctuary…that sacred place where the presence and glory of God resides is much closer than you can imagine. For if you think about it – your body is that temple, that sanctuary, if the Holy Spirit lives within you. That glorious presence, peace, and power of our God resides in you – His sanctuary here on earth.
Ephesians 2:5 ” It is by grace you have been saved.”
The simple definition of grace is unearned, unmerited favor. There is absolutely nothing you can do in and of yourself to gain this favor…it’s accomplished only by the atonement of your sins by Jesus Christ dying on that Cross in your place. God’s unwarranted favor…His abundant, extravagant grace… is available to all who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Ezekiel 34: 26 “…I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessings.”
God’s blessings come at just the right time…not too early, not too late. The Lord’s favor is like the gentle Spring rains that soak the ground so it can produce a crop. Those showers of blessings are poured out on our own thirsty souls that we too might be fruitful for Him.
II Chronicles 16:9 ” For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
Who is your reliance on? If it’s man, you’ll be constantly disappointed. But the Lord is ever there for you, supporting and encouraging … always present to be your cheerleader and confidante. And the result for you…a soul at peace in all situations.
Job 12:13 ” To God belongs wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.”
Even through his suffering, Job was keenly aware of the Lord’s awe-inspiring strength, might, and insight. Elsewhere in Job 9:4 he declared, “His wisdom is profound, His power is vast.” One cannot but agree with that statement…our Lord is all-knowing, His power limitless and infinite.
Galatians 5:7 ” You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”
Let’s put a face to the Who in this verse…the Who that keeps us from spending time with God. Hectic schedules at work and home…business deadlines…errands, appointments, and practices…all these can chip away at our day, until there’s nothing left for God. By first identifying the “WHOs” in our life, we can then come up with a plan on how to spend that daily time with our Lord. It may be as simple as shutting down your phone or computer for a little while and focusing on Him instead.
Isaiah 29:13 ” The Lord says: ‘ This people come near Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men.’ “
Another variation of this verse reads,” Their worship of Me is in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men.” Any time we humans try to help God by thrusting our rules and regulations on His truths, we fail miserably. All we do is end up worshiping the rules and not the Ruler of the universe.
Luke 9: 61-62 ” Still another said, ‘ I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘ No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’ “
The man was making excuses for delaying Jesus’ call in his life…But how many times do we do the very same thing. I’ll follow You Lord, but first I must do this, or I’ll follow you Lord, but this must happen first. We want to feel in control, but sometimes God wants us to take that leap of faith without reservations, all the while demanding that our priorities be in perfect alignment with His.