When I bring my requests before the Lord, am I truly believing He will grant them? Or am I just going through the motions of asking, not really expecting the Lord to come through. Have my low expectations limited God to what He can accomplish? This verse just reminds me again not to put limits on God. I may be praying this tiny, feeble prayer, while God’s ready to do a HUGE work… despite me and my pitiful faith.
Acts 3:2 ” Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.”
The beggar had been crippled from birth…maybe from some congenital defect such as Spina Bifida or an injury that occurred during the birthing process. His physical impairment was apparent to all, but how many times do we have invisible handicaps and defects? Many walk around emotionally crippled at the hand of abusive parents or spouses. Many are mentally crippled by poverty or social injustices that they were powerless to change. But just like this crippled beggar, we too can be healed in the name of Jesus to live a full and joyous life.
Psalm 84:11 ” For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”
The glory of the Lord is our light. Our path is ever illuminated by His majestic power. We never need to fear the darkness, for Isaiah said it best…” The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” (Isaiah 60:19)
John 11: 25-26 ” I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? “
Do you believe this? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins so you may have eternal life? What distinguishes us from the world is the unique characteristic of believing in Jesus. Our faith and trust in Him goes far beyond what the world will ever understand or comprehend. As Believers, our confidence is not in man, but in the Son of Man…Jesus. Do you believe this?
Isaiah 12:3 ” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
There’s nothing sadder than what is written in Jeremiah 2:13, ” Forsaking the spring of living waters, they dug their own cisterns.” We can not, and will never be able to save ourselves…for it’s only by the blood of Jesus that we are saved from our sinful existence . And it’s then with unspeakable joy that we can drink from that fountain of eternal life.
I Thessalonians 1:3 ” We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Your good deeds for others, demonstrated in tangible ways, showing your trust in God – that’s Faith. When weariness covers you like a cloak, it’s for the sake of others, not yourself, that you continue to toil on – that’s Love. When it’s that deep confidence that makes you persevere, not willing to surrender when times are tough – that’s Hope. Faith, Love, and Hope…you being Jesus to a broken world.
Isaiah 30:15 ” This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’ “
How many times through a prideful, rebellious nature have we traded tranquility for chaos…and confidence for fear? There’s deliverance through Jesus Christ, and hope for tomorrow…if but we’re willing to obey.
Romans 6: 13 “…but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life…”
I really didn’t want to do it… initially I even said no. But the Lord had other plans for me telling my story to a group of ladies yesterday. You see people everyday with their smiley faces on never knowing the struggles and trials in their past. And so I took off my smiley face, became very vulnerable, and yielded myself to His Will. .. Surrendering my façade of a strong Christian woman to show the broken, crushed spirit that I once was. In that simple act of obedience I was able to show how God miraculously saved, restored, and healed me inside out.
Hebrews 6:10 ” God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”
We are called to unconditional, Agape love to all…even the unlovable. We are called to be a servant to all God’s people…whether we want to or not. Every deed, every action we do for others should have the fingerprints of Jesus all over them.
Hosea 10:13 ” But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength…”
We’re on a very slippery slope anytime we put our trust and confidence in ourselves rather than the Lord. It’s that prideful nature that will get us in trouble every time. The problem with relying on any other type of security other than God is the sad end result…eternal punishment apart from God.
Safetypinlove 