Week Nine - Ask

ASK

“…yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”  James 4:2

My second son was one of those kids who could never make up his mind. I would try to encourage him to tell me what he wanted, but he just never seemed to be able, except for food of course!  But when it came to Christmas, or his birthday, he would say he didn’t know what he wanted.  Then, afterwards I would hear him say, “I would have liked that.”  And my blood would boil.  I so wanted to make him happy, but because he would never be upfront with what really mattered to him it left me feeling like a failure and left him disappointed.  To this day I don’t know the real reason behind why he was hesitant to ask for what he wanted.  Sometimes he would say that he didn’t think we could afford it.  Maybe he didn’t believe that we would seek to give him his wish, but for whatever reason, he was afraid to ask.

        

We can be like that with the Lord.  We don’t really believe that he is either able or willing to give us what we really desire.  Maybe we think our wish is trivial or unimportant.  Maybe we think we don’t deserve it.  But for whatever reason, we go around disappointed because we don’t see what we want.

        

Other times I think it is pride that causes us not to ask.  We have swallowed the non-Scriptural thought that God helps those who help themselves and think that we have to do something to earn His gifts.  Or, we don’t want to humble ourselves enough to ask.  We would rather do without and think we are being super spiritual than to let go of our pride and come in child-like faith to a loving heavenly Father to have all of our needs met. 

James 1:5 is speaking of the desire for wisdom and in this matter of asking, we need great wisdom.  What does James 1:5 promise?  “let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally…”  Hum, sounds to me like God enjoys giving to his children.  All they have to do is ask.  What is holding you back?

ASK

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”  Matthew 21:22

Asking takes faith.  Faith is believing we will receive.  Faith is not to be placed in the action of asking, but in the One from whom we will receive our request.  It therefore involves praise and submission as we come before the throne.

When it comes to your human father, you ask because you expect that he will be able to grant your request.  You do not demand. but you come as a seeking receiver.  He is the one that will grant the request.  Your hopes are pinned on his ability, not your own.  You believe that your father will give you what you have asked because either you know he has the ability, or that your request is within his power to grant, or you believe that he would want to do this for you.

When we ask our heavenly Father, these truths must be exercised as well.  We must believe that He is the one to grant the request and that it is within His ability.  Of course, all things are within His ability, but we must also recognize that all things are within His prerogative as well.  We do not come to God with a demanding attitude, but one of earnest expectation and faith.

Another aspect of asking is removal of pride.  We cannot expect to receive because of our own merit, or simply because we have put forth our request.  The receiving is dependent upon the goodness of the Father.  The Father holds the options.  He can grant the request, delay to answer until an appropriate time, or deny the request altogether.  It is his prerogative, just as with earthly fathers.

God wants us to ask.  He wants to answer.  This is how a relationship is built and trust is strengthened.  Answers to prayer are like stitches that hold a garment together: the more the stitches, the stronger the bond.

What is your attitude in prayer requests?  Do you come believing?

ASK

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?  Matthew 7:9-11

One of the lies of Satan is that God will withhold from us, or that God is not able to adequately meet our need.  When we believe this lie we start coming to God with beggarly requests.  We cry before him for things he has already provided.  

Wouldn’t you count it foolish for a child to ask his earthly father daily if he were going to let them live in the house, eat at the table and wear clothes?  Yet, we fret over these things daily.  How much better the child that seeks his father’s counsel for growth and development and by faith with confidence and thankfulness leaves the physical needs to be met by the father’s love without doubtful asking?

When we limit our prayers to only requests for things God has already provided or promised to provide we are not exhibiting faith.  We are actually exhibiting unthankfulness and discontent with what we have.  We seek as Gentiles who only crave only material and physical desires; yet, he wants to give us more. 

  

God is good.  He wants to meet our need and he does meet our need.  Yet, how much more could he give us if we were to be thankful and recognized the good gifts he has already provided?  It is a good exercise to examine our heart attitudes about the gifts of God.  It is a good exercise to eradicate lies from our prayer life.  Simply take time to ask yourself the questions posed in today’s Scripture. 

If we think we are good parents by meeting the physical needs of our children to the best of our ability, how much greater a parent is God and what good things could he give us if we were thankful for what we already had and believed Him to be a good parent?

ASK

“In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.”  I Kings 3:5

What an amazing offer God made to Solomon.  “Ask what ever you want and I will give it you.”  But Solomon was ready.  He knew what he needed - wisdom. 

When we read of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10 Jesus posed the same type of question, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?  Bartimaeus was also ready.  He knew what he needed – sight.

These men made specific requests.  They knew what they needed and they believed that the source of their request was right before them, so the seized the opportunity.

We, however, tend to ask so generically.  “Lord, bless us.”  “Lord, watch over…”  “Lord, help me!”  God already blesses.  God already watches over.  God is our constant help.  Not that these are to be overlooked, but I put it to you that we are not ready. 

We are not aware of our real need so our requests become general. We ask, but our definition is so blurred that we do not even see the answers to our prayers because we do not know what they look like.  We just toddle along blinded to the real power of the relationship we can have with an Almighty God who is standing before us asking what we need.

Define your request.  Make it something that can be evidenced when granted.  You need spiritual strength – ask Him!  You need great wisdom – ask Him!  You need deliverance from addiction – ask Him!  You need a friend and some real encouragement – ask Him! Then look and recognize what he does. Remember, he is able to do more!  So, prove Him!  He is not afraid and he will not fail.

Are you ready with a specific request?  Why hesitate?  Ask.

ASK

“Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…”  Ephesians 3:20

I love this “exceeding abundantly above” phrase.  He is able to do exceeding abundantly above.  Imagine. If you ask for a piece of bread, it will come as a whole loaf with jam and butter!  And then some cheese and chutney, and all served on a golden platter.  And it will be free!  That is such an inadequate illustration, but I hope you get the meaning.  We ask for small things when God is able to do so much more. 

I know in my own life that God has blessed me above measure.  I started out my Christian life with a simple desire to please Him and in return He has pleased me so much more than I could have ever pleased Him.  He has granted so many answers to prayer in unimaginable ways and has made my life so much richer in the process.  It is unexplainable and intangible, yet it is real, deep and precious.

I think the key to the verse is found in the last part – “according to the power that worketh in us”.  The answers to prayer are not because I asked or because I had such great faith, but because of the power that is within.  It is His power, not mine.  He works in my life to develop a relationship.  The exceeding abundantly above answers to prayer are for those who are walking with Him and who are allowing the power of God to work through them. 

The Psalmist wrote, “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”  (Psalm 84:11) I can believe that He will work on my behalf to bring mighty answers to prayer because it is His desire to bless and use me for His glory. By taking a step of faith and asking, I get to see Him work!  Nothing is beyond His ability to answer!

Can you pray this prayer with me?  “Lord, let me continue to see these amazing answers to powerful prayer for Your glory alone.  Let me be that channel of blessing to others.  Let my life be exceeding abundantly above all that I could ever imagine according to your power that lives in me!  This I ask, O Lord.”

Week Eight - According

ACCORDING

“Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.”  Psalm 62:12

“According”.  It is word of measurement.  It comes from a word meaning foundation, based upon, and springing from.  This verse in Psalms teaches us that we will all receive something from the Lord based upon our work for him.  It is probably a wonderful thing that the phrase is preceded by the truth of God’s mercy.  For when it comes to receiving according to our works, we will all need mercy.

It reminds me of the truth of sowing and reaping.  Were it not for God’s mercy, we would all be consumed and destroyed, for none of us have done good enough works to be spared.  But God in his great mercy and love has chosen to forgive us for our failures and desires to reward us for our successes.

What though, if the reverse were true?  What if we served a God without mercy?  What if we really got what we deserved?

Not a very bright prospect, huh?

It also prompts me to think about the works I am doing for Him.  What real reward am I earning?  When it comes to judgment fire, how many of my works will be able to withstand the heat of God’s judgment?  I don’t think I will really know until the day, but until then I choose to continue to serve.  Until then, I look for the mercy of God when I fail and the smile of God when I succeed.  Until then, I will keep my eyes on Him who loves me and reaches out to me with great mercy in order to give me blessing according to my work.

ACCORDING

“…according to thy Word….”

 Psalm 119:9, 25, 28, 41, 58, 65, 76, 107, 116, 154, 169, 170

God’s Word:

Verse 9 – brings cleansing

Verse 25 – brings life

Verse 28 – brings strength

Verse 41 – brings salvation

Verse 58 – brings mercy

Verse 65 – brings God’s good dealing

Verse 76 – brings comfort

Verse 107 – brings relief from affliction

Verse 116 – brings upholding

Verse 154 – brings quickening

Verse 169 – brings understanding

Verse 170 – brings deliverance

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and over and over the Psalmist praises and adores God’s Word.  God’s Word is the foundation of life.  God’s Word is the basis upon which life is created and ultimately judged.  God’s Word is the spring of life for every man who heeds it.  As the Psalmist writes he calls upon this basic truth and appeals to God for application of the Word to the needs of his life.

Those who dwell deeply in God’s Word know these truths to be real and active.  They know the surety and confidence with which they can rest and trust.  They know the heights to which the Word of God alone can take them.  And, they know that no matter how low life brings them, God’s Word is still there to lift them up and to uphold them in every trial.  Are you directing your life according to the Word?

  

ACCORDING

“…according to thy tender mercies….”  Psalm 69:16

Psalm 25:7 – “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.”

Psalm 69:16 – “Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.”

We cannot begin to delve into the word “according” until we know what we are measuring.  Therefore, we need the meaning of the word, “mercy”, which is, compassionate, unfailing love. 

We had a young family visiting in our home that had a son that was about four years old.  They had been trying to teach him the meaning of the word mercy.  Their definition was to not receive what you actually deserved.  This son was quite a sharp lad and had taken in their definition.  Now, each time he actually deserved to be punished for misbehaviour, he would call out to them, “Mercy, mercy, please give me mercy!”

In some sense, this is what the Psalmist is doing as well.  In the 25^th Psalm we see that he knows his own guilt, but asks God to think kindly toward him and not punish him according to his youthful sins.  In the 69^th Psalm he casts himself upon the love and kindness of God asking him to turn to him, or, look upon him with mercy.  This reminds me of the call of the sinner in the Gospels, “God be merciful unto me a sinner”.

We can call out to God for this compassionate unfailing love, because it is a foundation.  It is what springs from God.  God is love; therefore we can call upon him to receive love.  His love never fails.  It never ends.  It is always there.  It is a measure by which we can be assured of its supply. God will not withhold it from his children, so if you need it today -call.  Come boldly before the throne of grace!

ACCORDING

“I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness…Psalm 7:17

“Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness…”

 Psalm 35:24

“The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.”  Psalm 18:20

“Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.”  Psalm 18:24

Wow.  The Psalmist is taking a really big step here.  Just think.  When we look at the first two verses referring to the righteousness of God, we don’t really have a problem for we know that God is always right and always just.  There is no unrighteousness in Him to any degree!  We should praise him for that, and we can know that God will judge us rightly based upon his own true righteousness.

But then, the Psalmist asks God to reward him according to his own human righteousness.  He must be very confident that he has acted rightly and that God will not find fault.  He says that his hands are clean; they are free from impurity or guilt. These verses are not a basis for salvation.  The Psalmist is not asking for God to forgive his sin, this matter is already settled.  What he is asking for and has recognized, is that God has already looked at his life and has rewarded him for living rightly.

There is blessing upon the one who lives rightly.  They can stand confidently before God for judgment.  They can also stand confidently if there is a problem, for they know that a righteous Judge will deal rightly and mercifully with them in that matter also.  I John 3:21 says, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”  The Psalmist had this confidence.  Do you?

ACCORDING

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”  Psalm 33:22

There are so many verses using this word that it is impossible to look them all.  Words like, power, integrity, deeds, purposed, work, etc., all of these are placed against the word “according”.  But for a final look at the measurement, let’s consider Psalm 33:22.  We are back to that word “mercy”, meaning compassionate, unfailing love.  It is being measured by the word, “hope”.  This means to wait for or to expect.  So, the question is, “How much hope do we have?”  God’s mercy will be upon us based upon the measure of our expectation.

Hope is a vital part of the Christian experience.  It is one of the three things that remain – Faith, Hope, and Charity.  The Bible says that without hope we are miserable.  It also says that we will be happy if our hope is in the Lord, and further, hope makes us not ashamed and we are saved by hope.  We are to be looking for that blessed hope and if that hope is in us it will cause us to live a pure life. Hope is vital. 

The Psalmist used hope to lift him from despair.  Several times as he asked himself why he was cast down or disquieted, he said, “…hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him…” God has no problem granting mercy to the soul whose hope and trust are based solely upon God’s sufficiency.  The soul whose hope is placed such has a solid foundation, a basis upon which to build, and will be springing forth from a depth that proceeds from a never-ending resource that is based upon the power and ability of God.

My hope is built on nothing less


Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;


I dare not trust the sweetest frame,


But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;


All other ground is sinking sand…

Week Seven - Almost

ALMOST

“Unless the Lord had been my help,

my soul had almost dwelt in silence.”  Psalm 94:17

Almost finished.  Ever been there?  Ready to give up?  All around you are problems too big for you to figure out.  There seem to be no solutions, only more complications. 

David is in the same place.  Nothing is going to plan.  All his hopes are dashed and he just doesn’t know what to do to make things better.  He has no one beside him to help.  He feels completely alone in silent darkness.

Yet, this is one of the most wonderful places to be.  This is when almost has its most power.  You see, almost means that there are still two options.  David can cave in and give up, or he can reach out and be held up.  This is place where I Corinthians 10:13 comes into play.  ”God is faithful, who will…make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”.

Do you see from the verse in Psalm that David prefaced his predicament with the word “unless”?  He was not denying the fact that he was distraught. He was not focusing solely upon his circumstance and emotion, either.  He knew that his help was in the Lord, and that no matter the problem, no matter how bleak it looked, the Lord’s help was there and he found comfort in that truth.

“When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.  In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”(Psalm 94:18, 19)  David knew the way through problems was to keep his eye on the Lord and know that the mercy of the Lord would not allow him to be overtaken by his problems.  He drew comfort from that truth.  Though his mind might be whirling, God was able to bring comfort and delight to his heart and soul so he could rest in the hand of the Lord.  Are you almost ready to give us?  Maybe you need to adjust your focus?

ALMOST

“I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.”  Proverbs 5:14

Almost in trouble.  The writer of Proverbs describes the fall away from safety.  This drifter had surrounded himself with people that only took from him, and his deceitful heart was not even recognizing his eventual plight. 

Look at the words of verses 12 and 13.  “And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!”  Sounds like a teenager to me.  They challenge you to point out where they have failed in order that they might cast blame somewhere else or accuse you of not understanding or being too strict.  They do not see the danger ahead.

If we companion with the wrong sorts of people, we too, will teeter on the edge of trouble and that is true whether we are teenagers or adults.

It is interesting to note that the evil was in the midst of the congregation and assembly.  Seems the drifter had not even dropped out of church yet!  He was trying to walk both sides of the fence.  He was listening to lies and catering to those who were pleasing his ego.

Proverbs 5:21 gives a key.  “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord…”  God sees all.  We must remember that truth.  We might be almost in trouble, but if we turn, we will not be overtaken by our own deceits.  God is there to help us.

Remedy?  Change friends and stay away from evil companions.

Do you need to do some life evaluation?  Are your attitudes correct and healthy?  Are your companions beneficial?

ALMOST

“But as for me, my feet were almost gone;

my steps had well nigh slipped.”  Psalm 73:2

Almost gone. Almost Soured.  Failure to deal with life’s difficulties in a biblical manner can produce bitterness in our lives.   We question why God has allowed difficulty or disappointment in our lives.  We think He has turned away from us or is unjustly punishing us for something.  We are envious of those who appear to be succeeding with no obstacles.

We may allow the mystery of iniquity to “sour” us to the Christian life and thereby hinder our growth.  The Psalmist David grappled with this mystery over and over in the book of Psalms.  Why do the heathen prosper as David struggles?  When will God make all things just?  Why do some people live evil lives and die without reaping?  Why do good people have hard lives and die without reward?

Remedy?  Psalm 73.  As David mused throughout this Psalm his heart was grieved and finally he says that he was convicted.  He came back to truth.  First, he is always companioned by the Lord and held in his right hand.  He has the counsel of the Lord and promise of a home in heaven.  There is no one else like the Lord.  God is his strength.

The ungodly do not have these promises upon their lives.  The will perish and those that go away from God will be judged.

David’s decision was to draw nearer to God and put his trust in the Lord.  He would show his decision by declaring all that God had done and was doing.  He would look at the bigger picture and live a bigger life.

What about you?  Are you slipping?  Are you souring?  Take time to stop and count your blessings and claim God’s promises.

 

ALMOST

“They had almost consumed me upon the earth;

but I forsook not thy precepts.”  Psalm 119:87

Almost Consumed.  There are people who want to see us fail.  Satan wants to see us fail.  We need to be vigilant and sober to avoid being consumed or devoured by the enemy. 

We can also be consumed by our own inventions.  Our emotions can consume us.  Our fears can consume us.  Our commitments can consume us.  We have many consuming adversaries.

To consume means to use up, to destroy, to cause to disappear or to do away with.  Anything that takes control of our lives has the potential to consume us.

The key that David found was to not forsake the precepts of God’s Word.  Let’s look at some truths.

In I Corinthians 6:12 the Apostle Paul says, …I will not be brought under the power of any.”  He went on to say in Romans 6:16 “….to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey…”  Paul had made a decision in his life that he would only be the servant of Christ.

Nehemiah had made the same decision when Sanballat and Tobiah requested to meet him in the plain of Ono.  His response was, “…I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”  He knew that the work God had given him to do was more important than yielding to the enemy’s tactics.

What consumes your thoughts?  Your time?  Your energy?  What choices do you need to make in order to not forsake the precepts of God?

ALMOST

“…almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”  Acts 26:28

Of all the “almosts”, this is the saddest. Paul had stood before the counsel affirming that Jesus was the Christ and giving testimony of this life changing event. Agrippa was almost convinced of the truth of the gospel.  Almost in this matter is most certainly lost.

Paul’s reply?  “…I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I…”  His heart so longed for Agrippa and those in the court to come to a saving knowledge of Christ.

If today you have never received Christ as your Saviour, do not stop at being almost persuaded.  Come to grips with the fact of your own guilt before an Almighty God and bow your knee in repentance asking for his forgiveness and invite Him into your life.

If you are a Christian, and want to be the witness like Paul, you must show your confidence not only in the truth, but also in the benefit and advantage of Christianity.  Seek to show others goodwill and the unspeakable security in the grace of Christ that has come to you.  Live out your Christianity daily and boldly.

Ours is not to save, but to testify.  Matthew Henry says, “Many are almost persuaded to be religious…but yet are overruled by some external inducements, and do not pursue their convictions.”  We cannot make people believe and act upon belief.  That is the job of the Holy Spirit.  But we can point them to Christ.

 Are you almost persuaded? Remedy?  Repent and believe!

Week Six - All

ALL

“All things work together for good…”  Romans 8:28

All.  Everything.  Nothing excluded whether good or ill.  All. God is involved in it all.  God has a purpose in it all.  All that we do or say he already knows.  Nothing surprises Him.  He knows…all.  So, all that comes in my life is filtered through His hands. 

Rev. John Macduff wrote, “Be it mine to merge my own will in His; not to cavil (make petty or unnecessary objections) at His ways, or seek to have one jot or tittle of that will altered; but to lie passive in His hands; to take the bitter as well as the sweet, knowing that the cup is mingled by One who loves me too well to add one ingredient that might have been spared!”

Sometimes, yea, many times, it is hard for us to understand that God has a real purpose in our struggles.  We don’t lay passively in His hands.  We are usually too busy telling Him how we want our lives to run.  We are control freaks who have a plan and are working our plan or agenda as we ask God to bless.  If things don’t go our way, we get annoyed and we blame God or lash out at those we see as in the way of our goal.  We are not willing to take the bitter as well as the sweet.

It is a good thing that God knows all about us already.  It is a good thing that He is not thrown off track by our temper tantrums and demands.  Like a strong loving father, he holds the line.  He knows his plan means that everything will work out in the end for His glory and he wants us to be a part of that praise.

We will someday.  Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess His Lordship.  Why not start now?  Why not bow on earth and allow him to control all of the events in your life?  Why not recognize that he already does?

ALL

“casting all your care upon Him for he careth for you..” 

(I Peter 5:7)

All my cares He knows and wants to carry.  The instruction, “casting”, means to literally throw over your shoulder.  I take my cares and throw them behind me.  They have no power.  I toss all of them to Him and he is able and willing to take care of them – all of them, because He cares about me.

I used to image the throne room of prayer like something I saw in the movies: a grand hall of marble lined with tall columns and the throne the end of the hall in great splendour.  I would pray to God from behind one of those columns poking my head around once in a while to see if he was still there.

Then, I came to realize that this was not a true and honest valuation of God’s desire for me.  I wasn’t coming boldly before the throne, but timidly and not in a strong measure of faith!

It revealed to me that I didn’t truly believe that God would hear my prayer, much alone decide to answer.

So, as I prayed, I begin to imagine myself stepping out from behind the column and standing in the middle of that hall.  My prayers changed.  I was no longer begging, but requesting aid from my Lord who was fully able to hear and help.

As time has gone by, I now know that I can take whatever care I have straight up to the throne and speak to my Heavenly Father personally.  He cares about my concerns.  He will talk with me about them.  He will show me ways to deal with them.  Ultimately, he will take care of them for me because he cares about me.

Since all things are under his care, I would best spend all my time praising and trusting and my days knowing all is well and whatever is askew He will set straight and use for His glory. So what is left to be concerned about? 

ALL

“..able to do exceeding abundantly

above all that we think or ask…”  (Eph 3:20) 

For all I might ask, He is able to do more, exceeding abundantly more.  I can never ask too much.  I cannot even imagine all that He is able to do. 

I had always had a desire to go to China.  I had read missionary stories and was captivated.  I wanted to see the Great Wall of China.  Well, that was just a dream until one day a friend asked me if I would like to go to China with her.

“Well, YES!”, I replied, and I was on my way!  But for my Father that wasn’t enough to simply answer to my little heart’s desire.  Though I had enough money for my ticket, my friend used her Air Miles and the trip only cost $200.  But that wasn’t exceeding abundantly above for my Father yet. 

Because she had used Air Miles, she could also choose a layover somewhere.  So, a week in Hawaii was thrown in.  But that wasn’t exceeding abundantly above for my Father either.  So, He threw in the accommodation in Hawaii as well, and my husband was able to join us there.  Now, that’s pretty exceeding abundant if you ask me!

My Father’s abundance is not limited to holidays and material blessings.  He is able to work in hearts and situation with amazing accuracy and plenteous mercy.  We just fail to ask and fail to recognize the great work he does all around us.

If He is able to do more than I can imagine, I would best not be trying to figure it out all by myself.  My solutions would be too small, too limited.  He is able to do more than I could ever imagine!  Exceedingly, abundantly more!

What amazing thing would you ask if you believed He was able?

ALL

“…my God shall supply all your need…”  (Phil 4:19)

He will supply all that I need. There is no need that I can come to that He cannot meet.

We usually think of food and material needs when we read this verse.  I have found God amazingly able to meet my material needs.  He will use others, he will use bargains, or he will simply stretch things out in order to meet my material needs.  I do not have to worry where the next meal is going to come from as long as I am happy and satisfied with whatever he provides.

Financially, he can supply my need.  Testimonies abound where God has miraculously provided finance to meet the immediate need.  We should take these testimonies on board.  Others are telling us of His greatness and ability to provide.  We can draw faith and assurance from these.

God can also meet my emotional needs.  He loves me.  He knows me.  He understands that I need a friend, or a hug, or some counsel and he will meet that need.  We have all said at times, “No one understands me.”  Well, that is a very true statement if we are looking for understanding from others.  They cannot understand us fully.  We all fail in communicating our deepest feelings.  No one can read our minds in order to make us happy every time.  Looking for someone to understand can be a futile exercise.

But God, he is different.  He does understand.  He knows everything about us.  There is nothing we can hide and the nothing we should fear.  He truly does understand and he truly does care.  Beyond that, he is able to supply all of our emotional needs.

Can you recall God’s provision for your needs?  Are you giving Him thanks for even your daily provision?

ALL

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

Phil 4:13

The songwriter said, “God is too wise to be mistaken, too good to be unkind…”  So, all my concerns are in His capable hands; all my needs will be met by Him.  All my limitations are nothing compared to His limitless ability.  He is my all in all!

With that confidence, God’s Word tells me that I can then serve him.  Not because the power lies in my own greatness, but because He lives through me.  As I learn to trust Him with my cares, and accept that whatever comes across my path has been filtered through His love for me and recognize his amazing ability to not only supply what I need, but do more than I can imagine, then I am equipped to do all things through Him.

There is no place for fear or doubt.  God will prove himself faithful and capable so that I can go in obedience to do whatever he might ask of me.  Stop and imagine, what might God ask you to do?  What thing looks so big that you would be afraid to try?  You know, that thing might be really big, but God is bigger and his power working through you will enable you to do amazing things.

Jesus told the disciples in John 14:12 that if they believed, they would be able to do the same type of works that Jesus did.  And, they must have believed, because in Acts we see them doing those things.  But Jesus went on to add that they would even be able to do greater works.  I don’t know what that might be, but the truth of the promise is that believing God and acting upon that belief allows the power of God to work through us to do all things.

What might God want you to do?  Do you believe that he is able to work through you?  Are you willing?