"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
We pride ourselves in being logical creatures who demand proof before believing most things. Yet, a professor can tell us that there 100 trillion stars in the sky, and we accept it without question. We accept as fact that an atom has neutrons and electrons spinning around a nucleus, even though we have never seen any of them. We know that light travels 299, 338 km’s a second even though we’ve personally never measured it. We accept all these things as facts without ever demanding the proof of their authenticity. Yet so many of us will reject Jesus – risking our eternal souls even when presented with solid proof. What proof? The witness of thousands of people who saw the miracles of Jesus. Testimonies from dozens who witnessed His death, then saw Him alive after His resurrection. And the fulfillment of prophecies concerning Jesus! Yet even after being shown so much solid evidence, many enlightened, logical people reject Jesus as “just some myth.” In fact, the divinity of Jesus is just about the only thing people refuse to accept, even when evidence is overwhelming. 2 Samuel 22:3
'He (the Lord) is MY stronghold, MY refuge and MY Savior.' - Take hold of your refuge today. - Even if you are battling to believe, He remains your Savior. - You can rely on Him completely. - Find your strength in the One who is your stronghold. PRAYER: Lord, You are MY stronghold, You are MY refuge and You are MY Savior. Strengthen me as I trust in Your mercy and grace. Amen In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance;
for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will EPHESIANS 1 : 11 (AMP) In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. EPHESIANS 1 : 11 (KJV) YOU ARE GOD’S INHERITANCE !! In Ephesians 1 : 11, you will notice the phrase .. “Obtained an inheritance” Now upon a very meticulous and careful study of this phrase, it is revealed that the original Greek language reads quite differently from the vast majority of translations you may read today. What The Original Greek Literally Says Is .. As you are in Christ, you have not “obtained and inheritance” .. But .. You have been “made an inheritance” being predestined [before encircled] according to the purpose of Him [God the Father]. At this particular time, your hearts and your hands should be rising up in praise and worship to The God, Who has on more than one occasion told you and revealed to you that You Are His Precious Chosen One !! At the death of His Son, God marked you as His personal inheritance !! Then .. Verse 11 goes on to declare that your Great God .. “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will”. Which Means .. Each and every step of the way .. Each and every day .. and .. In countless ways .. God is working all things in your life towards the glorious future He has planned for you !! God Is Continually Working All Things .. No, Not just some things .. No, Not just a few things .. But .. All things, to the point where you will know, receive, and live within the absolute fullness of All that God has for you in Jesus Christ !! OK .. So What Precisely Does It Mean For God To “Work” All Things ? Well .. It means that God is constantly manipulating, moving, manoeuvering, and arranging All things according to His purposes !! Things in your life do Not happen at random, neither do they happen by coincidence !! .. God Is At Work, Bringing About His Purposes !! If at this time in your life you are walking through a period of tribulation .. Glory In It !! Tribulation works patience .. and .. Patience develops experience .. and .. Experience grows hope .. and .. Hope dispels all shame !! 3 .. Moreover [let us also be full of joy now !] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. 4 .. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produce [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. 5 .. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us .. Romans 5 : 3 – 5 God is in the process of taking the very worst things imaginable and turning them for Great Good in your life !! While it may be factual that circumstances may not seem good at times .. Stop !! .. And take a close look at The Hand that is behind those circumstances .. “Working” those circumstances !! Sssshhhh !! .. Do You Hear .. God is speaking to your Spirit !! .. He is saying .. .. I am working it out !! .. Do not judge yet .. The final conclusion has not been revealed yet .. I am not through yet .. You must keep firmly looking at the master blueprint of my will !! So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory .. Ephesians 1 : 12 As God is working All things in your life for the highest and greatest good .. You who have trusted in Jesus should live to the praise of His glory !! You Are Encouraged To Continuously Praise And Worship And Glorify God .. Because .. You Are His Inheritance .. And .. He Has Everything In Your life Worked Out !! LIVE EACH DAY IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS !! "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22)
God will never reveal more truth about Himself until you have obeyed what you already know. Oswald Chambers "My Upmost for His Highest" Psalm 71:20+21
'You will restore me to life again. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.' - God is in the restoration business. - When He restores, He gives back what has been taken. - When He restores, He reverses what has been damaged and hurt. - So let's believe Him and expect His best in our lives. PRAYER: Lord, You are the great restorer. I trust You to restore all areas of my life. Amen May the Lord lead your hearts into God's love and Christ's patience. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
"All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other" (John 13:35). Stop and think about this verse for a minute. Could it be that unity is the key to reaching the world for Christ? If unity is the key to evangelism, shouldn't it have precedence in our prayers? Should we, as Paul said, "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3 NIV)? If unity matters to God, then shouldn't unity matter to us? If unity is a priority in heaven, then shouldn't it be a priority on earth? Nowhere, by the way, are we told to build unity. We are told simply to keep unity. From God's perspective there is but "one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16). Unity does not need to be created; it simply needs to be protected. How do we do that? … Does that mean we compromise our convictions? No. Does that mean we abandon the truths we cherish? No. But it does mean we look long and hard at the attitudes we carry. In the Grip of Grace (Max Lucado) In sy boek, Thinking for a change, sê dr. John Maxwell: "Die regte gedagte, tesame met die regte mense in die regte omgewing, op die regte tyd, vir die regte rede, lewer altyd die regte resultaat." Kom ons ontleed daardie woorde:
1) Die regte gedagte. Denke produseer idees, en idees het 'n ongelooflike krag en potensiaal. Maar elke idee begin as 'n "saadjie", en jy moet dit koester en beskerm. 2) Die regte mense. As jy die regte idee aan die regte mense bekendstel, gebeur groot dinge. In hul teenwoordigheid ontwikkel die idee en word dit versterk met moontlikhede. 3) Die regte omgewing. In die regte omgewing word denke gewaardeer, idees vloei vryelik, vars oë is welkom, veranderinge word verwag, vrae word aangemoedig, ego's word onder beheer gehou, idees stimuleer beter idees en denke genereer spanwerk. 4) Die regte tyd. Terwyl jy nog besig met die ontwikkelende stadium van 'n idee is, bied dit aan sonder verwagting, tydsraamwerke, of vaste, gedefinieerde doelwitte. Hoekom? As jy probeer om jou idee te vroeg te implementeer, sal dit dalk nie oorleef nie. 5) Die regte rede. JP Morgan het gesê: "'n Man het altyd twee redes om iets te doen: 'n goeie idee en die werklike rede." Motiewe maak saak - en selfsugtige motiewe diskwalifiseer ons. God raak net betrokke by idees wat Sy doel vervul en Sy liefde vir ander demonstreer. Soms word 'n idee groot wanneer dit deel word van 'n ander idee; ander kere is dit perfek net soos dit is. Een ding is seker: as jy jou denke strek, sal jy ontdek dat jou denke jou strek. Sielskos: Rig 7:1-9:33; Mark. 10:23-34; Ps 93; Spr. 13:7-8 In Luke 18:17 Jesus stressed the importance of being childlike? Mathew 18:3 states they are trusting, lowly , loving and forgiving. Oh how much more we will enjoy our lives if we operate in these four virtues! I encourage you to develop them in your life. God bless you Amen
People who have a sad past, need to be able to believe in a bright future. Proverbs 29:18 says that where there is no vision people perish. Some people are afraid to believe God for a vision. They think they are setting themselves up for a disappointment. They do not realize that they will be perpetually disappointed if they do not believe. It cost nothing to believe. Believe big and even if you get half it is better than believing for nothing and getting it all.
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