When you tell God, “I want the truth more than anything else,” he will reveal his truth to you in a variety of ways, such as through creation, your conscience, and also through careful consideration.
In other words, truth is knowable. You can test it; you can experiment with it; you can prove it. If I want to go to San Francisco, and I follow a map that takes me to San Francisco, and the next week I follow the same map to San Francisco again, eventually I figure out that the map is true. The same is true of the Bible: If you follow its map again and again, you’ll find it to be true. You may not always like where it takes you, but it always takes you where it says it’s going to take you. Often people say, “Why won’t God just write it in the sky?” Why would God do that? He gave you a brain. But most people never slow down long enough for such careful consideration. Most people just drift through life. The Bible tells us, “Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established” (Proverbs 4:26 HCSB). Spend some time in careful consideration and thoughtful observation, and ask yourself: “Am I on a true path?” All too often we hear cries of distress from people who claim that they cannot find God; or that their faith has weakened to such an extent that they are no longer sure of His existence. In many cases these are people who have shared an intimate relationship with God but have been disillusioned or hurt by an incident that affected their lives. From there the lamp started to flicker, threatening to go out all together. One of the great joys of the Christian faith is the reassurance that we receive from God himself, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb 13:5). He is always prepared to welcome you if you will only turn back to Him. His love is unconditional – His arms are always open, ready to take you back into His flock. When you return to the living Christ and allow Him to take control of your life again, you will hear the prompting voice of the Holy Spirit guiding you to serve His Holy name. It is in these circumstances – especially when you serve Him among your fellow man – that you will again become aware of the presence of God because you have found your faith again. Dear God, thank You that You are always there for me and that I may believe in You – that You will never leave me, nor forsake me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. JOHN 11:41–42 …And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me…
After Jesus had said these words, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And the man who had been dead for four days came out of his tomb! This is one of the greatest miracles that Jesus performed. Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus raised him to life. Wouldn’t you agree that death is indeed an extreme problem? Having no money in the bank, being sick and losing your job, bad as they are, are not as bad as being dead! But what I want you to see is this: If Jesus, in the most extreme of problems, shows us that the solution is still, “Father, I thank You,” then how much more should we thank God in the midst of the less serious problems we face. If thanksgiving can raise the dead, then let us give thanks in spite of the negative circumstances and we will see victory. Unfortunately, we tend to do the opposite—murmur and complain. But murmuring and complaining only magnify the problem. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is the language of faith which pleases God. I am not saying that we give thanks for the problems we have. No, we thank God that He is our answer and that He has already given every blessing to us. (Ephesians 1:3) “But Pastor Prince, what I have is so little.” My friend, thank God for the little you have and it will multiply. Jesus thanked His Father for the five barley loaves and two small fish, a little boy’s lunch, and they were multiplied to feed more than 5,000 people with 12 baskets full of leftovers! (John 6:8–13) And notice that when the Holy Spirit talked about this event again, He specifically mentioned the Lord giving thanks—“the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks”. (John 6:23) The Holy Spirit seemed to be more pleased with the act of giving thanks than the miracle of multiplication or the 12 baskets full of leftovers. Beloved, the more you thank God, the more you please Him. What little you have will be multiplied and whatever is dead in your life will be raised to life! ECCLESIASTES 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time…
Nothing happens to you by accident when you have God in your life. Even a “chance” meeting with someone is part of His plan to set in motion His blessings in your life. Such was the divinely arranged meeting of the Shunammite woman and Prophet Elisha. It led to the prophet pronouncing over her the blessing of a miracle child even though she was barren and her husband was old. (2 Kings 4:8–17) A few years later, it was this friendship with the man of God, which saw her through a crisis when her son fell seriously ill and died—Elisha raised her son back to life. (2 Kings 4:18–37) When God is the one orchestrating the events in your life, neither lack nor danger nor destruction can affect you. When famine hit the land, the Shunammite woman’s family did not suffer because through Elisha, God had told them to leave the land. They went to the land of the Philistines and dwelt there throughout the seven years of famine. (2 Kings 8:1–2) God can place you at the right place at the right time, even through your daily decision-making. The Shunammite woman returned to Shunem after the famine had ended. She then decided to appeal to the king of Israel for help to regain her house and land, which had been illegally acquired by others during her absence. This decision brought her before the king on the same day that Elisha’s servant Gehazi was in audience with the king. The king wanted to hear all about the miracles performed by Elisha. This gave the Shunammite woman the opportunity to share firsthand with the king how Elisha had raised her son from the dead. The thrilled king then ordered the restoration of her house and land, including all the proceeds of the field from the day that she had left until then. (2 Kings 8:3–6) The Lord had timed and set up everything beautifully for her! Beloved, God can also make all things beautiful in its time for you. As you involve Him in your daily life and trust His love for you, you too will see Him lead and place you at the right place at the right time to enjoy His blessings. John 14:27
‘Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ - God is our Prince of Peace. - He has a gift for you – His peace. - May His peace flood our heart and soul during this season. - Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. PRAYER: Lord, You are MY Prince of Peace. I receive Your gift of peace right now. I reject any fear or anxiety and I choose to walk in the peace You have provided for me. Amen. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. PSALM 107 : 28 MINIMIZE YOUR CARES AND MAXIMIZE YOUR JOYS Trouble is only a challenge to spur you on to achieve. The best that God has to offer, If you have the faith to believe. In Jesus Name, AMEN! God's LOVE is: COMPLETE Philippians 4:6
‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’ - Here is a very clear instruction. - Do not be anxious about anything. - But we should rather turn our concerns into prayers. - God knows what you are facing and He will answer your call. PRAYER: Lord, You know my every care, concern and worry. I place these things safely into Your almighty hands and I rest in the knowledge that You are good and You will help me. Amen. “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” (John 20:31)
Many people think that the purpose of the Gospels is to inform us that an enlightened teacher named Jesus once walked the earth and advised us to love one another and to do good…or that His miracles proved that He was some kind of holy man. That is missing the main point by a country mile. John puts it plainly: the MAIN reason the Gospels were written was to cause us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God…the only One who can give eternal life. “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one (Adam); how much more they that receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17) Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the precious gift You gave to man, Jesus Your Son…amen "...hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts..." Romans 5:5
We all feel discouraged sometimes When you feel discouraged, start by looking outside. Focus on God, our Creator. He promises that "we can do all things in His strength." Practice prayer as the first resort, not the last. God is interested in anything that interests you. Talk to Him about your concerns. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit, the Encourager and Comforter. Get enough rest. Fatigue makes cowards of us all. When our bodies and minds are rested, we view circumstances differently. Refuse to quit. Keep on keeping on! Perseverance produces character, and character, hope. Hope comes in trusting God to see us through. And remember: an oak tree is just a little nut that refused to give up! If you're dealing with discouragement, look to God. He'll give you the strength to knock discouragement on its face. Psalm 95:6
‘O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.’ - What a privilege we have to be able to worship God. - Just think about it, He is your maker. - He is the One who truly knows and understands you. - So submit your life and your future at His feet. PRAYER: Lord, I recognize that down at Your feet, oh Lord, is the most high place. Amen. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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