 “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35, 36
The power of persistence accomplishes great things. I witnessed this in my fourteen-year-old granddaughter Miriam.
For Christmas she had been given a jigsaw puzzle. It had come to her home in Africa in a plastic bag without the box and without a picture. As she dumped 1,000 pieces onto a card table, I wondered how long she was going to keep at it. No picture to copy. No pattern to follow. Just a pile of pieces looking surprisingly similar.
As I watched my granddaughter bent over the pieces, sorting, grouping, and turning each piece over for a possible fit, I marveled at her persistence. And her faith. She believed that this jumble would make sense in the end; a picture would emerge. And buoyed by that knowledge, she kept at it day after day. Because Miriam persisted, she was rewarded with a beautiful Victorian Painting.
Is your life like a jumbled jigsaw puzzle? You’ve been told that God has a wonderful plan for your life, but right now, all you see is broken pieces—broken dreams, broken health, broken relationships. A pattern? No, it looks more like a mess.
Perhaps you’re tired and discouraged. Come to God in your weakness and tell Him, “I depend on you to see me through this.” God is with you to be your strength. He knows the pattern and will guide you to it. However, you must also do your part.
You need to persevere in faith and in obedience to God’s Word. Keep depending on Him to give you daily strength. He has a good plan for your life and one day you will see what He was doing.
Successful people are people who have known their share of brokenness but they’ve refused to give up. They’ve not thrown away their confidence but have kept on believing that, in time, their faith in God’s goodness will be rewarded.
Father, even though I don’t understand, I trust you to give me daily strength to keep on believing until I finish.
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Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Never Give Up
Unshakable
by Gail Rodgers
God invites us, in the midst of our instability and times of turmoil, to be brimming with worship and deep reverence before Him.
How is that possible? These 5 steps take us to a place where our roots go down deep into all God is and all He offers us as we trust in Him. He helps us to:
• Keep alert
• Keep a soft heart
• Keep training
• Keep unity
• Keep going
• Keep a soft heart
• Keep training
• Keep unity
• Keep going
When all is said and done it is His kingdom values that will strengthen our lives in the very core of our being.
Even though we know we will share in God’s Kingdom in eternity, there is still hope for today in every maze of life we find ourselves in.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:25
As we put our roots down and tap into the strength and resources of God, we will find an unshakable source in the kingdom of God to steady and strengthen us. This knowledge brings us to a place of thanksgiving. As we experience the unshakable kingdom of God within us our hearts are filled with worship and awe. We begin to experience the deep well of all our God is.
• “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…”Romans 14:17
• “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
1 Corinthians 4:20
1 Corinthians 4:20
• “The kingdom of God is within you.” Matthew 17:21
Prayer & reflection:
Father God, It is only by the power of Your Holy Spirit that I can keep the faith in trying times. Fill me with Your Spirit. By Your Spirit give me a heart that is thankful for all You are as my Provider, my All-sufficient One and my Strength. Let reverence and awe fill my heart with worship as I look up from my circumstances to You, my faithful and true God, my Rock and my Hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.
He Will Uphold Us
“Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand” Isaiah 41:10
An obsolete Army transport plane was filled with people from various parts of the world. We flew, at the invitation of the president of a third world country, for a dedication ceremony of a historic sight. But it was not until we were crowded into the plane and ready to take off that we observed that there were no seat belts. In fact there were not even enough seats for all of the guests. It was quite an unusual experience at best. Yet, I was able to claim this assuring promise that God gave to Isaiah and gives to all of his children who trust and obey Him.
Many times in my trips to various parts of the world, I have encountered difficulties, opposition, problems and challenges. In such times as these, I have needed and claimed the promises of God.
God’s banquet table is full to overflowing. Not only can we be free from fear, but we can also be encouraged knowing that He is our God and thus He will strengthen and help and uphold us with His victorious right hand. If you and I come to such a banquet table and come away with only crumbs, we should not blame the one who has prepared the table. He has made all things possible for us and given us all things in Him. Even if your task today is simply to perform routine duties, you may approach them without fear, even of boredom, knowing that God is with you.
Today’s Action Point: Claiming this marvelous promise from God’s word, I will not fear, but will claim with joyful confidence His faithful promise to meet my every need, knowing that I am complete in Him who will enable me to live the supernatural life.
God WILL Take Care of You!
“The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. Psalm 121:5
Does God watch over us? We know the Bible tells us He does. But have you experienced it yourself?
I received this email recently from a lady who tells her story of God’s care.
“I required knee surgery a few years ago; I prayed a lot before surgery asking God to guide the hands of all those in surgery and to bring me safely out of the anesthetic. I apparently inhaled the anesthetic too deeply and had a hard time coming back into consciousness. I remember being very frightened as I did not want to die — I had so much more to live for. Immediately, a white light appeared in my vision and a voice encouraged me, saying, ‘Breathe, breathe, you can do it, you will come out of the anesthetic. Do not fight it.’ I know it was the angel of God speaking to me, so I can attest to angels being present all the time and having us always in their care. I have experienced it.”
Be encouraged. God watches over us! He watches over you.
Father, thank you for taking care of us, for always watching over us. We love you and thank you! Amen
When You Want To Give Up
by Holley Gerth
“But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14
There will be moments when you’ve had enough and it’s all too much. When you feel that way…Give up.
You heard me right. Stand and raise your hands as high as you can. Then turn your open palms toward heaven and tell God you’re done. You’re handing it all over to Him. Giving up.
Then ask Him what He wants to give you in return. Take hold of what He offers with both hands and bring it back to your heart.
Choosing Faith over Fear
by Dr. Charles Stanley
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Read: Isaiah 41:8-13
These days, there are plenty of reasons to fear. Our world seems to be in a continuous state of war and crisis. The jobs market is dismal, natural disasters wreak havoc, and stories of crime dominate the headlines. As Christians, we know that fear should have no place in our lives, but how can we ignore what’s going on around us?
Basically, there are two paths you can walk: faith or fear. It’s impossible to simultaneously trust God and not trust God. Another way of saying this is that you cannot both obey and disobey Him–partial obedience is disobedience. So, which road are you traveling?
Some people who read the Bible and believe in God nevertheless choose to live with fear. Seeing others experience hardship, they start wondering if it could happen to them: Someone at my office lost his job; will I be next? Someone died in an accident–I could die too. But this kind of “logic” places your circumstances above your relationship to God.
If Satan can get you to think like this, he has won the battle for your mind. But when you focus on God rather than your circumstances, whatever the situation is, you win. The Bible tells us, “God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He’s sufficient for all of our needs. When I accepted this as an absolute truth in my life, I found that my worrying stopped.
Trade Anxiety for Peace
by Gail Rodgers
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God… And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 6 & 7)
God calls us to guard our hearts and minds carefully. (Proverbs 4:23) He also gives us amazing insight as He tells us how HE will also guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It isn’t all up to us. Yes, we make the choice to pay attention to what we allow to settle there. We need to choose wisely and bring our thoughts and concerns to Him for His help.
And then God does the amazing and gives us a peace in our hearts that is beyond understanding! This peace itself guards our hearts and minds from dangerous stress and hasty, unwise choices. Thanksgiving is a key.
Everyday there is much to be thankful for. There is also much to keep one feeling anxious and worried. Yet God calls you to live in thanksgiving and in peace. Worry only gives way to fear and fear will displace your faith causing anxiety to grow. God tells us to let faith take the upper hand and cover over the fear that tries to slip in and rob you of peace. Let the truth of His word change your anxious heart and mind and let worry be your call to prayer.
Dear God, Fill my heart and mind with the recollection of all I have to say “thank you” for. Thank you that as I take responsibility for guarding my heart and bringing my fears to You, YOU also guard my heart and mind with Your amazing peace. What a wonderful exchange! Today I turn my worried thoughts over to you and ask You to preside over the details of my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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