Is anything too hard for the Lord? --Genesis 18:14 |
The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as countless as the stars and that an heir would come from his old aging body (Gen 15: 1-5). Abraham believedthe Lord, but Sarah ran out of paience. Abraham believed the Lord, but Sarah ran out of patience. She talked Abraham into fathering a child through her maidservant Hagar. “Do you feel the tendency to want “help” God when He seems slow?” Ishmael was born but he was not the promised son (Gen 17: 18-21). Fourteen years later, when Abraham and Sarah were very old, God did the impossible – Sarah conceived and the son of promise was born.
“Lord, how often have I taken things in my hands because I feel I know best. Build in me the faith of Abraham that I might feel the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. Help me intercede not only for my own interests, but also to the interests of others, because I want attune my heart to Your mercy. Make my prayer a battle of faith marked by my complete trust in Your faithfulness and by the conviction of Your promised victory.”
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You have come to . . . an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn. --Hebrews 12:22-23 |
When a group of people gather to worship, astonishing things happen. Paul opens our understanding of the privilege and glory of worship. He confirmed that we have “come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect.” The writer did not say, “You shall come,” but that “we have come.” When we worship we gather with worshippers throughout the world and the thousands upon thousands of angels.
“Lord, thank You for revealing to me the grandeur of praising You “in Spirit and in truth” because You give me the opportunity to be a part of the Heavenly assembly , and in the Body of the Risen Christ I find the source of living water that springs forth. Thank you for making me a temple of the Living God.”
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Blessed is the man who endures temptation. --James 1:12 |
All of us have been so close to a temptation that we lost our perspective. It may have involved something small , but the urge blocked out our sense of love and good judgment. Adam and Eve faced a similar problem long ago. They became so preoccupied with one plant in their garden paradise that they couldn't see the forest for the tree. The Garden of Eden had been created especially for them. In it they knew no evil, no trials, no sickness, no death. They enjoyed the company of the Creator Himself. Yet they gave up all they had just to eat of the fruit of that one forbidden tree. Their mistake still plagues us. How often do we miss the whole forest of God's goodness for a single tree of testing? The moment of temptation seems so overwhelming, the idea so irresistible, our twisted logic so justifiable. Today, think about all that Adam and Eve left behind in the Garden. Fill your mind with the truths of God's Word and rely on the Holy Spirit's moment-by-moment guidance and strength. Then you'll experience the joy of God's blessing rather than temporary pleasure.
“Lord, make me seek you with all my heart, help me hide Your Word in my heart, give me the wisdom to praise you continuously, protect me from the snares of the enemy, make me rejoice in following your statutes and may I never neglect Your Word. Lord, I want to submit my whole life to You, and stay near to You because I want You near to Me.”
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