"Now to Him who is able to exceedingly abundantly above what ever we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..."
Ephesians 3:20
Sometimes as a Christian and as a human I forget that I can think BIG!
God has great things, plans, opportunities that He wants for my life! Actually He has things more grande than I canever conjure up planned for me! The same is true for you!
In the every day getting things done, every day grind... I tend to forget that God has BIG plans for me!
Did you know God has BIG plans for you! WHAT MIGHT THEY BE... How about...
Disciple those children in the Lord...
Love your spouse more every day...
Witness to that co-worker...
Volunteer to serve at church...
Start a Bible Study at your office or school...
Pray daily for lost loved ones...
Go on a mission trip...
Read through the Bible in a year...
Love the unloveable...
Quit swearing or other unwholesome talk...
Reach the unreacheable...
Just remeber what Paul also said...
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthen's me..." Phil. 4:13
SO seek the Lord, ask Him what He wants to do though you... and GO FOR IT IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT!
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Deut. 8:3 and quoted by Jesus in Matthew 4:4
In Deuteronomy chapter 8 the Lord led the people to understand that they did not survive the wilderness journeys by themselves, but by every word that God spoke! It was God who led them, carried them and instructed them in and though the wilderness! Yes they ate manna, they drank water from a rock, their garments did not tear, and their feet were not swollen, but none of those things would be possible if it were not by God's provision!
In Matthew chapter 4, satan is tempting Jesus in the wilderness and Jesus quotes this scripture! Satan tempts Him to turn stones to bread and this was Jesus response, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Jesus was not going to resort to satans pestering to fleshly fulfillment, He was going to continue to fast, seek God and wait upon His Father!
As beleivers, we must realize that it is God we crave... He is the one we must trust, He is the one we must seek, He is the one we must desire, He is the one we must obey...
How man shall not live... by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from His mouth! It is He who supplies all of our needs according to His riches and glory!
Are you in a place of complete surrender to the Lord?
Are you in a place that says, not my will be done, but His...
In Matthew chapter 5:6 Jesus also said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled!"
Peter said in II Peter 3:18, "Grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,"
Let us be believers who are growing in the Lord, seeking His face, eating up and living out His word!
How man shall not live... by bread alone!
Isaiah communicates to us what the Lord says in Isaiah 66:1
" Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool..."
We know the Lord created all things! We know He sits upon His throne in Heaven and considers the earth His footstool!
We serve such a big, big God! This passage helps puts things into perspective. He is on His throne and we are at His feet! He is greater, He is larger, He is over us, He is looking upon us, He is able! He is our creator and as much as the world tries to rise up to offer bailouts and security, the Lord is still reigning over all!
No matter what we think, we should know that He has our best interest in mind, He is a BIG GOD and nothing shall be impossible for Him! (Luke 1:37)
He is so faithful, He is so loving, He is so caring, He is so wonderful!
Spend time at His feet, spend time listening to Him through His Word, spend time meditating on His goodness!
And while you are at His feet, ask Him for help, answers, direction, and even correction!
He loves you and as you read on in Isaiah the Lord then says this... "But on this one will I look, On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Isaiah 66:2)
Poor, Contrite, and trembles at His word!
Is that you? Come to Him humbly, contrite, and trembling at His word!
He is with you and He will help you!
We serve a BIG BIG GOD!
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you." I Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and hand Him all your cares! God Hears all you want to tell Him. This does take a humbling effect on our behalf.
When we admit that we can not do everything on our own, that is humbling...
When we admit that we are not perfect, or we are proud, that is humbling...
When we realize that we have flaws, we don't have the answers, we sinned, that is humbling...
God hears us as we humbly come to Him. Humbly, respect Him and seek out His direction!
God hears because God cares about your life and everything that is going on, Remember this is the same God that fearfully and wonderfully made you! This is the God that counts every hair upon your head! This is the same God who gave up His only beggotton Son, FOR YOU! Humble yourself and cast all your cares to Him!
Isn't it so relieving to know that no matter what mess or blessing you bring to Him, He CARES!
So enter boldly into His presence with Humility and lay it all out before Him, He is waiting for you!
He will lift you up!
(read also Psalm 139:13-16, Hebrews 4:16, Matthew 10:30, John 3:16)
"Though I speak with the tounges of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging symbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." I Corinthians 13:1-2
WOW! Powerful!
I may be smart, I may be talented, I may be generous, I may be faithful, I may be gifted in one way or another... But if I don't have LOVE, I am nothing!
This truth truly cuts to the core of all of our motiviations in all we say and all we do! Here God's Word tells us that if you do not have LOVE then it is fruitless!
May the motivation for all we do be LOVE!
Seek the Lord on this, what are you doing, who are you dealing with, what are you saying... Is it wrapped up in LOVE?
Let Love be the motivation behind all you do, with the Lord's help by His Spirit working in you!
Are you being loving today? Were you loving yesterday? Are you getting ready to Love tomorrow?
Remember to be an imitator of God and GOD is LOVE!
