He Could Have But He Didn't

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” Matthew 26:53. “He saved others…but he can’t save himself!  He’s the King of Israel!  Let him come down now from the cross and we will believe in him.” Matthew 27:42.

When I think of how challenging faith can be I am reminded that sometimes it requires action from us while other times it requires us to wait and watch.  These verses show that Jesus could have interfered with God’s will and purpose for His life, but instead allowed the circumstances to play out.  He knew that He carried the power of God within Him, and could have come down from the cross.  He fully understood that enduring the mockery and hatred was all part of the plan to carry out the will of God.  Every ounce of belief on His part was knowing that the circumstances before Him were the divine fulfillment of a promise previously given. 

We all have been ordained to walk out this part of the earthly calendar.  We have all been given a purpose in this walk that impacts the kingdom.  Sometimes, God calls us to act and other times He calls us to ‘remain in the inevitable.’  While others tempt us to ‘come down off the cross’ and agree with them…to join them…to deny God’s command…we are to stay committed to God.  We are to trust Him with our circumstances and have confidence that whatever He brings to pass must be critical for our spiritual development and purpose.  ‘If we have walked with God for any length of time, we have each probably faced times when faith required us not to act when everything within us wanted to take action.’ Believing God, Beth Moore, p. 92

It is when we are aligned with God’s activity that man cannot hurt us.  He will fight our battles for us.  When we are living out the circumstances that God has determined for our lives He will give us everything we need to triumph over those times.  Just like with Jesus, God will provide a way to gain victory over our suffering.  We can count on Him to save, rescue, redeem and resurrect.

Waiting in our Tents

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” Hebrews 11:8.

We all have testimonies that show what God has done, but Hebrews 11 is where God testifies about what man has done through faith. It is where God stands up before people and recalls those believers who, to this day, still are stand outs. Can you even imagine God calling your name before others as one who stands out in His mind when the subject of faith comes up? What made Abraham’s faith so unforgettable? What separated him from others in his time? It was his ability to discern a future promise from God and be willing to receive it on God’s timeframe and in God’s way. He didn’t run up ahead…he didn’t lag behind…he didn’t give up because it was taking too long. He moved according to what and where God said, and ‘set up tent’ in a future blessing that was invisible to him at the time.

I know that I am living in the ‘receive later’ land as God has shown me a glimpse of a future promised land. I know that in all of my impatience, foundations are being built, the framework is being secure and the garden is being planted for the harvest. Waiting is the most frustrating activity that feels anything but active. I suspect that many of you on the other side of this screen are waiting to receive something up ahead…a job…a spouse…a baby…a healing…a miracle. We must not take waiting lightly, after all God constantly waits on us…to believe…to serve...to spend time with Him. ‘Time by itself does nothing but grow us old. What we do with time makes the difference. God uses time to prepare us to build only what lasts with what we’re given. Based on Christ’s example, God our Father calls us to make contributions of quality, not just quantity. God created time and never wastes it. We alone waste it when our impatience to receive hinders our preparation to know when and what to do with it.” Believing God, Beth Moore, p. 87.

‘So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.’ Isaiah 30:18.

But God...

“But God remembered…and he sent a wind and the waters receded…the tops of the mountains became visible.” Genesis 8:1.

The first three words of this verse fall on me this morning with such weight. This is the chapter where God redeems all things after the flood has destroyed everything that wasn’t protected in the ark. Noah’s family and everything God chose were dry as a bone inside as the storms raged against them on the outside. The ark must have rocked and swayed…been lifted up in the front one moment and crashed down the next moment. Noah was safely isolated and insulated because not only did he believe God, but he agreed with God. Noah was outnumbered by evil people in the world, and was ridiculed by them for believing God’s message. This verse represents all things promised by God, through God and proven by God. This verse is the final word against man’s flesh and desires. God’s remembrance was followed up with action, and then evidence.

Who needs God to remember something this morning? Who is waiting on the wind of change? Who is on their tip-toes trying to see any sign of the mountaintops? I would say every one of us fall in the category. God initiates change, sends His power to accomplish it and then reveals His glory through it. We must build a spiritual ark around us to ensure protection from the winds of adversity, the deception of sin and the display of darkness. We can count on seasons of deluges when all we can do is wait. We must build our arks before the flood by hammering the Word into our hearts, by covering our minds in prayer, and by using the adhesiveness of faith to hold it all together. Then we believe…we agree…we wait for what seems like forever. And then one day, the rain sounds a little lighter, and the thunder sounds more distant.

And then WE remember the most important thing of all…God remembers…and He sends…and our outcomes become visible. Praise God for being God!

Putting Our Spiritual House in Order

“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death…‘This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.' ‘Remember O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion’…‘the LORD says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you…I will add 15 years to your life.’” 2 Kings 20:1-6.

Sin and illness were born through the fall of Adam and Eve. It was never a part of God’s plan but quickly became the center part of existence. Throughout the Bible some of the most fervent prayers have been written and spoken on behalf of healing illnesses. King Hezekiah was living a rich and full life, but began experiencing troubling symptoms. He continued to grow sicker and weaker daily until it seemed that the inevitable was upon him. He was given the news that things were as dire as he thought and that the end was near. I doubt he had little strength left, but what he did possess he gave in fellowship to God. He wasn’t ready to leave his life, and he had enough confidence in God’s grace and goodness to ask for more time. We are only given a snapshot of his prayer, but a what a beautiful prayer it was. It was a reminiscing prayer of the time he had shared with God over the years. It was a prayer where he reminded God of how much he had served and loved Him with his whole heart. It was a God-centered prayer from a man who knew God was first and center. It was a prayer that moved the heart of God to healing.

We all have experienced that phone call…that text…that decision out of our control. We have all had those ‘drop to our knees’ moments where God becomes the central part of our days. We seek Him wholeheartedly asking for more time…a different outcome…a different plan. God hears every one of our prayers, so why wouldn’t we ask Him for what our hearts desire? He gives us the authority and invitation to approach Him with our needs, petitions and requests. But, first and foremost He wants our intimacy with Him apart from our desires. Just as we want joyful daily fellowship with our loved ones He also wants to be more than a God of crisis. He wants to be a God of everything. My grandmother used to say that God is the God of everything or He is the God of nothing.

We may not get everything for which we pray as a result of our walk, but we are guaranteed the full abundance of Jesus to face every circumstance in which we are called to walk. We must get our spiritual houses in order if we are to access the life giving promises of God.

Faith...It Hurts So Good

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

The other day when I was walking I ran into a sweet friend whose mother had recently transitioned into the arms of Jesus.  It was the first time I saw her since her mom’s homegoing and I can only imagine the pain of that temporary separation.  As we were talking about it, she mistakenly said ‘Faith hurts’ and quickly corrected it to ‘Faith helps.’  We hugged and parted ways but I kept thinking about that statement…faith hurts.  I don’t think it is far-fetched to say that faith can hurt.

 

Faith tells us that we will see our loved ones again…but the walk hurts.  Faith tells us that our prodigal child will return someday…but the landscape still appears vacant for now.  Faith tells us to believe that God will provide…but the bank account is empty.  Faith looks around for hope when our hearts ache for resolution…but our circumstances mock us.  Faith can hurt because we know in our hearts that God can remove or create any situation to relieve our suffering.  Christ had more faith than we can ever imagine but His life was peppered with pain, rejection, suffering, abandonment and eventually death.  But because of Christ, hurt and healing can co-exist in the hearts of His believers.

 

We can hurt but through faith we are comforted.  We can fear but through faith we are confident.  We can plan but through faith we are guided.  Faith takes courage and devoted loyalty to God as we face the tribulations of this world.  Faith sees our loved ones left on this side of heaven when our hearts ache for those on the other side.  Faith is grateful for the blessings that we enjoy today.  Faith remembers the memories of yesterday as it slathers a balm across the fresh scars of separation.  Faith takes chaos and brings order into our lives.

 

Faith painfully believes…sacrificially loves…fearfully hopes.  Our faith increases through the hurt, sharing in His suffering, but with peace that transcends anything we could possible understand.  Faith is the fruit of our fellowship with our Father. 

 

Faith…it hurts so good.

Are You the One?

“Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Luke 7:19

If you have been following Jesus any length of time you most probably have either thought this subconsciously, or felt it in your heart.  Paraphrased:  ‘If you are God and you love me why didn’t you act?  Should I look to other means to accomplish what I want accomplished?  Are you really who you say you are and work everything to my good?  Can I really trust You?’  These are tough questions for us to ask God, who is able and capable but sometimes does not move mountains that stand in our way.  God has been hearing these sentiments for centuries as John the Baptist asked in Luke.  John was imprisoned for his message, and had become discouraged and even filled with doubt. 

There have been times in my life when I really felt I’ve been led by God to believe one way about a resolution in which I had been praying.  Then the day comes, my anticipation and expectation is high, my faith soars, my heart races and then…the sun goes down…the outcome never happened…heaven is silent…I am left with broken pieces laying around me.  I used to be devastated and feel abandoned but the more I know Jesus, the more I believe that what He impresses on my heart is cumulative and progressive.  He does not mislead us or break promises, but rather gives us premature insight so that when the picture is revealed, all our leadings will make sense.  I have tried to be more like the men who King Nebuchadnezzar promised to throw into the fire.  Their message to the king?  ‘But even if he does not [rescue from the fire], we want you to know…that we will not serve…or worship the image you have set up.’ Daniel 3:18.   Even if God doesn’t…I will still worship Him.

Images are being cast daily in all our lives, and it is so easy to worship other images when we feel disappointed.  We worship alcohol, we worship drugs, we worship material purchases, we worship bitterness and unforgiveness.  ‘John experienced the most excruciating dilemma any devoted child of God faces…pain from the searing of the heart when God has not lived up to your expectations…it seems the deeper we love God, the deeper the potential for devastation when He doesn’t intervene as we know He can.’ Believing God, p. 69.  When our God meets our prayers with no or not yet, we must trust Him outside of our circumstances and give God room to move.  He invites us to ask Him for certain things, but we must continue to trust Him if He doesn’t act. 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Unanswered Prayers

“‘The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’” De 31:2. “The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house…” 2 Samuel 7:11b.

I recall feeling very timid and cautious in my prayers after Beth died when asking for healing for Daddy. My prayers for his healing were strong on my lips but weak in my heart. After all, my prayers had not been answered in the manner which I had desired. Beth wasn’t healed on earth, and I had to accept that God’s will trumped my prayers. So, it took quite some time to gain the confidence to pray like it would be answered…to tell that mountain to move from here to there…to believe in advance that I had received something. I have had many people since then ask the same question, ‘If God knows what He is going to do anyway, why pray?’ My answer is anchored in Scripture: Because faith moves the heart of God.

Neither Moses nor David got everything they wanted in prayer. Moses did God’s will for over 40 years and it cost him everything. But in the end, he did not get to go into the promised land. David wanted to build a temple for God but God said that David’s son would be the one. These men were just like us with emotions just like ours. They prayed prayers for forgiveness when they messed up. They prayed for prayers of healing when sickness came upon them or their loved ones. They prayed for prayers of wisdom when they didn’t know where to turn. Many of their prayers were powerfully answered [just as many of ours have been], and God used them in tremendous ways. But God didn’t give them everything their hearts desired, and neither will we be given a green card for every prayer. But they didn’t stop praying…stop believing…stop praising. They continued and so should we.

Prayer takes courage when our hearts have been broken. Prayer takes reverence when His Kingdom comes instead of ours. Prayer takes humility when His ways were not our ways. Prayer becomes easier when we truly understand and embrace that God sees our lives rolled out in one continuous picture. Our prayers become bolder when we trust God for His love and wisdom. We will be hard-pressed to find anyone on this earth or in the Bible would got everything for which they prayed, especially Christ. We only have to read with fresh eyes and hearts the gut-wrenching prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. God’s ‘no’ to Christ was our ‘yes' and when we really understand the purpose and power of God’s sovereignty we can thank Him for His ways and His decisions. Our unanswered prayers cannot drench water on the fire of our prayers. We must approach Him with boldness instead of timidity, and strength instead of weakness. “What if these men of God hadn’t asked anything because they couldn’t have everything?” Believing God, p. 67. Quite a question to ponder…

Collecting Shells

"But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.  And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." Philippians 3:20

As I find myself standing in the week that would have been my sister Beth’s birthday, a snapshot of last week entered my mind. I just returned from a Spring Break trip with my daughters and grandchildren. We went to Marco Island in Florida where the water is bright green/blue and the wide sandy beaches are like powder. Whether it was my granddaughter, Kherington or my daughter, Caroline I was given their special shells to hold while they kept walking and searching. They were entrusting me with their treasures until they returned. My daughter Kristen even took a picture of Caroline handing over one of her beautiful treasures for me to temporarily hold (see below).

This morning I am reminded of 8 years ago when we had to hand over one of our precious treasures to our Father. It was tough but we knew that He would hold her tightly in His hand. We knew that He would take perfect care of her until we returned in their presence. We knew that no matter how full His hands became there would always be room for that beautiful shell.

As we comb our beaches of blessings we must remember that living on this earth is only a temporary shadow of the real deal – Heaven. We can take comfort in the knowledge that whatever we are asked to hand over is only for a season. We can have confidence that our treasured loved ones are being held…carried…cared for...loved. Then one day we will come together with our Father and be once again reunited with our beautiful shells.

That will be a collection like no other!

The Tomb Is Still Empty

“It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.  Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.  They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies.”  1 Co 15:42-45.

 

It was a day like no other…the day when man believed that he knew more…was more… entitled to more.  It was the day when Love was hung on the cross and war was waged on sin and death.  It was the very event that played out in despair so that unleashed power was available to all of us.  Jesus laid lifeless…broken…perishable…buried, but Christ was transformed by Glory into the imperishable…powerfully strong…beautifully whole Savior.  War was waged and sin and death lost. 

 

In Christ’s love death died and all who have been ‘planted’ in the love of God have the privilege to be raised with this same power.   Those who were planted with sick and broken bodies like my loved ones have exchanged them for ones that will never perish.  Our loved ones who were weak have been made perfectly strong in the promise of God and will live forever with Him.  We know and believe this and we live in the tension between living without and reuniting with our loved ones. 

 

But the cross wasn’t just about eternal salvation as glorious as that will be.  It was also about living like the tomb is still empty.  It is a snapshot that no matter what seems dead on earth…our hopes…our dreams…our healing…the stone is still removed!  We give such little claim to the empty tomb except for life after death.  The empty tomb speaks so much more than that…the empty tomb says sin has lost the war.  The empty tomb says there is always hope no matter how dark our days seem.  The stone removed says there is always an escape out of our circumstances when we really believe. 

 

Let’s live our lives and claim our promises that the tomb is still empty and the stone is still missing!  Let's live in the celebration that we can have a shadow on earth of what will someday be ours in heaven.

Breath of Life

“…the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 1:7

I believe that one of the most powerful experiences to witness is someone doing CPR on a lifeless person, only to see movement again in that person. To think that God was the original one to create that process reminds me that He is the Creator of everything. It was a fresh idea this morning when reading this verse that there were actually two acts of our birth. The first act was God actively forming us with His own hands. The second act was God breathing life into our nostrils. My mind paints a picture of our lifeless bodies lying on the ground and God kneeling over us. Did He speak blessings over our lives before we even lived one day? Did He sing over us in joyful knowledge of His purpose for our lives? How much time did He simply stare at us marveling in the beauty of who He knew we would be? And then, at the perfect time He tenderly leaned over, sharing the breath of His life into our bodies.

I only have to look at my own children to fractionally relate to this amazement. I only have to remember the first time my eyes met theirs as they were laid upon my chest. I have such an overwhelming recollection about cradling them in the dark, rocking them safely and tenderly, and praying over them in the solitude of the night. God formed them with His very hands, breathed life into their hearts, and my heart has never really belonged to me since.

God, first and foremost, is Creator and Father to each of His children, bundled in love and care. His hands are still upon us molding…creating…forming…pumping life into our dead circumstances and hearts. He knows the contents of our day before we even place our feet on the floor. I am so grateful that the hands who created me are still the same hands who are carrying me. The most precious gift we can give to our children is giving them back to God.

Sketching the Face of Jesus

“‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ Some say…others say…and still others… ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ Blessed are you for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.’” Matthew 16:13b-17.

I absolutely LOVE to watch shows like ID Investigates and Snapped where we are brought along with the storyline of crime and conclusion. My son, Michael even used to kid me about my obsession with watching them. I always thought it was interesting how different witnesses would sketch the face of the suspect while trying to identify the person. Many times, there was such a disparity between witnesses, that the two sketches didn’t even look like the same man.

It is no wonder we live in spiritual confusion and disarray with our many opportunities to sketch the face of Jesus. One sketches their view of who He is, rendering Him unrecognizable to another person. We sketch the face of Jesus based upon our perception of Him, and who we believe Him to be. Years ago, when my faith was surface and my walk was shallow, my sketch of Jesus was so different than it would be today. I believed Him for so little, so I perceived so little of Him and His activity in my life. I would perceive God from the standpoint of who man said He was…not who God said He was. As I began studying His word, He began unfolding His character and heart on every topic under the sun. His word is clear on life, and the promises that He desires each one of us to believe. The more we are in the Bible, the more clarity the sketch develops.

God is who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do. If God seems mysterious and difficult to wrap our minds around we should examine His character more closely. The best place to start sketching Jesus Christ is at the base of the cross. The beginning and the end of who Christ is was motivated by His love to die so that we might live. Love and sacrifice will always be the first marks on the sketch of Jesus. Then one sweet day we will see Him face to face and prayerfully recognize Him by our own rendering.

Faith Evergreens

“He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8.

Yesterday, I was walking while on vacation and came upon a row of trees that took my breath away.  I immediately thought about this passage of Scripture as the tree’s bulging roots commanded attention.  I have no idea the age of this tree but there are certainties about the life of this beauty.  It is planted in rich soil that sends the much- needed nutrients to the trunk and branches.  It is getting the proper amount of rain to quench whatever need it has.  Its very presence displays beauty, longevity, health and growth.  It is an evergreen and will stand tall and full no matter what the weather brings it way.

We are all trees of faith that pepper our landscape.  We have the same opportunities to plant our lives in the rich soil of fellowship with God.  We have the same available nourishment from God to drench us in His word to sustain us and help us grow.  Through the orchestration of circumstances which He allows into our lives we become stronger, mightier and healthier because of these experiences.  Droughts of pain and suffering might come against us but they have no power over us because our roots are bound in our faith.  The stronger our roots, the greener our growth and our faith will become evergreens. 

Becoming an evergreen in God’s garden requires that we stand strong and hand over our will to Him.  Becoming an evergreen means we trust God and are confident in His way, His will and His timing.  Being an evergreen means we don’t have to fret when the winds of adversity blow through our branches.  It means we continue to bless …to encourage … and to serve even when we feel drought in our hearts.  We stand strong and we are a mighty fortress because we are planted in Him.  No one has any greater opportunity than another for God does not have favorites.  When we make Him our life, anchoring our faith in Him, we come in for this blessing.

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.”   Jeremiah 17:7. 

 

Against All Hope - Hope

“Therefore, the promise comes by faith…Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed… just as it had been said to him…Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was good as dead…Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what his had promised.” Romans 4:16, 18-21.

God made it crystal clear that He would bless Abraham and Sarah with a child. At that time, they were well in their 90’s. Time continued to march on with no baby bump for Sarah and no testimony to tell…yet. How many prayers did Abraham lift regarding the promises of God? How many days did he examine Sarah’s tummy to see if anything had changed? Things didn’t look like they were going to materialize…nothing at all seemed to be happening…'against all hope…but, Abraham in hope believed without weakening.' Then like a bolt straight from heaven the test results were positive, the rabbit died and God reigned!

‘Without weakening’ – those words just bless me this morning so much. Without weakening means looking out over the landscape of our lives and believing more than what we see. Without weakening means continuing to ask for a miracle when the doctors say the opposite. Without weakening means without wavering and confidently proclaiming that God hasn’t changed…He is still on His throne…and He still performs miracles. We all have determined what our miracle may look like, but I have learned that miracles come in bundles of comfort. I received a miracle when God gave me a prophesy through a dying woman. I received a miracle every day that God kept my daughter alive while on the streets. I received a miracle when I felt joy and peace after my dad and sister died. I receive a daily miracle as I am encouraged and hopeful waiting on other precious things to happen in my life.

Without weakening is a gift of grace through faith in Christ and it is not anchored in an outcome. Our strengthening comes from believing God is who He says He is and He has the power to do what He says He will do. So be fully persuaded and strengthened in the Lord, giving Him glory in advance and watch what great things He can do.

Searching for Shark's Teeth

“‘I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise…For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’” Jeremiah 29:10-13.

When the kids were young we enjoyed going to the beach, and searching for shells and shark’s teeth. Caroline, our youngest seemed to be able to find more than Michael our son. One day Bruce decided that he was going to purchase some shark’s teeth and place them on our walk where Michael could find them. The only problem was that Michael wasn’t really looking very hard, and Caroline would jet by him snatching them up before he could discover them. The difference between them was the intensity of the search. Caroline had her eyes open for the reward, and believed she would find them.

We are those little children running around searching for treasures. Our Father has scattered blessings along our path but we will miss out on many of them because we don’t take the time to really seek Him. Our blessings flow out of our fellowship with our Father and He has beautiful and prosperous plans for our futures. If we don’t seek Him we cannot find these treasures in our lives. We are either spiritually lazy, or we don’t believe Him for those blessings.

When our treasure and pleasure become our intimacy with God our blessings and rewards will flow out of that relationship. The more we invest in God the more we will believe God for what He desires to reveal to us. And, when and if we truly believe God to give us His best and show us how to receive it, our ‘beaches will be loaded with shark’s teeth.’

Breathing Masks

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give… the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance…and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19.

When traveling on an airplane I am always reminded of how important it is to place on our own breathing mask before we can help another. We are first and foremost responsible for our body before others. This principle also applies to our spiritual life when praying for our children or other family members. We are little help in building up and encouraging others with hope and guidance until we know God ourselves, who He is, what He can do and the blessings that He desires to give us. In my opinion, this might be the most important prayer in the entire Bible. We become so distracted by trying to guide our children’s lives we forget that we must first put on our breathing mask for life.

There is a desire that resides deep in the heart of God that includes every one of us just as we have desires for our children. He has placed on our lives a calling, one that only we can fulfill. We can only discern our callings through spending time with Him through prayer, His word and truly putting into place His will. We each have been given a promised land, that place where our theology meets our reality…that place where what our mouth claims we believe matches our decisions and behavior. It is the place that will offer our greatest blessings and harvest. It is the place where our greatest victories will be over our enemy. It is where God takes us, carries us, blesses us and uses us for His glory. It is the place of purpose where God reveals our destiny and spiritual impact is made. It carries with it a huge responsibility but also offers us the ultimate wisdom, power and revelations from God. But God will not force our promised lands upon us, for it is that beautiful land that we must till with God. We must sweat it out and pour ourselves into the development process with Him. He invites us…He anticipates our answer…He longs for us to say yes. ‘Sometimes we see so little because we believe so little.’ Believing God, Beth Moore, p. 9. When we position ourselves to really believe, and live like people who believe, we will see amazing things happen at the hands of our amazing God.

God still creates…He still calls…He still waits…His hope is also in us…that we might believe Him for who He says He is and what He can do in our lives when we participation and fellowship with Him.