Yielding

May 2, 2011

Thank you James Smith for sharing your life with us!! I am so grateful he penned what the Lord was teaching him about yielding. I needed to read this this morning!

"Should it be according to your mind?" Job 34:33

We are prone to be fretful, to complain of the dispensations of Divine Providence, and to reflect harshly upon the Lord's dealings with us.

We want our own way.

We wish to carve for ourselves.

We would be treated as God's favorites.

We want our ease, and prosperity, and pleasure, consulted in all things. And if this does not appear to be done--if our wills are crossed, if our schemes are frustrated, if our purposes are broken off--then we stumble, think ourselves badly treated, and look for everybody to sympathize with us.

Under these circumstances, God comes to us--as we sit among our broken cisterns, surrounded by our dethroned idols--and puts this question to us: "Should it be according to your mind?"

Are you wiser than God?

Are you kinder than God?

Are you holier than God?

Are you more just than God?

Are you better informed than God?

May not your mind be dark, or selfish, or foolish?

Should it then be according to your mind?

Should you reign--or God?

Remember that God acts in the highest wisdom; His motives are grace and justice; and all His purposes are worthy of Himself.

The least the Christian can do is to submit--and to prefer God's wisdom, way, and work--to his own. Seeing God has so arranged all events, that all things must work together for the good of His people--they, at least, should daily say, "Father, mayYour will be done!"

O my soul, seek grace from God, not only to submit and be resigned to the dispensations of Divine Providence--but to acquiesce in them, and be pleased with the whole of them! Your good is consulted--your best interests are secured; and soon, very soon, it will be seen that infinite wisdom and mercy, grace and goodness, have marked out every step of your road!

"Jesus replied: You do not understand what I am now doing--but someday you will." John 13:7

James Smith, "Important Questions!" 1858)

Faith Pursues!

April 25, 2011

I've been meditating much on the word faith. "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." Scriptures like these (Matthew 9:22) entice me to spend more time considering...what type of faith is this that so pleases the Lord? I once read...if you were hiring a quarterback for your football team, would you want someone who was "open" to making a touchdown or someone who would passionately pursue a touchdown believing it possible? Have I been merely open to the things of God? If so, I don't believe this is faith. Faith pursues. Faith passionately pursues. Faith goes after the impossible. Faith cannot exist when I am inward focused. Faith ignites in a heart of one who chooses to believe, " With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27) Faith takes risks. Faith may require leaving behind the comfortable. A life of faith produces Kingdom fruit. Faith rests in, relies on, and rejoices in the promises of God. Faith requires knowing the voice of the Father and obeying Him. In HIM all things are possible!

Recently I became a fan of the turtle :). In order for a turtle to move forward, it has to take a risk by leaving the security of its shell. Apparently, "Do not fear" is written 365 times in the bible. Everyday we need to be reminded because fear is faith's deadly opponent. It keeps us from moving forward. We need to remember...Without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. (Heb. 11:6)

Let us not fear but move forward by earnestly and diligently seeking Him today!! Faith pursues!!

He answers prayer!

April 15, 2011

There are four ways God answers prayer: 1) No, not yet; 2) No, I love you too much; 3) Yes, I thought you'd never ask; 4) Yes, and here's more.

A. Lewis

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.

He has a perfect plan for each one of us!!

Great faith sings!

April 14, 2011

Little-faith says, "It is a rough road, beset with sharp thorns, and full of dangers; I am afraid to go;" but Great-faith remembers the promise, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; as thy days, so shall thy strength be:" and so she boldly ventures. Little-faith stands desponding, mingling her tears with the flood; but Great-faith sings, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:" and she fords the stream at once.

charles spurgeon

Anticipating His voice!

April 13, 2011

"The heart of abiding faith "leans into God," anticipating His voice, looking for His next move. Like Jesus, we are to be able to say, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me" (John 4:34). I am strengthened in hearing God speak. I am nourished through my own obedience to His voice. The situations of life take on meaning and purpose because of the abiding faith to follow Jesus. Hearing from God is the essential element of the Christian life, for "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). His voice is our life." Bill Johnson

Fresh Revelation!

April 12, 2011

"We cannot afford to live only in what we understand because then we don't grow or progress anymore; we just travel the same familiar roads we have traveled all of our Christian life. It is important that we expose ourselves to impossibilities that force us to have questions that we cannot answer. It is a part of the Christian life, which is why the Christian life is called "the faith." The normal Christian life is perfectly poised between what we presently understand and the unfolding revelation that comes to us from the realm of mystery." B Johnson

What impossibilities are you facing today? Let's pursue the knowledge of the Lord concerning them and then walk in faith!! (Hosea 6:3) Remember David faced the impossible when facing Goliath. Having received revelation of God's power, David responded in faith which resulted in victory!