He is able

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] - to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP

He is able. 

God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20 The Message

God can do anything.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 NLT

We all have things in our lives that we think are impossible to change. And yes, they are impossible for us to change. But they are not impossible for our God to change. He is able. God can do anything.

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. Luke 1:37 AMP

Question for today, when you read these scriptures, what happens in your mind and heart? Are you saying, 'Yes, Yes and Amen', or is your response, 'Well maybe, but not so sure He will do it for me' ? I have both responses depending on the day. The 'maybe' days are the ones I have to press further into God and ask Him to help me to believe that indeed He is able, He can do anything and nothing is impossible for Him. 

If you are having a 'maybe' day today, why not ask God now to help you move from unbelief to full faith. 

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:23-14 NKJV

Glory to God!

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
Ephesians 3:21 The Message

Thanksgiving

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands! 
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing! 
Know (perceive, recognise, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! 
It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! 
For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. Psalm 100 AMP

Today, let's give thanks. Today, let's make the majority of the words that come out of our mouths be words of thanks. Not words of complaint and request, but words of gratitude, thankfulness and contentedness. The Message Bible puts it this way,

On your feet now - applaud GOD!
Bring a gift of laughter, 
sing yourselves into his presence.

Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

For GOD is sheer beauty,
all-generous in love,
loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100 The Message

I know it can be challenging to give thanks when circumstances don't lend themselves to being thankful. It definitely is a choice to lift up eyes and heart and look to God, rather than look around at your 'everyday'. But that is what God calls us to do.

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 AMP

God is our only real hope. He is the One who can bring real change in hearts and minds. So how vital is it that we stick with Him, always giving thanks.

Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:7 AMP 

Thank you Jesus that you came and defeated the enemy. 

[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. Colossians 2:15 AMP

Thank you Jesus that you are the Way, the Truth and the Life and that you provided a way for us to come back into relationship with our Heavenly Father. We no longer have to be isolated, striving to do life on our own.

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. John 14:6 AMP

Thank you for the Holy Spirit that remains with us forever.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby), that He may remain with you forever - The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognise Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. John 14:16-17 AMP

One last word on thankfulness, actually it is a picture ....

And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honour and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities), the twenty-four elders (the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out,
Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honour and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being and were created.
Revelation 4:9-11 AMP

Stay with God!

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14 AMP

What would have become of me? What if I had? What if I hadn't? I know people often say it is not good to look back and say, 'What if?' 

As I progress with writing the story of our journey with Victoria I am doing a lot of looking back and reflecting on what happened, how we coped or didn't cope at critical times. And I do ask that question, what would have become of me, if I hadn't believed that we would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living? And not only me, but what would have become of our marriage, our children's well being, our business, had we not cried out to God, in unity?

I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God!
Take heart. Don't quit.
I'll say it again;
Stay with God.
Psalm 27:13-14

There are so many things in our lives that seem absolutely crazy, but we are choosing to stay with God. We have seen what He has done and are believing we will see more of His goodness in the land of the living!

However, while we give thanks and petition Him, the words of a song challenged me yesterday .... If you never, by Christy Nockels

Just when my world caved to nothing
You came on the horizon
Shining with Your love so bright
You came in all of Your glory
You're re-writing the story now
I was dead, but now I'm alive
If You never did another thing for me
It will always be enough that You set me free
Always be enough that You gave Your life
Jesus, You are mine
You give Your peace like a river
When I'm bound, You deliver me
From Your presence where could I go
You never sleep, never slumber
You're so faithful to cover me
But Jesus,
I just want You to know
I know You are mine
All day You are mine
I know You are mine
All I'll ever need
All I'll ever need
In a world so unstable
You keep setting a table here
Inviting me to rest in Your grace
To drink of all Your goodness
'til I'm more like You, Jesus
You'll never hear the end of my praise ...

Particularly the words, If You never did another thing for me, it will always be enough that You set me free.

Question for today, are you choosing to stay whole-heartedly with God, no matter what happens or doesn't happen? It is easy to answer yes when all is going well, so let's pray for bravery and courage to keep saying yes to God when the tough times come.

"Give you entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard times come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34 The Message

Are you shrinking back?

But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:39 NIV

Starting with a question today - what is it in your life that you 'shrink back' from? There might be more than one thing. 

Over the past few days God has bought to my attention some things that I have been 'shrinking back' from. Things I have been avoiding, due to fear. And what is happening as a result of me 'shrinking back' - a part of my life is being 'destroyed' because I am too fearful of stepping out. When thoughts of those parts of my life come, I feel defeated and a failure. And then God reminds me of this scripture in Hebrews that a friend sent to me a while back ...

But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are those who believe[who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul. Hebrews 10:39 AMP

Another version says,

But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
Hebrews 10:39 The Message

Amen! We're not quitters. We will not shrink back. We will not be destroyed. We have faith. We are saved. And what's more ...

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 AMP

Another versions says,

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:13 The Message

There really isn't any more to say, other than Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! And believe it and receive it.

For now

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly) but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. 1 Corinthians 13:12 AMP

For now, we don't have perfect knowledge and understanding. The Message bible puts it this way,

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a midst. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 1 Corinthians 13:12 The Message

For now, we need to trust that God does have that perfect knowledge and understanding. We need to accept that,

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

For now, we need to accept the truth that there are secret things that the Lord alone knows. But we always need to be open and ready to hear what He does want to reveal to us.

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. John 16:13-14 AMP

The challenge comes when we want to understand the why, and we don't. We feel disappointed, let down, possibly devastated and may be even abandoned. Resentment can build up within our hearts. And guess what, it is really difficult to hear what God is wanting to reveal to us when we are focused on the 'why'. We have to let our need to understand the 'why' go, and focus on the 'Who' - our God - who fully and clearly knows and understands us. And always has.

My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colours] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalm 139:15-17 AMP

Question for today, how are you going with accepting those things that are secret to the Lord, the things that you want the answer to 'why' on? If it is challenging for you, as it is for me some days, why not take some quiet time today to sit with God, and ask Him to help you to trust that He knows and understands all, and that it is okay that we don't. Ask Him to help you move to that deeper level of trusting Him in all things and have peace about the things we don't understand.

The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning. Psalm 25:14 AMP

No hangdog skulking for me!

For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NLT

This morning as I started my devotional time, in between conversations with God, my mind started to wander. Thoughts about circumstances started to crowd in, trying to push out the truth I was reading in Psalm 25 ...

Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life.
O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] by disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.
Yes, let now who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause.
Psalm 25:1-3 AMP

Thoughts about our circumstances were crying out - can you trust God? can you rely on Him? what about past disappointments? 

I put on some worship music - The Desert Song ...

No weapon formed against me will remain ....

....I will declare God is my victory and He is here ....

This is my prayer in the battle when triumph is still on it's way..

... All of my life, in every season, You are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship

The circumstantial thoughts are still coming, so I check out Psalm 25 in The Message Bible ...

My head is high, GOD, held high;
I'm looking to you, GOD;
No hangdog skulking for me.
Psalm 25:1-2 The Message

That's enough - No hangdog skulking for me! No hangdog skulking for me! No hangdog skulking for me!

The Holy Spirit then prompts me - Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. Ephesians 6:12 ISV

How I love God's word. I am so grateful for those who listened all those years ago, where obedient and wrote as He prompted them, and then those who translated it so we have such easy access to it today.

Reading on in Psalm 25

Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose. He himself shall dwell at ease, and his offspring shall inherit the land. Psalm 25:12-13 AMP

Oh, to dwell at ease, no matter what is happening - that is my prayer Lord Jesus. Thank you that it is possible with you, to dwell at ease.

And then this beautiful promise ...

The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning. Psalm 25:14

And that is what is about, having the sweet, satisfying companionship of the Lord. And that is what the evil one is working to destroy - our trust, our reliance and our confidence in our God. But he will not prevail, in Christ we are more than conquerors.

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. Romans 8:37 AMP

No hangdog skulking for me! 

Question for today, are there some thoughts in your mind that are trying to steer you away from God's truth? From His promises for you? Today, let's choose to take those thoughts captive and declare God's truth instead. Let's not do any hangdog skulking, rather let's actively pursue the sweet, satisfying companionship of the Lord.

The Truth

Pilate said to Him, Then You are a King? Jesus answered, You say it! [You speak correctly!] For I am a King. [Certainly I am a King!] This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice. John 18:37 AMP

Why bother reading the Bible every day? Because it is all about the Truth. Reading the Bible allows us to hear the Truth. And what comes when we hear the Truth?

So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes from preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). Romans 10:17 AMP

Faith. The faith we need to live and live life to the full. Every time we open our Bible and read it, it is an opportunity to hear from Jesus and listen to His voice. We then have the choice to make - what will we do with what we have heard?

I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death. the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19 AMP

Let's always choose life.

Almost every time after I have read a passage in the Bible that speaks to me, I think 'what would have happened if I hadn't taken the time to read the Bible today? I would have missed out on that revelation, that direction, that piece of wisdom. I would have missed out on hearing more of the Truth that I so desperately need'.

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. 2 Timothy 3:17 The Message

Questions for today, what happens for you when you read the Bible, the Truth? Are you expectant that you will hear and faith will come? Today let's choose to read more than 'normal', and expect to hear more than 'normal', so we can be in better shape for the tasks God has for us.

Instead you thrill to GOD's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. Psalm 1:2-3 The Message