The Risk of Believing

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

As a follower of Jesus Christ I find that my life experiences often cause me to question the many mysteries of God. I am looking forward to the day when I can sit with Jesus and ask him about some of the things that I find perplexing in this life. I have found that the more I pursue my Savior, the more he reveals tiny glimpses of heavenly truth. Today my heart is longing for more understanding. The garden gate only needs me to open it and step onto the path that leads to the garden of my heart. Today the thought of spending time with the Gardener fills my heart with both eagerness and joy. My step quickens as I swiftly make my way along the colorful floral pathway that leads to my favorite bench in the garden. My eyes are searching far beyond my steps as I anticipate seeing my Lord. Ah ha! There he is, standing near our spot, as always, awaiting my arrival with a smile.

 

On this beautiful day I waste no time as I begin our conversation by asking him, “Why is it so hard for non-believers to grasp faith? Lord, I find that so many are curious about you but faith in the unseen seems to be the stumbling block. The educated mind of man requires proof. Lack of physical proof causes many to doubt your existence and proclaims that eternal life is a fantasy. Their unbelief wants to see evidence they can see and touch. They want facts. They are not going to put themselves in a position of looking stupid because they presume themselves to be far more intelligent than that!”

 

Then Jesus begins to teach me about simple faith. “Faith is revealed when an individual takes the risk to believe in me. Before that moment their eyes are blind to the truth.” Then he reminded me about Thomas, who was one of his followers. Thomas had been privileged to walk with him during his earthly ministry. He had heard Jesus teach. His eyes had seen both Jesus and his miracles. Yet Thomas had allowed the despair of Jesus’ death on the cross to blind his eyes to the truth of his resurrection. After the ten other disciples had seen Jesus they told Thomas that Jesus had risen. Thomas’ reply was that he would NOT believe it unless he could see and touch Jesus’ wounds. Jesus in his love and goodness gave Thomas that opportunity and then Thomas believed. After Thomas’ physical senses had been satisfied, Jesus spoke these words to him. “Because you have seen me, you believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV These are amazing words of hope and blessing to us who did not have the earthly privilege of walking with Jesus.

 

God's Word is clear that believing is a risk we must take before we can experience the opportunity to exercise faith. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV  Every individual must recognize that God is the creator of all and that he or she needs God in their life. After one acknowledges they have a need for God, it only requires faith the size of a mustard seed for them to ask God to meet that need! After we take the risk of believing this truth and ask God to forgive our sin and ask him to guide our life, he does. Then the Holy Spirit comes into our life and takes up residence. We never see him, we simply hope for what the Holy Spirit begins to reveal to us. It is not a hope that is shrouded in doubt, but rather it is a hope that is illuminated with promise. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever (takes the risk) and believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV These words are God’s words of promise to every individual who chooses to believe that their Creator loves them and that he cannot lie. Yes, this is a risk worth taking! People must not stumble over their inability to understand faith because faith that hopes follows belief and faith that hopes will be revealed beyond the risk.

 

Faith beyond the risk is a choice we make as a Believer because we choose to trust God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 NIV The faith that is needed for God’s grace to flow through our life is small. Our life before experiencing God’s forgiveness is a mountain of sin and if it were not for God’s grace, that sin could never be removed. I am so thankful that God does not insist that we understand all of his ways before we can experience his way. When Jesus spoke of faith he did not insist that we drum up huge amounts of faith. He knows that we are weak and are made of dust. In Matthew 17:20 he simply suggested that when we have faith the size of a mustard seed, that small amount of faith is all that would be needed for us to remove mountains. God’s ways are feasible not impossible!

 

After taking the risk we begin to see things we have never before seen. Our belief has now opened the door for us to experience a strong unshakable faith.

• By faith we believe that the universe was formed at God’s command not out of things that were visible. Hebrews 11:2
• We learn that without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6
• We know first hand that our righteousness comes only by placing our faith in the only one who is righteous, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:7
• By faith we look forward to the city (the New Jerusalem) with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10
• By faith we believe that the giver of all his promises can be trusted. Hebrews 11:11
• By faith we believe that what God has promised will come to pass even if we don’t see it in our lifetime. Hebrews 11:13
• It is by faith we have the courage to trust God in all things. Hebrews 11:17-19
• It is by faith we trust God with the future. Hebrews 11:21
• It is by faith we choose to align our life with God’s people rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time because by faith we look ahead to our non- perishable reward. Hebrews 11:24-26
• By faith we do not fear what man can do to us because we know that God has planned something better that will last for all eternity. Hebrews 11:40

Simply put, faith for a non-believer is an unknown commodity. Their eyes are blind to faith. They do not understand it! But as soon as they take the risk, faith is within their grasp and they begin the process of understanding the mystery of faith. It is a precious thought to know that God has chosen to reveal things to his children that others do not see. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals and gives understanding to each new Believer in small doses as he is able to understand. This will continue throughout the life of all Believers. Spiritual knowledge will not be completely understood until we reach heaven. Here in the garden today, I am overcome with the many blessings that are mine though being sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see. For me it has been, is, and always will be well worth taking the risk!

 

Questions:

1. Are you someone who is contemplating taking the risk of trusting Jesus?
2. What was the last risk in life that you took?
3. Before taking that risk did you have all the information that would assure you that things would end well?
4. Did you learn more after taking the risk?
5. What will be the consequence for you if you refuse to take the risk of believing in Jesus Christ and his forgiveness?
6. If you have already taken the risk, what do you love the most about your faith?

Prayer:

 

Dear God,

 

Help me to realize that it is your character to love and redeem those you have created. I remember that once I was hopelessly lost and eternally separated from you. I was without a hope or a future before I chose to risk loving you. I still stand amazed that the God of the universe, my Creator, wanted to restore me back into his fellowship. I am astounded that you wanted me to risk coming to you so that you could place me under the umbrella of your personal eternal protection, which is none other than the sacrificial blood of your precious son, Jesus Christ. Father, I am so grateful that someone told me of your love and that I mustered up what little belief I needed to come to you and allow you to remove the sin that separated me from you. Father I thank you for your forgiveness and restoration. God, I pray for those who find it so impossible to embrace believing in you. I especially pray for those who allow their perceived intelligence to be a stumbling block that continues to separate them from you. Father, give them the courage to take the risk of believing without seeing or understanding. I pray that they will know the joy and peace that comes into their life at the exact moment when they take the risk of believing in you and what you can do in their life. Speak to those who do not know you and the power of your love. Create within their life a need for you and then call them to take risk. I pray that those you call will be obedient and then experience knowing the hope of eternal life.

 

It is in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

God Loves the Impossible

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.

Is anything too hard for me?”

Jeremiah 32:26 NIV

It is a beautiful summer morning in North Carolina. I’m pretty sure that today it will be a hot one! But today, in the garden of my heart, the season is spring! In my mind I anticipate a comfortable spring day as I head for the garden in search of new green plant shoots pushing their way through the winter soil. As I walk I just can’t help singing! “Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day, oh what a beautiful morning, everything’s going my way!” In the distance I spy some beautiful yellow tulips raising their heads to the sky as they welcome the morning sunlight.  It  occurs to me that this is a wonderful way to anticipate answers to my prayers. God, it is a beautiful morning, I lift my head in praise because I believe with all my heart that everything that I pray for is going to come my way!

If I really believe this then why do I allow Satan's lies to influence my thinking and make me falsely believe that some of my prayers are impossible and will never be answered? God’s Word teaches exactly the opposite. “…How gracious he will be when you cry for help. As soon as he hears, he will answer you.” Isaiah 30:19  It is possible I might feel uncertain because I fear the results. I want the outcome of my prayers to be according to my will not God’s will and I fear he will not agree with me. On the other hand, I often view God's delays as a "no" instead of a delay of love. I must be willing to wait for God's perfect timing. Most of the time I want the answer and I want it now! I must confess there have also been times when I wondered if God even heard my prayer.

I also think that many times I don't believe that my God is big enough to get the job done. All of these scenarios really do seem like big problems but actually, they should be of no concern to me at all! To live more positively regarding answers to prayer I must investigate what God says about prayer. I must simply believe that God loves “the impossible” and that he is up to the task of answering all of my prayers in one way or another. I must believe that all of his answers will work for my eternal good.

I have pondered why I would want something I think is good if God has something better? God’s word says: “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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

I have also contemplated this question. Why  would I want an answer immediately when God knows that “now” is not in my best interest? “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV God determines our steps because he alone knows the future. God’s delays are often delays of love designed for my protection, my spiritual refinement, and his glory.

God’s Word is very clear on two points. One is that God does hear our prayers. Point two is that the answer is released in heaven even before we finish praying. “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24 and “Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder.” Genesis 24:15a NIV (Emphasis mine.) Additional reading Genesis 24:1-27.

Another point of consideration is why would I even bother to ask God if I don’t believe he is great enough to get the job accomplished? “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James 1:6-8 NIV (Emphasis mine.)

You see, the message here is that God hears me and releases the answer for every prayer I pray while I am still praying. However, God says nothing of when he will deliver the answer. It is good to know that the moment we pray and even before we finish praying the answer is released in heaven, but not necessarily delivered. We can take comfort in knowing that our request does not lie around in God’s “in box” forgotten because other requests keep piling up on top of our request. No, before we even stop praying God takes our request and stamps on it “done deal!” and places our request in his “out box”. It is also good to remember that God doesn’t even own a box marked “impossible”. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NIV (Emphasis mine.)

Satan also likes to try to convince me that it is my fault  my prayers are not answered. He suggests that my personal prayer performance is lacking because I do not pray hard enough or as frequently as I should about the situation. He also suggests that maybe I need to drum up a lot more faith! As a result, I chide myself because my imperfect prayer life is so lacking. I scold myself because my faith must not be strong enough to get God to answer my prayer or I would already have the answer. If that truly is the case, I wonder how big of a truck I need to haul my faith up to God’s throne room. Do I need a five ton dump truck or do I need a semi? What if I’m just one faith point shy of an answer?

But thankfully God’s Word simply says surrender your concerns and your prayers into my capable hands. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NIV Casting our cares and our prayers straight into the lap of God is  the only work we need to do. “… I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed…Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20a - 21b NIV (Emphasis mine.)

The small seed of faith simply believes that God is able to answer our prayer. We must also believe that the answer will be God’s best possible answer for our life or the life of the one we are praying for. The answer may be completely different than what we had hoped for because God sees the whole picture. But we can be at peace as a result of trusting that God will answer our prayer according to his perfect will. God promises us that he will work for our eternal good and for the eternal good of all concerned. Jesus’ prayer in the garden was not answered according to what he desired here on this earth, but rather the answer came as the perfect answer for the good of humanity. Most importantly, God answers prayer in a way that is designed to bring him glory. It is hard for me to remember that answers to prayer are always more about God and his glory then it is about me. I seem to get that truth backwards most of the time.

Sometimes God answers our prayer in a way that pleases us to pieces! Just picture God walking toward you with a great big grin on his face because once again he has done the impossible! God is getting ready to bless you and his  glory is shinning all around his answer. The answer is such a “God thing” that you can not doubt that the “impossible answer” came straight from God’s hand and not yours. Never in your wildest dreams would you have thought of this answer! Now you are smiling, laughing, you are beside yourself with joy because this answer is amazing! The Bible is full of God doing the impossible! When God shows up with the answer he will come because the time is perfect. He will come when all things are in place and ready and not a moment before. His answer will be wrapped in love and blessing.

Praying for those we love to come to know Christ can be discouraging. It is important for us to remember God does not force himself on people, the choice is totally theirs. All we really can do is pray that God will call that individual. We can also pray that he would put people in their path to show them the way to Jesus. We can pray that God will speak to them through someone or something that they love. I have seen this happen over and over again. God is faithful to work in the life of unbelievers because believers pray. The Holy Spirit convicts them and shows them their need because people are praying. Remember, even though you may see no evidence that God is at work in that person’s life, he is! God goes to work on your prayer even before you stop praying. Sad to say, we may never witness the complete answer to many of our prayers during our lifetime. I am so thankful that God's delivery of the answer to my prayer is not contingent upon me breathing. Many answers to prayers are accomplished after the one who has prayed has gone on to heaven ahead of the answer. We can always be sure God was on the job doing his part yesterday, he is on the job today, and he will be on the job tomorrow. We pray and God is faithful to draw, yet accepting Christ is always up to the individual.

And so we pray. We present our request to God. We ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse and purify our prayer according to God’s perfect will. We immediately visualize that before we even stop praying God has begun to answer that prayer. We wait day after day. During this time of waiting our prayer begins to change. We no longer focus on the asking. Now in faith believing we began to focus every day on thanking God for the answer that has already been released in heaven and  is on the way. We thank him because he has heard our prayer. We thank him because he is working in our behalf and on behalf of all those we love. We claim God’s answers not for the result we desire, the delivery date or the place of the answer, but rather we live in trusting knowledge that our prayer will be answered when all things are ready. We surrender and commit the final answer to God’s will and we wait in wild anticipation for the perfect surprise that he will choose to answer our prayer! We simply relinquish our control of the outcome into his hands.

I tell you that there has been no greater boost to my personal prayer life than praying this way. Praying with patient expectation always cements my trust. Praying in quietness and trust takes the burden off me and places it with God, where it belongs. In the past I have become exhausted trying to drum up faith and begging God for answers. Then one gloomy day God said to me, “Paula I have a better way. I simply want you to ask and then believe that I am more than able to accomplish what you have committed into my hands. You see, Paula that is trust!”

Believe it or not, when dealing with the impossible, God does not need any of our good ideas as to how to accomplish the answers to our prayers. However, he does need our prayers. God needs our prayers because prayer changes us and because God releases his power when believers pray. Remember, nothing is impossible for God! His mighty answers to our prayers are on the way. Lean into his everlasting arms and be amazed!

Questions:

1. What are the top three things you pray about the most?

2. What prayer do you consider to be your most impossible prayer?

3. Have you ever considered thanking God for his answer that has already been released in heaven and is on the way?

4. Do you believe that prayer changes things?

5. How does prayer change you?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I know that you are totally capable of answering all my prayers. Forgive me when I doubt your power and label my prayers as impossible. Forgive me when I try so hard to control the way you answer my prayers. Forgive me when I grow weary in praying the same prayers over and over again. Forgive me when I demand immediate answers to my prayers. Search my heart God and show me how I can surrender my prayers into your competent hands. Help me to begin to pray prayers of thanksgiving for the work you are doing on my behalf and in the lives of all the others that I am praying for. God, I pray that you would replace my doubts with trust. Give me your peace in my prayer life. I thank you God that you are not a deaf, uncaring, unloving god, but rather you are a God who loves me and dares to answer the impossible. Help me to remember that the way you answer prayer is more about you and less about me. Father,  I know you are more than able to answer all of my requests according to your perfect will, even when I don’t understand your timing or your purpose I will choose to trust you.

It is in your Son’s name I pray, as I wait in great anticipation for your perfect answers. Amen.

Asking God For The Insignificant and The Impossible

“Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Jeremiah 33:3 AKJV

This morning I have already spent a good bit of time in the garden. The air is fresh and clean, the flowers are bright and beautiful, and the quietness is serene. As usual, the Master Gardener has been sitting beside me quietly listening to all my requests. I have my usual requests that are on what I call the “BIG LIST”. These are the things in life that I believe are worthy of God’s time and attention. These are the things that I believe God would think to be important. Most of the time, these requests involve my personal “spiritual” growth. I also give God a shot at all the major disasters in the world, the wars, the government, and the missionaries around the world. Often these prayers are pretty generic and all inclusive.

Another list is the list that contains the requests for the things I have managed to relinquish the results to God. I call this the “STILL TRUSTING GOD FOR THIS” list. These are the prayers that I am certain God has heard and when all things are ready he will send the answer. I know full well his answer will always be according to his will not mine and that when the answer arrives he will be glorified! So as I wait I remind God that I trust him as I wait for his perfect timing, and I will continue to thank him everyday for his answer that I am confident is on the way.

Then I reluctantly bring out the next list. This list is the “IMPOSSIBLE” list. On this list are things I have prayed for years with seemingly no answers from God. These are things that I hope will happen but I’m pretty sure won’t! These are the prayers that are shrouded in doubt. Many of these prayers are for the salvation of people that I don’t believe will ever change because they don’t want anything to do with God.  There are prayers for healing of those who are terminally ill. I also pray that God will change the hearts of people who make decisions for our country. My doubt is not in God's ability to answer. Without a doubt I know he is able. Although God is able it may not be his perfect will to answer according to my will. In the prayer for another's salvation I must continue to pray that God will stir their heart and plant a desire in their heart to know him. I must continue to pray and trust God for what I believe to be impossible.

I excuse myself from the Master and begin wandering around the garden looking at his magnificent handiwork that is found in the details of each flower and leaf. I gradually start to realize that God does care about the smallest of details in nature and in my life. Suddenly, I have the courage to go back and pull out the fourth list that I have shoved deep down in my pocket. This list is the “DON’T BOTHER GOD WITH THIS” list. Most of the time I feel God is so busy with the “BIG” list that he would never want me to bother him with the insignificant things in my life. On this list there are things like praying to find something that has been lost, or getting something I really want but can clearly get along without having. Often I am afraid to ask God for his help in planning a vacation or a major family event. Sometimes I neglect to ask God to help me free up my schedule, or neglect asking him to help me let go of stress. What about my attitude regarding a project that needs to be started? Is it possible that I could dare to ask God for motivation to get off the couch and do the project that I have absolutely no interest in doing? How could I ever be so bold to ask God for good weather, a parking place, or extra money for a home improvement? Can I really go before God and confess my frustration in not being able to find time to do something I enjoy? Can I really ask God to take away my headache? Shouldn’t I just endure it because I know tomorrow it will most likely be gone? Can I ask God to protect my grandson from a bully, or to give my granddaughter a special new friend? Do I dare to ask God to help me eat healthy and exercise?

At this point I find myself running back to the Master Gardener. I now begin a new line of questioning. “Jesus, isn’t it the insignificant stuff in life that gets my underwear in a knot and my mouth blurting out things I later regret. Jesus, I confess that the stuff in life that I consider to be insignificant and seemingly impossible is the very stuff that takes my attitude down the tubes and leads my mind to discontentment and depression. It is this stuff that sets my pity-party in motion. Lord, are these daily insignificant happenings in my life the very things that I can bring to you in prayer? Jesus replies. “You bet! That’s the stuff! Truth be told, you especially need to bring those things to me in prayer because it is those things which affect your emotions and crush your spirit.” I now remember that God’s Word tells me to bring all my frustrations, needs, concerns, desires, and hope directly to his throne so that I may find mercy and grace in my time of need. I know it is true, If I really trust God I will handover to him all of my lists.

The Master Gardner similes and reaches out to take all four of my lists. I am able to surrender two of the lists to his capable hands. He then said, “Paula, I think that one indication of how much you trust me is when you are able to get to the point that you can hand me the most insignificant things in your life and trust me for what you consider to be impossible.

I listen but tears of doubt stream down my cheeks as I reluctantly shove the lists of “the insignificant” and “the impossible” back into my pocket. I tell Jesus that I know he is right but that I just want to go home and rewrite my list and see if I have the courage to release anything on the remaining two lists into his care. I tell him I wish I could give him the entire list but that it is going to take me a little more time. He assures me that he will be here waiting to care for all that I will willingly trust him with. He whispers one last thought of love, “Paula, remember, I am not the enemy. I love you! My child, you have not because you ask not.”

As I walk away I find my self drawn to a bench. I sit and I weep because I am unable to trust. Satan grabs this opportunity to torture my mind with the “what ifs”. What if God chooses something or someone for me that I don’t want? What if God asks me to do something I don’t want to do? What if God chooses not to heal the one I love? What if God allows us to lose our home? What if I am not vindicated? What if something bad happens to the person I am praying for because I am praying for God to do whatever is necessary in their life to bring them to salvation? What if they die? The Holy Spirit reminds me of the truth. I become conscious that my previous thoughts are an attack from Satan, so in the name of Jesus Christ, I send Satan packing.

Still two lists remain in my care. I so desire to be able to surrender these lists to God’s competent hands. I want to believe beyond a shadow of doubt that God cares about all of the things that concern me. I want to know and trust all of God’s promises for me. I want to learn to let go and let God work according to his perfect will, not my will. I want to trade stress for peace. I begin to reflect and remember what God’s Word says. I remember that God has promised to be more than enough in every situation. I remind myself that God is Sovereign. I remember that God has a plan for my life. I remember that God loves those I love more than I do. I remember that Jesus said that in this life I should expect trouble. I am certain that on any given day I can experience both good and bad circumstances. I remember that death is natural and inevitable and that none of us will escape death unless Jesus comes back for his church before we die. I remember that God uses the hardships and brokenness in our life as a tool to change us for the better. I remember that God is love and that he can be trusted. I remember that Satan is the enemy not God! I leave the garden with determination to call upon the Holy Spirit for his help in purging my mind of the “what ifs” and to ask him to empower me so that I can willingly open my hands in humble surrender and release all of my lists to God.

Questions:

1. Have you learned to give God the insignificant things in your life?

2. What are you holding on to?

3. Do you have a major prayer request that you consider impossible?

4. Would you consider giving that request to God today?

5. Can you look back in your life and see God’s faithfulness to you?

6. Do you believe that God is able to give you the courage to trust him with more of your concerns?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

How I long to be able to entrust you with every single thing in my life. I know that often this is a struggle between my fear, the devils “what ifs” and my own personal need for control. Search my heart today God and show me what I need to surrender to your capable hands. You, Father, are the one who has created the world. You are the one who knows my innermost parts. You are the one holds the world together. How can I help but trust you? Father, help my unbelief. Heal me from the sins of control, doubt and fear. Help me to trust you with what I believe to be “insignificant” and “impossible”. Teach me to release all things to your care and then give daily thanks that your perfect answers are on the way. Father, even when I don’t understand your will, your timing, or the outcome you choose, I pray you will help me to be strong and at peace as I choose to trust you completely. I know that sometimes I want what I consider to be “good” but you God, want what is “better and best” for my life. Father, you see the road ahead, I do not. Lord I don’t want to forget that if I call on you, you will answer and you will show me great and mighty things, which I do not know. All of your answers are perfect in every way.

In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

Digging Your Ditches

“…This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches.

For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain,

yet this valley will be filled with water,

and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.

This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD;

he will also hand Moab over to you.”

2 Kings 3:16-18 NIV

“The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice,

there it was – water flowing from the direction of Edom!

And the land was filled with water.”

2 Kings 3: 20 NIV

Often in the summer rain is scarce. Many times the water supply of a nearby lake or reservoir drops to dangerously low levels and we are asked by our community to ration water usage because we fear our supply will dry up.

On very dry days when I look about the garden I see leaves that are dry and curling, others that have turned brown and died. Drooping heads, wilted flowers, and dry, cracked soil beg for water. On this anxious day this also seems to be the condition of my parched heart. Suddenly, I look up and the Master Gardener is standing before me. Jesus simply similes and asks, “Today, do we need a lesson on faith?”

In my mind I think, “How does he do this? He always knows the condition of my spirit. Then I remember, “Oh yes, that’s what my God does! He never leaves me or forsakes me. He is the other half in this loving relationship. He is NOT out to lunch!”

I scoot over on the bench, Jesus sets beside me and I begin to speak what is on my mind. Jesus, I am tired and weary, I pray and pray and pray and nothing changes. I ask and I don’t receive. I can’t see in front of my nose and I am afraid of what lies around the corner. Satan is clouding my thoughts with his devious lies! I seem to be completely void of faith. My heart doubts that I will ever see answers to many of my prayers. I fear I have asked you for the impossible.

Jesus reminds me of a story in 2 Kings Chapter 3, when the Lord gave his prophet Elisha some very sovereign advice! You see, they were in the desert, marching into battle and there was no water. The Lord gave Elisha an assignment, “Make this valley full of ditches.” Then the Lord further instructed Elisha, “You will see NO wind or rain, YET this valley WILL BE FILLED with water and you will drink.”

The Master Gardener’s message to me today was that even in the dry valley of my life where my need is great, I am to simply step out in faith and do the work of digging ditches of faith all around me. He says, “Dig ditches of faith and then trust that I, the Almighty God will show up. Paula, you see, what seems impossible and unlikely to you is ‘…an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD…’ You will drink! Not only will you drink, your cattle and your animals will drink as well.”

My past experience tells me that God does provide the answer, the drink, at the exact moment that I need it the most and not a single moment before! God’s provision may come immediately, or the next morning, or it may be years away, but the truth is that IF GOD has instructed me to dig the ditches by praying the prayer of faith, and if I am obedient to his instruction, I will drink! “The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was – water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.” 2 Kings 3: 20 NIV The fact is, what was impossible for the people was an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord.

As I digested this day’s faith lesson from the Master Gardener, I remember looking up into his reassuring eyes and feeling his peace. The flowers and foliage in my parched heart’s garden began to drink in “all that was an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord.” There was no wind or rain in sight but the dried out land became wet with water that comes from the faithful One. Ditches around the edge of my heart’s garden began to fill and overflow with God’s heavenly water and my faith became the evidence of the things hoped for! “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV

The Israelites were going into battle and the Lord also promised that in addition to the promised water he would also give them victory over Moab. 2 Kings 3:18b NIV Victory over the enemy! Of course, to date, Satan is my greatest enemy, yet God has promised to give me victory over the enemy when I go into “faith” battle! Today I choose to go into battle and I will begin by calling on Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, I cast out of my mind the damaging lies of Satan. As a result of this action, I will refuse to believe Satan’s lie that says I am stupid for believing that God will actually send water to my ditches. I will refuse to believe that God doesn’t care about what I need. I will NOT listen to the lie of Satan that whispers that if God really loved me I would not be in this situation in the first place. I will NOT believe that God cannot be trusted. I will NOT believe that my prayers go unanswered because I am not good enough or because I do not have enough faith.

I will believe that my Sovereign God is able to do all things and that all things are easy in his eyes. I will believe that my all knowing God is a God full of mercy and grace, love and forgiveness. I will believe that because I have dug ditches, God will send water! I will believe that God values even the shallowest of ditches, and my God will fill all my ditches of faith with his water on the very morning I need it most. As long as I live I will choose to dig faith ditches so that God can fill them with the impossible!

Questions:

Are you afraid to ask God for something because you fear it is impossible?

Do you have an unanswered prayer that you fear will never be answered?

Can you remember a time in your life when God filled your faith ditches with his more than ample water supply?

Do you believe that God provision is nothing short of amazing?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I pray that I will be obedient to your command to dig ditches of faith. Lord I pray that I will not be found guilty of refusing to dig ditches because I think that the desire of my heart is an impossible situation. Lord, it is my desire to dig my ditches of faith deep, yet sometimes I am only able to dig shallow ditches of faith. I am so thankful that you did not tell Elisha how deep to dig the ditches, but rather to simply dig the ditches. Help me Lord, that as I mature in my faith, I will be able to dig deeper ditches. Lord, I pray that I will remember that what I think may be impossible, for you it is an easy thing! I will drink of your compassion and mercy. I will drink of your love and faithfulness. I will drink of your provision and I will rejoice in answers to my prayer. Father, forgive me when I grow impatient waiting for answers to my prayers. Forgive me Lord when I expect “rain” to fill my ditches instead of “flowing water”. I must simply dig the ditches of faith and wait for your “water” to fill my ditches no matter how you send the water. Lord, help me to remember that my ways are not always your ways. Heavenly Father, fill my ditches with what I need even if it isn’t what I want. So today Lord, I ask if you are willing, I already know you are able, and then I wait.

In your name I pray. Amen.

Clouds

“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds –
his name is the LORD – and rejoice before him.

Psalm 68:4 NIV

The other day I was enjoying looking up at the clouds with my grandchildren. We were imagining what all of the different shapes reminded us of. Abigail saw a heart, Joshua saw a bear, and I saw a fluffy cone of cotton candy.

I then took the opportunity tell them that the Bible teaches us that we are to praise God because he is so mighty that instead of riding in cars and airplanes, God rides the clouds! I remind them that their Papa likes roller coasters but I imagine that riding clouds must be way more fun!

Clouds are important. Jesus left this earth in a cloud and we will see him coming a second time in the clouds. In fact, the Bible tells us that those who have died in Christ will rise first and those who are still living will be caught up in the clouds to meet our Savior, Jesus Christ.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

I Thessalonians 4:15 NIV

Yes, clouds are important. Sooner or later if you are a believer you will be riding the clouds with Jesus! Considering that I hate roller coasters, this adventure unnerves me just a bit! I am comforted by the fact that we are always eternally safe when we are with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

From an earthly perspective some days the clouds are not so beautiful. Some days they are dark and dangerous looking. The clouds that cover our spirit can be the worst clouds of all. The sooner we are able to entrust Jesus with the darkness that tries to enter our mind the better off we will be. Remember, Satan uses times of discouragement and depression to squelch our spirit. Choose to fight negative thoughts with prayer. If you find that you are so discouraged and that you can’t pray, then ask someone to pray for you. Even in the darkest times of our lives, even in times that we feel God’s face is hidden in the dark gray clouds of life, our faith in our God brings us comfort.

After all, that is what faith is! Faith is believing in something or someone that we cannot see. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV We cannot see the wind, yet we know it is there. We cannot see electricity, yet we flip a switch believing that the light will come on. We cannot see the healing results of medication, yet we take it believing that we will feel better. Remember God rides all of the clouds. He is there in the beautiful white puffy clouds that reflect his sunshine and he also he is there in the dark clouds of life that hide his face. Praise God, our God rides the clouds! He is always there. God is only a prayer away!

Questions:

Is faith a difficult concept for you?

Do you fear that in believing in something you cannot see will make you look foolish?

Because the benefits of believing in God are so great, would you consider giving faith a chance?

Are there some things that you can trust God with and other things that you simply can’t believe?

What are those things?

Have you ever prayed that God would help your unbelief?


Prayer:

Dear God,

Today I pray that you will help my unbelief. God, make the question in my heart not be if you can, but rather if it will be your will to do so. With you God I do know that all things are possible, yet not all things happen the way I want them too. God forgive me for thinking that I don’t have enough faith to merit your help. I realize that I cannot drum up huge amounts of faith; I simply must express to you that I know you are able to do all things. I am so glad that all the faith that is needed on my part is the very small amount, faith the size of a mustard seed. Matthew 17:20.

In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen

Questions and More Questions

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

My grandchildren, Abigail and Joshua, can ask more questions! Sometimes I try to answer them all and other times I don’t know the answers. Sometimes their very young minds cannot comprehend the truth of the answer and so I put them off.

There are some really hard questions in life that beg an answer. We ask God for those answers. Sometimes he tells us, other times he says you cannot understand now but it will be revealed to you later. But one thing I am sure of, God knows all of the answers!

I have come to realize that I really don’t have to have all of the answers. Sometimes God chooses not to provide me with all of the answers so that I can learn to exercise my faith. There have been times in the past that it just seemed too hard to trust God. I needed to know the outcome before I could trust him. A lack of faith has sometimes kept me from trusting God with my life, the lives of those I love, or in some cases it has prohibited me from taking a risk. Other times it has affected my obedience to God because I didn’t feel qualified to do something that God was asking me to do.

Sometimes when I am faced with a project, a new venture, or a life changing decision I become paralyzed with fear because I do not have all of the answers. It is at this point that I reflect on how faithful God has been to me in the past and that allows me to launch out and trust him now because I know that God has been faithful to me in the past, he is faithful in the present, therefore he will be faithful in the future.

It would be my guess that people who do not know the Lord allow the “big questions” to keep them away from God completely. Satan insists on us seeing things with our own eyes and knowing all the answers. Satan encourages us to reject faith. Yet that is exactly what faith is. It is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see.

Do not be surprised if when you are alone with Jesus in the garden of your heart that all of a sudden Satan comes slithering into your mind whispering lies, raisings doubt, and demanding answers to hard questions like: Why do bad things happen to good people? If God is all powerful, why doesn’t he just fix it? Satan also plants thoughts in your mind that causes you to fear looking foolish and failing.

Trusting God comes by a leap of faith that says, “I don’t know what the future will bring, but I know the One who does know the future and can be trusted,” even if things end badly. God has promised us that he will somewhere down the line use the loss that we experience for our good. God is a god of love and will never leave us or abandon us.

This morning before the birds began to sing I spent time alone with Jesus. As I stepped out onto the deck there was not a bird in sight, I hoped to hear their song of praise to their creator and sure enough, six o’clock on the button the birds began to sing. I couldn’t see the sun as yet but I was certain that it would come up, just as it had everyday of my life. I hoped for the sun, and low and behold, up it came!

Before leaving the deck I begin to think about the beautiful daffodils that bloomed last spring. Now, the daffodils were nothing more than a memory. As I was walking into the house I realized that I do not know the answers to all of the mysteries in life, but just as I am confident that even though the winter snow covers all of the bulbs and the ground freezes, I am certain that I will again see the daffodils of spring. Because of God’s faithfulness in nature I know that I can trust God with all of the other things that I do not see or understand. I have become less dependant upon answers to my many questions but totally dependant upon God and his faithfulness. As always, it was good to be in the garden with Jesus. When I am in the garden I feel God’s peace and amazing love in my life.

Questions:

Have you experienced Satan in your garden?

Do you have a question that keeps tripping you up?

What do you need to trust God for that you cannot see or understand?

Prayer:

Dear God,

Help me by faith to give my unanswered questions to you. Give me your peace so that I will not stumble over unanswered questions but rather bask in the truth that I have come to understand. Help me today to take the necessary leap of faith regarding trusting you. Please take away my doubts and unbelief. Today I also pray that those who are currently experiencing the pain and suffering of an unexplainable event in their life. I pray that they will look to you God, so that they might find strength and courage during this difficult time. I pray that you would also grant them your perfect peace.

In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen.