Friends, today, remind your heart that we do have a sure foundation. Other confidences are slippery slopes and unstable security, but we stand firmly on Christ, our true hope. He is unwavering and unfailing, a well-founded source upon which to plant our faith. While others may sway in their devotion, His promise was to never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He never moves: “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation…” (Isaiah 28:16).
“And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” Judges 6:14
Gideon heard the message but he felt unqualified. He supposed he was inadequate for what God called him to do, stating that his family was “poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” Judges 6:15.
Have you ever been there? Questioning your ability to do something beyond your normal scope of operations?
You are not alone. Many struggle daily with feelings of overwhelm, believing that this is just beyond my personal capabilities.
But can I tell you, where we see inability, God sees a victor in the making. Where we see someone who can’t, He sees someone who can. Where we feel we would lose, God sees one who is built to conquer. It is not, nor has it ever been about what we see, think, or can do within ourselves. It’s all about what God can do through us.
Gideon going up against the Midianites (read Judges 6:1-8:21) and winning against his enemies with an unusual victorious battle plan seems just as ludicrous as a skinny teenage boy like David going up against a great warrior like Goliath (both were outmatched and outsized). But, anytime God places a call on someone’s life, He doesn’t measure their ability to do the job by the individual. He doesn’t measure it by some fantastic gift they have in them, or their stature, or anything else one might use to determine the probability of success on the outside. God measures it by what He knows He can do through that life on the inside; that person who will just “go” at His calling.
The victory He had in mind for Gideon was so great that it was going to be as if “one man” (Judges 6:16)took down a whole army. In our walk of faith, we must take our eyes off what we can do and focus more on what God can do through us, answer His call on our lives, and just “go”, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” – 1 Timothy 1:9
My friend, you can do this. His holy Word reminds us:
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” – 1 Peter 2:9
And let us also remember:
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” – Romans 11:29
Winners and success stories, how often do we study their lives, habits, and choices to open a window to the possibility of implementing something in our lives that will benefit us.
Unfortunately, as the case usually goes, many examples come from a different direction or perspective in which we view life or in the course we want to take. Therefore, we will glean our lesson from the trusted source of God’s Word.
With that, we will look closely at the old familiar story of David versus Goliath. At the beginning of this story, the prospective winner has already been determined in the minds of those on both sides who attended that battle, and David is not their choice for a victor.
When Goliath was viewed, the world saw in him what they considered to be the ideal champion. They took into consideration his height, strength, weapons, and experience at war (1 Samuel 17:4-7, 33) and made what they thought was an accurate determination.
But across the Elah Valley, there was one whose stature and outward appearance weren’t as impressive, at least not to those who had drawn up for the standoff. He was considered meddlesome and nosy by even his brother (v. 28), too small and inexperienced for the fight.
What they did not consider was the unflinching faith David possessed on the inside. What they could not see about David was what marked him as a true champion for that time, and ages to come.
David possessed an uncommon confidence. (Vv. 23-32)
What do I mean by uncommon confidence? It really is as simple as it sounds. David’s character produced in him the ability to believe, to have an assurance that could not be matched by those around him. It is what caused him to stand out as someone uniquely special among the thousands gathered.
Taking the scene in perspective, daily the Israelites were challenged in their own faith through the tool named Goliath. As warriors dotted the landscape, when this massive man appeared, the men of Israel disappeared.
Physically they believed that they were no match to compete and win against this giant.
David, on the other hand, cared not for the man’s size or boast. His disdain for him was voiced when he said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v. 26).
There was no flinching or fear in his actions or voice. He was 100% ready to confront this enemy and be done with him and his army: “And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (v. 32).
It takes an uncommon, extraordinary faith to see something or someone so big and choose to not focus on it.
David saw the same thing those around him saw, but he chose to process what he saw through a different filter: faith.
As the rest cowered in fear, David stepped up and offered to do what no one else, not even the king, was willing to do.
Foolhardy youth? No.
The seed of faith planted in him grew greater than any fear this foe hoped to instill. David knew who he belonged to, and he knew who he served.
Uncommon confidence bypasses the scene before one’s eyes and focuses on Who is really in charge.
David refuses the voice of doubt. (Vv. 33-37)
It is always your choice what you will allow in your hearing and your heart.
Doubt will speak if you give it a voice. Open the door just a little, and it will consume the whole room.
When David stated his declaration to fight the giant, the very next words he heard were, “Thou art not able…” (v. 33).
Talk about letting the air out of the balloon. But words such as these people hear all the time. Even if they don’t present themselves in the same wording, the idea arises to discourage and draw one’s attention to the can’t’s of life: you can’t do this because…, you are not able due to …
These “can’t” phrases can rob you of the hope to push past what you see, and if David had allowed, Saul’s words would have done just that and prohibited his progress against this enemy.
But David refused. Instead of words of improbability and fear, he leaned on his experience with God, which he already had (vv. 34-37).
David had been delivered by God through unbelievable situations before when encountering a bear and a lion. Both animals, I dare say, would even put Goliath to flight had he come upon them.
Ferocious as they were, they, nor Goliath, can outmatch God. David knew that God was the one who delivered him before, and He believed with his whole heart that He would do it again.
David refuses to fight like others fought. (Vv. 38-46)
Experience is a great teacher and there are things we can learn from the wisdom of others who have fought the battles of this life before us.
But Saul was at a standstill in his faith. Not only did he lack it in the progression toward Goliath, but also in the way he expected David to fight.
He wanted David to wear something that wasn’t designed for him.
David wasn’t built like Saul – not in body or belief. So, he couldn’t fight like Saul would fight.
God has blessed each of us with our own unique style and gifts to carry forth in faith. God knows each one individually and has blessed each one with individuality.
The way He chooses to work in or through another should not cause us to neglect what He has placed in us.
This is a strong part of the faith lesson.
David could have shrunk back in comparison because he did not fit Saul’s design, but he didn’t. He worked what God gave him, how God gave it to him.
Comparing our abilities against the line of another’s calling will not only diminish your faith, but it can bring you to a total standstill as it did Saul.
Devoid of armor not fit for him, David, with stones in his hand, pronounced with faith to the Philistine: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied” (v. 45).
When David stepped on that battlefield, the real weapon he stepped up with was not found in his hand, but in his heart. It was a faith that Saul and the rest of Israel’s army lacked in their arsenal.
That’s why we can’t compare; it’s always the part of the fight that we cannot see that matters the most: the inside part.
David’s faith takes a stand and believes in God’s deliverance. (Vv. 46-48).
Jesus once spoke in rebuke to the Pharisees, saying, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34), and Proverbs instructs, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (4:23).
Those in the camp of the Israelites, their hearts were cowered in fear. But David’s heart brought him face to face with Goliath.
Unflinchingly, he took a stand, but he didn’t take a stand on his own merit. He took his stand based on what he believed in his heart about God: He is faithful.
David said, “This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands” (Vv. 46-47).
In David’s heart, he knew this was not about him or what he could bring to the fight. “The battle is the LORD’s!”
Our hearts are considered to be the very center of our being. And in that center, David made sure God was the center.
In his life and in his fight, not himself, his circumstances, wants or desires were brought to the forefront. No, but the Lord God Almighty was his focal point.
Are we moving forward with hesitant steps because God is not the center of our progress?
True faith will always be a heart issue. With that, he moved forth in complete confidence: “David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine” (v. 48).
Where others hesitated, David quickened his steps – again, with no backing down. His heart would not accept decrease, but it seemed at every avenue he traveled in his life, his heart of faith grew more and more because he sought to put God in the center more and more.
David used his personal gifting. (Vv. 49-50)
Earlier we discussed David refusing armor that was not fit for him. Here, we focus on what is.
David had a unique way that he would face his giant, and it was going to be by using something small and seemingly insignificant.
Many struggle with their individual giftings. Compared to others, it may not seem big enough, influential enough, or polished enough. “If I could just _______, I would be able to _______” (you fill in the blank).
Every believer is gifted by God. But every believer may be gifted differently. When David stepped out with his little stones, I wondered what the onlookers thought.
To him, it didn’t matter. What mattered was being himself before God. This was his design. This was his gift. This is what he knew how to do well.
In a world surrounded by trends and social media, it takes bravery to be yourself. You will never succeed at being anyone but you.
Use what God gave you in faith, no matter how small it appears, and leave the results to Him.
Faith wins. (v. 51)
Little David slew the big giant. Not because he was smarter or stronger, but because every step he took in the process was a step of faith.
When any questioning arose or doubt was uttered, David continued forth in faith. He never gave the space of his heart permission to think about or adhere to anything else.
Some of our favorite faith verses remind us that: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1), and “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Together, these tell us what faith is and what faith does: it goes on and believes God regardless of what is seen or not seen. And that’s what David did. He didn’t have faith, which was just talked about. His faith moved him into action to do something despite how the circumstances appeared.
Father God is in the business of stretching our faith. Bringing us to places or before situations we may view as strange, unimaginable tasks to conquer. He has something He wants to fulfill on the other side of that stretching moment but we, like David, must commit to the follow through in faith.
Faith is the access key to everything God wants to do in our lives.
Is your faith being stirred for more today? What are some hindrances to growing your personal faith?
Walking in faith and choosing to follow God by faith will carry you further than your own plans ever will.
But don’t be surprised if the victory you are anticipating comes in a way that you least expect it. Often God’s view of how something is or is to be will look much different than our own.
Nevertheless, David felt prompted to move on God’s behalf because of his sold-out relationship with God. He approached Goliath with an all-in attitude.
Retreating was never an option in his book. And even though David would go on to face other challenges (such as being on the run from King Saul), he still had space in his heart and repertoire to pen the words that would encourage himself and many hearts through fearsome trials, saying, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
That is faith language at its best. But remember, David backed his talk up with action. He lived a life operating with an all-in faith and you can, too.
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As I sit here working on another writing project I glance out my window to ponder a thought. Upon doing so, a squirrel captures my attention and I am altogether fascinated by what I see. He is hopping in mid-air from branch to branch without what seems to be care or thought in the world.
What I mean is he doesn’t stop to measure the distance to see if he can make it, nor does he seem to contemplate the physics involved that would put a web-using superhero to shame as he sails through the air, grabbing hold of the next limb, and going again with ease of effort.
Instinctively he knows and is wired to map out the trees and venture through them without slip or fail in a matter of seconds.
Every creature of God has ingrained instincts. We are all born with a sense of knowing. For some those senses are geared toward survival and protection. Some naturally know how to camouflage in order to ward off predators or to find food. Others are excellent skill-building machines that know how to make stable houses for their families in the harshest climates.
Back to our friend the squirrel. As he bounces through the trees with his ingrained knowing, not worrying or stressing over life, I must ask, dear child of God, are we navigating life with the same confidence? He, the squirrel, is wired to know what to do and how to live by what’s inside of him. What of us?
The Bible tells us, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world,” (1 John 4:4). As we are going about life we are to know in whom we belong. “You are of God!” the Word tells us. Therefore, because of our holy lineage, because of how we are wired through the blood of Jesus Christ, you and me are to instinctively operate like the “greater” is in you.
When faced with the adversities of life our holy intuitiveness should kick in; faith should carry us into our spiritual survival mode and say, “Hey, wait a minute! I am more than this! I won’t give in! I won’t quit! I KNOW to whom I belong! I KNOW He that is on the inside of me, and He is greater than anything and everything I am facing!”
Our friend the squirrel went from branch to branch without worrying because he knew what was inside of him. Do you know Who is in you today? If you are a child of God you have the greatest living inside of you and you have to instinctively know within yourself that you are His. Let that knowing empower you as you swing through the trees of life today.
I bet you’ve never seen a bee like this one before, but as sure as this is the meaning of her name, this industrious lady of the Bible took care of her hive.
Wayward in heart and misdirected by sinful intentions describes the children of Israel after prominent leaders such as Joshua passed off the scene. It was then, that the people found themselves in a vicious cycle of sin, repentance, and deliverance, only to be repeated over and over again.
When they continued to travel out of the will of God, God would allow His people to experience times of adversity through the means of some outside force, usually via oppression from other nations. During this adverse period, the people would humble themselves before God, and God would extend His mercy by sending a deliverer their way in the form of what we call “judges.” These leaders of the day would not only be conveyors of what God had to say to the people at that time, but they would also be the instruments God would use to orchestrate their deliverance and bring them out of whatever trouble they currently found themselves in due to their disobedience.
When the judge God used for a particular deliverance passed off the scene, the disobedient hearts of the people usually found themselves entangled once again in idol worshiping and sin, and suffered another set of adverse conditions until God called another judge into action to rise and bring the people out once more.
The choice of discipline the people faced in Judges 4 was through “Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor” (Judges 4:2) who for twenty years “mightily oppressed the children of Israel” (4:3).
It was then, the Bible notes, that there was an unusual woman in the land of Israel. She was not only a wife, being married to “Lapidoth,” but she was a judge, a leader, and considered a prophetess. Her name was “Deborah” (Judges 4:4).
Not much is known personally of Deborah outside of Judges 4-5. We are not exactly sure how she received her calling from God to step into this place of leadership, but we do know that her ears and her heart were opened to God and He used her in a mighty way to not only bring about deliverance for the children of Israel but to also effectively lead them when they “came up to her for judgment.” She was likened, in her and Barak’s song found in chapter 5, as a mother who arose in Israel (Judges 5:7); a woman who cared for her people and her God, and believed through His leading and power they could do what God said they could do.
So, there she was found “under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgement” (Judges 4:5). I wish we had just an inkling of Deborah’s age (Was she aged with wisdom, or was she young and spunky, or was she somewhere in the middle but not given to mediocrity?), but we are not privileged with that information. Her story is not about statistics or the status quo (of which she was not). Her story was of faith and longing to do right for God and man. By gender, she may not have been the typical deliverer for Israel, but by faith, her story shows that God doesn’t put limits on who He can use or not. Sometimes, He thinks outside of the box and throws off the stereotypes to use the one whom we may least expect.
Are you a Deborah? Called into an unusual position during an unusual time?
Do you carry the burden of people and situations in your heart? Do you care about what God wants to do through the lives of others, and even your own life? Do you seek to be open to His services and to be helpful to those around you? Then, you may be a Deborah.
While your name may differ, the stirring in your heart is the same. While the roles you are functioning in may not look the same, the fact that you are seeking to function in His will for the benefit of God and man may qualify you as a Deborah.
In her, we see leadership.
In her, we see motivation.
In her, we see an open vessel ready to be used by the Master.
In her, we see a heart that will not fear or back down from the challenge.
In her, we see poise and caring, but she is also a force to be reckoned with.
In her, we see a faith that refuses to be extinguished by the circumstances of the day.
For one whom we don’t know much about, can we glean a lot from her short story represented in the pages of Scripture.
Unlike some around her, she was not a hesitant leader (Judges 4:6-8). Her name may call her as a bee, but she was lionhearted, sure, confident, and decisive and she literally rose to the occasion when her people needed her the most. She was a spiritual champion. I don’t believe she would wield a sword, but she sure wielded her faith. She had no qualms about going where God already told them they would have the victory (Judges 4:9-10). She could readily agree with the psalmist, saying, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalms 118:6).
Her confidence in God showed through her decisions, leadership, influence, judging, and prophecies (Judges 4:14). “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe,” (Psalms 29:25; see also Psalms 118:8). She may have been a woman, but she was not a wavering woman. She stood flat-footed and held on to the Word of God.
Through her guidance and encouragement as a godly leader, her people gained the victory over their oppressors and lived in peace for the next forty years (Judges 5:31).
Her name is Deborah. Read her story in Judges 4-5, and be encouraged by the tenacity of her life.
“The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.” Judges 5:7
“My heart trusted in him, and I am helped.” Psalm 28:7
Have you been helped? Where has the trust of your heart lain? Most forget that trust is not developed in times of peace and pleasure. Instead, true trust is developed during difficulties, disappointments, and pain. It is during these times when the faith of our hearts must be tied tighter still to that solid Rock upon which we are positioned through the blood stained banner. It is during adversity when we must purposely, and with great intention, place ourselves, our desires, and our troubles behind the Shield that never fails.
He is there, my friend, as our saving grace. He is the hope that will never be moved – even through eternity’s eternity. He is the place upon which we stand when all else fades away. He is the One who hears the voice of your cry and sees what you are carrying in your heart.
He is our strength and our refuge. ”In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me,” Psalm 27:5. When enemies gnash their teeth or when tears overwhelm your heart – in Him, we are covered and safe. Nothing will have the final say over His authority, power, and might. If affliction has touched you, it is on a short leash and can only go so far as the Lord allows.
Be encouraged in He who is your help. You may not understand everything that is unfolding, or even what the end of the story may be, but let your heart rejoice with David because we know where our help comes from (Psalm 28:7).
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:1, 10
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1, 2
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
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Mornings capture us with a sense of new. The freshness for what’s before us opens like a glorious flower that raises her petals to meet the sun’s rays. Whether the pace of the new days starts out fast or slow, there is a certain level of invigoration that permeates the atmosphere. It says life is here, meeting us again as we open our eyes and arise. What we see before us we have not encountered before. This moment in time, with the grace and mercy that comes with it, is unused.
I grew up during a time of hand-me-downs and leftovers. It was not an unheard-of concept to rely on things that were previously used by another or putting aside portions of a meal that remained for later use. “Waste not, want not,” is often what people would say. It was frugal living before frugal living became popular. We are seeing a resurgence of its popularity due to the current economy that is calling people’s attention to rethink how they approach money, life, and their stuff.
But for the children of Israel, there was one thing that God didn’t want them to rethink, and that was their faith and trust in Him. Even though they were relatively new on their exodus journey from Egypt, God taught them a lesson He hopes will last a lifetime – they can put their confidence in His commands, in His promises. They had no reason to doubt God’s goodness.
So, when the need for food arose, He instructed Moses on what the people should do: “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no,” (Exodus 16:4).
Further reading gives us a bit more details:
Vv. 11, 12 says, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God” (emphasis added).
V. 15 explains, “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.”
And in v. 19, Moses instructed them to “Let no man leave of it till the morning.”
Every morning, when they opened their eyes, they were expected to walk by faith, depending on their daily provisions from God’s holy hand.
When they chose not to rely on God and to take matters into their own hands, and to keep some behind so that they wouldn’t have to worry about the next day, “it bred worms, and stank” (v. 20). When they decided they couldn’t trust God and believe that He would provide for their tomorrows, their personal, human efforts deteriorated right before their eyes. Instead of being beautiful and nourishing, it became something that was disgusting and unpleasant.
There are a lot of things we can be frugal with, but faith isn’t one of them. Jesus, in the Lord’s Prayer, called us to pray for “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Every morning we are reminded of our need for God, to pursue Him more, and again. As a tummy rumbling for morning nourishment, we are drawn to come to Him and be spiritually satisfied. We are leaning on the Father every single day for His holy provision: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him,” (Lamentations 3:22-24).
Every morning we get to reestablish our love for Him, reestablish our commitment to Him, and walk in His faithfulness another day. We get to come to Him, seeking our “manna” for the day, reaffirming He is our source. He is our God! He is our Portion (compare Jeremiah 51:19; Psalm 16:5; 73:26). He is the place where we not only find our holy sustenance, but it is where we trade the wrongs for what is right. It’s where we exchange the ashes of this life for the beauty of who He is.
“Every day” the children of Israel were commanded to go look for what God had for them. Every morning, their expectation and hope were to be on God alone. He, then, supplied their needs (Philippians 4:19) and sustained them for the day’s journey.
If your days seem limp and powerless, lacking the inspiration and sustenance for this time we live in, draw nearer to your daily Portion. Every morning partake of the Bread of Heaven so that your life may be properly fed.
In your pursuit to be properly fed, do as the children of Israel were instructed:
Come daily. Every morning the promise of bread awaited them, but they were the ones who had to put in diligent effort to rise and go get it.
Gather what was needed. Every family was allotted a certain amount so they lacked nothing of all God’s provisions. Don’t cut your time and opportunity short when you come to the Father. The Bible says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart,” Jeremiah 29:13. Wholly, go after your portion so that you lack nothing of all God has for you. Stay before Him and gather what is necessary for the day’s journey.
Come back tomorrow and do it again. And the next day, and the next day, and so on. This is a life of longing – a life that refuses to go unsatiated. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God,” (Psalm 42:1). Drawing nearer to God is to be our daily desire. He is our holy pursuit. Daily I am unsatisfied in my soul if I don’t come to Him and fill my appetite upon Him who is “I AM THAT I AM,” (Exodus 3:13).
The promise still remains: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled,” (Matthew 5:6).
“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” Luke 8:43, 44
Lord, I pray today that someone, somewhere would grab ahold of that hem of truth and love and be saved. I pray for a desperate heart to push through the issue to find You. I pray for a seeking heart to not care about the crowds around but only desire to be where You are. You hold the answer to every ailment this life can bring.
Some things hurt. Others, we can’t figure it out. In many places, men have looked for the answer and found none except they extend their reach to You.
He sees what this life brings. The innermost thoughts of our hearts and minds, the questioning and concerns, God knows all about it. He is the One who is “acquainted with all my [our] ways” (Psalm 139:3, “our” added). So, my friend, it is with great confidence that you can reach out to Him. The same issue that drove you to seek Him is the same issue that can be healed. The same issue that tries to hold you back in shame is the same issue that can receive deliverance. No matter the case or reason, reach out to Jesus, for He is the only answer you will ever need.
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This morning, I saw
high in the tree,
a confident, little bird
looking down at me.
I thought, if that were me,
on the branches that swayed,
I would not be so confident.
I would be very afraid.
The bird looked at me,
as if to say,
he had no reason to fear,
for God made him this way.
To fly high, and conquer
heights unknown.
To soar was his gift,
upon the winds that blow.
What’s true for the bird,
is true for me too.
For I have gifts and talents,
special things I can do.
If the little bird was confident
in God’s designed plan,
I, too, can be sure
in God’s design for who I am.
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
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“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”– Luke 11:9-10
Jesus wants you to be confident in prayer. Therefore, when we pray, He teaches us that we can expect to receive an answer; we can expect to see some sort of fulfillment to come from taking your requests to the Lord. These verses beckon us to look for something to happen as a result of praying.
He doesn’t tell us to “ask” without the expectation of receiving something. No, He says if you do this, then this will happen; and so, it goes with the other instructions to “seek and knock.”
Even if the answer doesn’t look the way you imagine it should, your prayers do not fall on deaf ears. Be confident that God hears you. God is attentive to you. God does not leave you in a state of wanting. David said, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want,” (Psalm 23:1). There will be results.
I love to garden, and when I plant a seed in the ground, I expect to see growth come out of it. It may take a while but eventually, I should start seeing a little sprout beginning to poke its head through the surface of the dirt. As I watch it grow to full fruition, I also expect to be able to one day reap off of what I have sown.
Your prayers are like you planting a seed, and what is being said here is that when you do these things: ask, seek and knock, growth is going to come from it. Expect it!
The word “shall” appears as a reassurance for us four times in just these two verses meaning, this is what will happen as a result of praying in this manner. Let me remind you that Jesus is the one who is teaching this lesson and He is the one telling us to “Ask . . . Seek . . . Knock.” He is the one who speaks of “receiving, finding and opening” as a result of praying.
Whatever it is, keep looking to God for the answer. The Bible teaches us to “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,” (Philippians 4:6). Make it known unto God and keep making it known with the anticipation of seeing something happen.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him,” (1 John 5:14-15). Therefore, we can expect to see results.
Word For Life Says... 