Let This Be the Day That No Matter What You Face, You Will Face It with the Declaration That It Is Already Alright! Declare Today: My Prayers Are Already Answered! So, What Is Your Seemingly Impossible Situation? Where Do You Need A Miracle? Why Not Tell God? Ask Him to Answer So You Can Give Him the Glory! God Trained Moses In A Palace to Use Him in A Desert. He Trained Joseph in A Desert to Use Him in A Palace.
This should remind us of all of God’s promise: “And it shall be that BEFORE they call, I WILL ANSWER; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24 AMP). “God wants you well. God wants you to be prosperous. God wants you as a whole person”. We all go through tough seasons in life, just remember WHO oversees the seasons and changes them! He can undo what the disease did. He can heal your past, strengthen your present, and enlarge your future. He can refresh your hope and rebuild your faith.
Have You Ever Found Yourself Asking God: Why Would You Allow This to Happen? I Certainly Have. In the last year of life, many people have had to face one hardship after another. At many points, some wondered how I would make it through. It is hard to feel confident in the goodness of God when circumstances do not feel good at all.
We are often left thinking that if we could just figure out the why, then life would make more sense. Especially in the face of pain or suffering. As much as we want answers for those things that break our hearts, what we are finding we want and need more of is spiritual sight. I want to approach a situation that might look hopeless and see the spiritual potential. I want to read the Bible and see clearly what God wants to say. I want to know how to react to situations in a way that honors Christ. I am guessing these are things you want, too.
So how do we get this kind of spiritual sight? We ask God for it. Continually. And sometimes that means surrendering our whys and choosing instead to ask, “Will You help me see You, Lord? Even in this?” He is the One who can illuminate the dark places for us. His presence alone has the power to bring us peace during our unanswered questions.
Today, let us be careful not to get stuck in our whys. Let us not allow them to leave us blind to His presence, blind to His goodness, blind to His power, blind to the hope we have in Him. I know this is not easy. Trust me. I have situations where I have begged God to give me answers. But I am realizing instead of answers, He's given me Himself. A way to come straight to Him, the One who already has it all figured out. The One who reminds me I do not have to have His answers to have His comfort.
Father, we might not have all the answers to our struggles, but I am seeing more hope than ever. Jesus is our Light. And because of Him, even our darkest of nights are not so daunting and confusing. We must Thank Him for reminding us that this day holds His presence, His blessings, and His comfort. Give us eyes to see You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Romans 8:28, “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” (AMPC)
We all go through tough seasons in life, just remember WHO oversees the seasons and changes them! “God wants you well. God wants you prosperous. God wants you a whole person.”
Let This Be the Day That No Matter What You Face, You Will Face It with the Declaration That It Is Already Alright! Even When it Gets Worse, I Know God Will Eventually Make It Well...in His Time, in His Way!
Helen Roseveare was a Missionary Doctor who spent twenty years ministering in the Congo. This was one of her impressive testimonies: “One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but despite all we could do she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator. (We had no electricity to even run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. “And it is our last hot water bottle!” she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good to cry over spilled milk, so in Central Africa, it might be considered no good to cry over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. “All right,” I said, “put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm. The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. “Please, God,” she prayed, “send us a water bottle. It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.” While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of a corollary, “And while You are about it, would You please send a doll for the little girl, so she’ll know You love her?”
As often with children’s prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, “Amen?” I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything. The Bible says so. But there are limits, aren’t there? The only way God could answer this prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put it in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the verandah, was a large twenty-two-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent it to the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. My eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas – that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. Then as I put my hand in again, I felt…could it be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, it was a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle! I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not honestly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, “If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the doll, too!” Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted it. Looking up at me, she asked, “Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this doll to that little girl, so she’ll know that Jesus loves her?” That parcel had been on the way for FIVE WHOLE MONTHS! Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God’s prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a doll for an African child – FIVE WHOLE MONTHS before – in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it that afternoon!
This should remind us of all of God’s promise: “And it shall be that BEFORE they call, I WILL ANSWER; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24 AMP) I read stories like this, and they remind me that God truly is Amazing! He can perform miracles! He can do anything! Nothing is too big, too hard, or too complicated for Him!
“But Jesus looked at them and said, with men this is impossible, BUT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.” (Matthew 19:26 AMP).
“I am the Lord! THERE IS NOTHING TOO DIFFICULT FOR ME…” (Genesis 18:14 CEV).
In other words, HE IS THE GOD OF ALL! He Can Do Anything but Fail! He can send fire from heaven in answer to prayer. He can deliver a hot water bottle and a doll to the Congo on exactly the right day! And just in case you were wondering, He can cure cancer, dry up tumors, make cysts disappear, and regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. He can reverse the damage of diabetes, He can heal heart disease, can put a roof over your head, food on your table, clothes on your back, and shoes on your feet. He can grant you employment and favor you with a bonus and promotion on top! He can remove the feelings of loneliness, worthlessness, low self-esteem, and depression. He can change your mind before the suicide attempt even takes place. He can mend your broken heart. He can rekindle and restore your marriage. He can get you back in school. He can carry you through the process of recovery from any addiction or habit. He can bring your wayward children back home. He can change the bloodwork and X-rays in your favor. He can undo what the disease did. He can heal your past, strengthen your present, and enlarge your future. He can refresh your hope and rebuild your faith. He can protect you, provide for you, and grant you joy and peace. He can restore your happiness. Trust God! How Big is He? Big Enough for Anything You Are Facing!
I could tell story after story of how God worked in amazing ways as the result of desperate prayer. But you do not need to hear someone else’s story. You Need Your Own! So, What Is Your Seemingly Impossible Situation? Where Do You Need A Miracle? Why Not Tell God? Ask Him to Answer So You Can Give Him the Glory!
The spiritual direction of an entire nation was turned back to God all because ONE MAN was not afraid to confront the enemy and ask God for a miracle! Elijah lived in the largesse of God, and miracles were the result! He prayed, “ANSWER ME!” AND GOD DID! He prayed “ANSWER ME!” AND MANY PEOPLE WERE STEERED BACK ON COURSE! He asked for a victory-producing miracle, and the enemy was crushed!
The next time you are facing a situation that needs an ANSWER ME GOD miracle, follow Elijah’s lead in 1 Kings 18:36-37:
1… “When it was time for the sacrifice to be offered, Elijah the prophet came up and prayed…” A sacrifice is painful and bloody! And that may very well describe what you are facing today! If so, do what Elijah did, when faced with a situation that would be of great sacrifice, he prayed! Unfortunately, we have the bad habit of gathering intercessors, crying, whining, blaming, finger-pointing, complaining, and worst yet, on the phone for hours talking to people who can do absolutely nothing to fix what is broken. No, instead, follow Elijah. He talked to only GOD! Make sure that is your first line of defense as well!
2… “…O God, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make it known right now that you are God in Israel…” When facing a crisis, do not panic, pause, and pray recalling the victories of the past! Elijah made known the names of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and we know quite well all that God did for them! Therefore, whenever fear tries to take over, let your faith go down memory lane of all the Lord brought you through before, that He can and will bring you through again! He is still the same God yesterday, today, and forevermore! He is not changing, and He most certainly is not weakening! He is still faithful, consistent, and all-powerful! He can do what neither you nor anyone else can do on your behalf! Just pause and as you pray look back over the years of your life, recall every battle and every victory, and remember that God has not forgotten to give you the triumph once more!
3… “…that I am your servant, and that I’m doing what I’m doing under your orders…” You must know who you are and Who you are praying to before you even start! If not, you will go into prayer, praying like a stranger or beggar instead of a son and daughter! Elijah said I am your servant, and I am working according to your orders. Therefore, God, since this assignment came to me by You, any bumps in the road along the way are Your responsibility to smooth out! In essence, you trusted me to do my job, and now God I am trusting You to do Yours! You see, I can go to my HR specialist on my job because I am employed there. And so, if I should have any questions or concerns regarding my benefits, that is who I go to. Likewise, follow Elijah’s instructions. God, I am your servant, I am on my job, under your command and orders, I have a prayer concern before You, and I know that my greatest benefit in working for You is answered prayer, so God, ANSWER ME!
4… “…ANSWER ME, GOD; O ANSWER ME and reveal to this people that you are God, the true God and that you are giving these people another chance at repentance.” Elijah does not ask God to get back to Him at His earliest convenience, NO, God answer me now! And guess what? He Did! And likewise, He will do the very same for you if only you would exhibit bold, trusting faith! Elijah even puts some pressure on God: “REVEAL TO THIS PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE GOD, THE TRUE GOD”! God, your name, and your reputation are on the line, prove to these people that you are not only God but the ONLY true God! And then the soft heart of the prophet is revealed when he says, ‘…you are giving these people another chance at repentance.’ You would think after having all these people coming up against Elijah that he would have something nasty and demeaning to say (you know, unfortunately, like some church folks do). But not Elijah, he maintains his character and even in prayer speaks of His God giving a people another opportunity to repent. Isn’t that just like our God? Because truthfully, we have committed some horrible sins against God and people, and yet, He never withdraws His mercy, and His grace never depletes!
Listen, certainly, there are some areas in your life, family, ministry, business, finances, health, etc. that need a miraculously answered prayer! Well, why not take your Impossible to God where absolutely NOTHING is Impossible for Him? If He answered Elijah, surely you believe He will answer you!
Let today be the day you walk confidently and consistently in your Answered Prayers! Declare Today: My Prayers Are Already Answered!
Blessings J.P. Olson Join Journey Into The Word each Sunday evening at 6:00 PM CST & 7:00 PM EST on the NOW Network http://www.theNOWnetwork.org ROKU, Cable & Online: https://www.thenownetwork.org/sunday |
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