More Than All We Ask Or Imagine

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us - Ephesians 3:20.               

The lame man  asked Peter & John for money  

         A man who was lame from birth was carried to the temple gate called Beautiful where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer, he asked them for money. One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money - Acts 3:1-3. 

Expected to get some money but received healing

                The lame man who expected to get some money from them received healing. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong - Acts 3:4-7. 

Walked and praised God 

                 The lame man who received more than what he asked or imagined walked and praised God and all the people were greatly amazed. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed - Acts 3:8-11. 

                May God immeasurably bless us more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts - Isaiah 55:8,9.                                                                                                       

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for blessing us immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

The Unwavering Faith of Abraham

                        He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had                                        promised He was also able to perform - Romans 8:20,21.

               Abraham did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, what He had promised He was also able to perform. He is called the father of many nations because of his unwavering faith. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations - Genesis 17:5.

By faith, Abraham obeyed God when he was called to go out to the place and went not knowing where he was going

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God - Hebrews 11:8-10. 

By faith, Abraham believed that God can give life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb - Romans 4:16-19. 

By faith, Abraham obeyed and offered up Isaac as he believed that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense - Hebrews 11:17-19.

                                                                                                             

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us not waver at Your promise through unbelief, but be strengthened in faith and give You glory like Abraham. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Love One Another

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another - John 13:34-35.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 

10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us love one another as You have loved us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Guard Your Heart

                        Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it - Proverbs 4:23.

A heart that trusts God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths - Proverbs 3:5-7.

A heart that serves God

Serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul - Deuteronomy 11:13.

A heart that is pure

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God - Matthew 5:8. 

A heart that is at peace

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones - Proverbs 14:30.

A heart that is happy

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit - Proverbs 15:13.

A heart that is cheerful

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones - Proverbs 17:22.

A heart that fears God and always keep all His commandments

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! - Deuteronomy 5:29.

A heart that is sincere

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water - Hebrews 10:22.

A heart that is not troubled

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me - John 14:1.

A heart that thinks carefully before speaking

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking - Proverbs 15:28.

A heart that hides the Word of God

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You - Psalm 119:11.

A heart that returns to God

Return to me with all your heart - Joel 2:12.

A heart that is wise and discerning

I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be - 1 Kings 3:12.

A heart that is clean

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me - Psalm 51:10.

A heart that seeks God

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart - Jeremiah 29:13.

A heart that loves God

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength - Deuteronomy 6:5.

A heart that fears and serves God

Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart - 1 Samuel 12:24.

A heart that obeys the voice of God

Return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul - Deuteronomy 30:2.

A heart that give thanks to God

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart - Psalm 9:1. 

                                                                         

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Purify our heart. Let us guard our heart with things that please You as everything we do flows from our heart. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Our Soul Waits For The Lord

Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield - Psalm 33:20.

             God is our help and shield as our soul waits for Him. While waiting for Him, God wants us to wait patiently in silence by hoping in His word, praising Him and looking to Him with faith and courage. He is good to all those who wait for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him - Lamentations 3:25.

Wait in silence for God only

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him - Psalm 62:5.

Be still

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him - Psalm 37:7.

Hope in the Word

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope - Psalm 130:5.

Thank & praise God

Why, my soul, are you cast down? Why do you groan within me? Wait for God; I will yet thank Him, For He is my deliverance and my God - Psalm 42:11.

Look to the Lord

Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me - Micah 7:7.

Stand fast in the faith

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong - 1 Corinthians 16:13.

Be of good courage

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! - Psalm 27:14.

Keep His way

Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land - Psalm 37:34.

Renew the strength

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint - Isaiah 40:31.

Wait patiently

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry - Psalm 40:1. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are our help and shield and our soul waits for You only in silence. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Daniel's Wisdom

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding - Proverbs 2:6.

Daniel and his friends were ten times better in all matters of wisdom and understanding 

Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm - Daniel 1:19,20.

The king ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon for not telling him both the dream and its interpretation

This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death - Daniel 2:12,13.

Daniel spoke to Arioch with wisdom and tact and went to the king and asked for time

When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him - Daniel 2:14-16.

Daniel turned to God in prayer by gathering his friends and urging them all to pray for God’s mercy and help in this situation

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon - Daniel 2:17–18.

Daniel thanked and praised God for answering their prayer and giving him the wisdom and power to know the dream of the king

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” - Daniel 2:19-23.

Daniel and his friends promoted

The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king - Daniel 2:47-49.

Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and the satraps because of an excellent spirit was in him

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm - Daniel 6:1-3.                                                                                                                

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are the giver of wisdom. Give us wisdom, knowledge and understanding to be wise in all we do. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.  

Seek The Lord And His Strength

                              Seek the Lord and His strength - Psalm 105:4. 

                God is our strength. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation - Exodus 15:2. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me - Psalm 28:7. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble - Psalm 46:1.  

               God strengthens us and helps us in our troubles and weaknesses.  It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure - 2 Samuel 22:33. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you - Isaiah 41:10. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak - Isaiah 40:29.    

              When Sovereign Lord is our strength, He will make our feet like the feet of a deer and enable us to walk on the high places no matter the circumstances. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to tread on the heights." – Habakkuk 3:19. 

               Let us seek the Lord and His strength. I can do all things through him who strengthens me - Philippians 4:13. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me - 2 Timothy 4:17. I will go in the strength of the Lord God - Psalm 71:16. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might - Ephesians 6:10. 

                                                                               

Prayer: Dear Lord, You are our strength. We thank You for Your strength that carried us through our troubled times. Let us always seek You and Your strength. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.