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I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT)
Everyone has those times when they feel overwhelmed by the things before them. It may be a struggle with health, relationships, kids, finances or a whole boatload of other issues.
When we are under the stress of battle it affects every part of our bodies. Physically we get drained and weak. Emotionally we can get crabby, depressed or angry. We can start blaming others or ourselves. Spiritually we wrestle with doubts about God’s ability or desire to help us. We begin to lose confidence in ourselves and faith in others.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could be assured that you have the power you need to conquer every obstacle, overcome every enemy and solve every issue that is before you?
As Christ-followers we have all the power of God the Father at our fingertips. Imagine that! The same power it took to raise Jesus from death, roll the stone away like a pebble, calm the storm and create the world is all at our fingertips because of Jesus!
So, why don’t you feel the power? We feel powerless when we expect God to give us power according to what we see as our needs. However God gives us power according to his wisdom and power.
Think of him as a carpenter. You want your house (this life you are living) to be remodeled. You are tired of the way things are. So you ask him to change things. But remodeling is never easy, never neat and never without pain.
With all the power of the universe at his fingertips, God wants to make you into a masterpiece. But to do that he needs to change you, to remodel you, to take the old and make you new. Don’t worry. He’s a master at creating something from nothing. Give him permission to show his power in your life. It may be painful at times, but the results will be stunning!
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for your promise that all your power can be shown in me. I pray that you would give me the courage to give you full permission to change me into the person you want me to be. I know it will be painful and fearful at times, but I trust your creative wisdom to make me into something marvelous! In Jesus name, Amen.
You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. Psalm 4:7
Every year it’s the same thing. People all over the world will gather together to cheer in another year of great, new hopes and expectations. They talk about the new opportunities before them, about how great everything will be, and, for a few moments anyway, forget the pain, the agony and the turmoil that surrounds all of us.
The unfortunate reality is that January 2 or shortly afterwards, reality returns. The credit card bills come in from the Christmas overspending, the health concerns worsen, relationships fail us and the political and economic turmoil goes on. Wouldn’t it be nice if ‘Happy New Year’ were a statement of promise and absolute truth and not a flippant statement of hope in the midst of despair?
Each one of us can have a Happy New Year. That may seem like a bold statement but happiness isn’t about what goes on around us. Happiness is based on what we put our hope on. If we put our hope in material things, or relationships, or religion or even physical health we are destined for disappointment and failure. Anything that is earthly based will fail to bring us true happiness because by its nature it is destined to deteriorate.
The Psalmist compares his happiness to the happiness of those around them. During the time this Psalm was written ‘grain and new wine abounding’ represented everything one could possible ask for in the physical realm. It was a statement that represented the most successful and prosperous things that could happen in the world.
True happiness finds its source on the inside of each of us, not in the fickle, external circumstances that surround us. As Christ-followers we can have peace in the midst of turmoil, wealth in the midst of financial despair, freedom in the midst of addictions because our peace, wealth and freedom come from our faith in Jesus Christ.
Think about it for a moment. As a Christ-follower what is the absolute worst thing that can happen to you? The person without Christ may say relational or financial or physical disaster or even death. But for the Christ-follower none of that really has a lasting impact. The ‘worst that can happen’ for most people (death) is the best that can happen for us because in the death of our physical bodies we get to be united with Jesus in heaven.
The guarantee of a ‘Happy New Year’ comes only when we put our complete faith in Jesus Christ and resolve to grow in relationship to Him. Everything we see, everything will fail, change or go away. Jesus never will. Have a Happy New Year in Jesus!
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I thank you for the promise you have given me that you are with me in every situation. I confess that in my humanness I seek happiness measure success by what I can hold in my hand or see with my eyes. Empower me by your Holy Spirit to base my happiness on you alone and not people, religion or things. I praise you for your love and power to bring true inner happiness to me through your forgiveness and your Holy Spirit. Amen.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6
When I was very young my grandparents took me with them on a camping trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Other than ‘camping’ at Bible Camp, this was my first camping adventure and everything was new and exciting.
Grandma and Grandpa had been camping for years and I learned much from him. When I read 2 Timothy 1:6 I was reminded of how Grandpa would light a fire every night when camped, or when we’d spend time at his lake cabin. Sometimes we’d have dry wood to burn and it would ignite easily. Other times the wood may be green or wet and would smolder or the flame would die out completely.
When the fire didn’t get started as quickly as Grandpa would have liked, he would take a piece of cardboard or something to fan the fire. Soon the smoldering heap would flare up into flames that would warm a cool night and cook our supper…and smore’s of course!
What Paul was really telling his student is this, ‘Remember the things I’ve taught you. Remember what you have learned about God, about yourself, about others. You, Timothy, are a gifted man. A man who God has placed in the right place at the right time to make a difference in his world.’
Our Father has the same message for us. Each of us has been given gifts and talents to be used of God. Sometimes the ‘wet wood’ of doubt can cause our flames to die out or smolder worthlessly. The ‘wet wood’ of our lives could be doubting that we can make a difference because of our past, or our current struggles. It could be doubting that we can make a difference because our gifts aren’t as good or important as other people’s gifts and talents. We could be bogged down by guilt and shame because we are suffering consequences of poor decisions in our past.
Just as my Grandpa fanned the flames into existence from a smoldering heap of wet wood, let God fan life into you to make a difference in your world. As a Christ-follower you have an important part to play in someone’s life. It could be a family member, a friend, a co-worker. Whoever it is needs to know they are loved by God and can be forgiven.
Sometimes Grandpa would have to fan the smoky fire several times before the flames would roar to life. Don’t expect change over night. Allow God’s Spirit to work in you to bring the fire in your life and the lives of others. Don’t let the ‘wet wood’ of doubt keep you from warming the lives of those who need to experience first-hand, the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Father God, I praise you for making me the way I am. By faith I acknowledge that I have gifts, talents and abilities that can be used by you. I confess that often times I feel like a failure for past mistakes and the consequences I’m now suffering as a result. Forgive me for doubting you. I ask that your Holy Spirit would fan the flames of life into me so that I can warm the lives of those around me. In Jesus name, Amen.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7
We went to a candy shop once to get salt-water taffy. There’s was the best! It was one of those old-time candy shops where the salt-water taffy was in baskets. You could take a small container and choose the kind and amount of each flavor.
I enjoyed watching the little children being given a container and permission to choose. Some were very meticulous, choosing each piece carefully. Some would plunge their hands deep into the basket and try to get as much as possible into their tiny hands so that they could fill their basket with their favorite flavor. Try as they might, they couldn’t get the whole basket in their hands at once, but that didn’t stop them from trying.
Grace is like that large container of our favorite taffy. Each individual piece of taffy represents the times we fail Jesus. It may be a word spoken that never should have been heard. It may be a decision which ended up hurting your stand for Christ and/or those around you. It could be the inability for you to forgive someone who has hurt you deeply.
Time after time we go to the basket of grace. Because of our sin we reach deeply into the basket and pull out as much as we can. But the supply never lessens and there is never a lack. God’s grace is given to us according to Christ’s desire to give. We can never use it up. We can never deplete the supply. He chooses to give us an unlimited supply of grace to get us through the tough times of life, to heal the wounds of our soul, to sweeten our lives with forgiveness.
What are you struggling with today? Is it fear of the future? Reach deep into the basket of grace. Pull out all the promises of God’s constant presence and protection. Do you struggle with an addiction or shameful habit? Plunge you hand deep into the basket of God’s grace and fill your fingers with God’s forgiveness and power to conquer the frustration of not being able to life in victory. Are you suffering the scars of a life battered by abuse and anger? Dig down deep into the promises that Jesus’ desire is to heal you of those bruises. Taste the sweetness of a life no longer affected by the past.
God doesn’t give us grace according to our need; He gives it according to His vast, endless supply through Jesus Christ.
Go ahead. Walk into the candy shop of God’s grace. Take your fill. Enjoy the sweetness of God’s provision for your soul. You’ll never find Him lacking. You’ll never be alone.
PRAYER: Father God, No one knows the pain I harbor deep in my soul except you. No one understands the pain I struggle with on a daily basis. Pain due to fear, anger, my past, shame and guilt haunts me daily. Forgive me for my failings. Help me to taste the sweetness of your Grace. Empower me through Your Spirit to conquer the things in my life that keep me from relationship with you. Thank you for Your unending supply of Grace through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 