Faith Stretches My Imagination

In review of Ephesians 3:20 I read that “Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine” (GW).

Whatever great things I could ever imagine for my life, God can outdo it!

The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20, “Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine” (GW). Faith starts with stretching the imagination. It begins with a concept, a vision, a dream, a mental picture. It always starts with an idea.

God came to Abraham one day and said, “Abraham, I’m going to make you the father of a great nation. You’re going to have a lot of descendants.” For Abraham, that was hard to believe. He didn’t have any kids, and he was well into his 90s. “Sure, God,” he must have thought. “Whatever you say.”

So God gave Abraham a picture: “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision . . . ‘A son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:1, 4-6 NIV).

God stretched Abraham’s imagination by telling him to look up at the stars and try to count them—that’s how many descendants God promised that Abraham would have. The entire Jewish nation came from this man.

Abraham had something he could visualize. Every night when he walked outside, he could look up and say, “That’s going to be my family!”

God will grow my faith by stretching my imagination, by giving me a dream. What I can dream and believe in faith, I can achieve.

In summary, Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in me. By this power he can do infinitely more than I could ever ask or imagine. Faith starts with stretching my imagination. It begins with a concept, vision or a mental picture. It always starts with an idea. As an example, God gave Abraham a picture. Abram believe the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Abraham has something he could visualize. God will grow my faith by stretching my imagination, by giving me a dream. What I can dream and believe in faith, I can achieve.

As I reflect on this, two dreams come to mind for me. One is to help mentor, guide and help others. The other is to lead my team to a high functioning IT support team. What I’m reminded of this morning is that visualization is a big part of helping to accomplish a dream or goal. First creation happens in the mind, a clear picture is developed and God can help bring things together. The biggest fear is just talking to others and having conversations. 

Today I pray Father that with your Spirit, that you help me develop what I need to get with others and to learn to converse with them. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day / weekend. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

The Difference Faith Makes

In review of Romans 10:17 it says, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (NIV).

Faith comes from hearing, this is, hearing the Good News about Christ. I am to take God's great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News. How will others hear it unless someone tells them? God is calling me to take a part in making his message known in your community. Take steps that are needed.

All that God wants to do in my life, he does on the basis of faith. Interestingly enough, everybody has faith. Even an atheist. It’s just a matter of what I put my faith in and the amount of faith I have.

To have more faith, Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (NIV). The Bible says I get faith through listening to the Word of God. 

What difference does faith make in my life. Faith determines what God can do in my life. The Bible says, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV). God says I get to choose how many blessings I have in my life. I get to choose how many answered prayers I have. I get to choose how much he can work in my life. It’s according to my faith. There are thousands of promises in the Bible, and faith is the key that unlocks those promises.

You don’t have to pray, “Dear Sir, if you’re not too busy and if you can afford it, here’s my request.” Matthew 21:22 says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (NIV).

Faith is so powerful that when I put just a little of it in a big God, I get big results. Faith turns dreams into reality. It’s the basis for miracles in my life. Does God do miracles today? Of course he does! He does them through people and through prayer.

The Bible says in 1 John 5:4, “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (ESV). Faith gives you confidence. It neutralizes fear. It gives me the ability to press on. Imagine Moses and Aaron standing before the Red Sea and Moses turning to Aaron and saying, “You first!”

Faith gives me the confidence to move ahead, which produces success.

In summary, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. I am to take God's great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News. How will others hear it unless someone tells them. All that God wants to do in my life, he does on the basis of faith. It's a matter of what I put my faith in and the amount of faith I have. I get faith by listening to the Word of God. Faith determines what God can do in my life. It's the key that unlocks promises in his Word. If I believe I will receive whatever I ask for in prayer. When I put a little of it in a big God, I get big results. It becomes the basis for miracles which God does through people and prayer. Faith will give me the confidence to move ahead, which produces success.

Father today I pray that through the Holy Spirit that I share faith with others and introduce them to you and your Son. I want to put my faith in you to help bring about your kingdom and to make a difference in the lives of others. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for today. I pray this your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Faith Is Believing What I Can’t See

In review of Hebrews 11:1 it says, “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it” (NCV).

Faith shows the reality of what I hope for; it is the evidence of things I cannot see. Two words describe faith: confidence and assurance. These two qualities need a secure beginning and ending point. The beginning point of faith is believing in God's character: He is who he says he is. The end point is believing in God's promises: He will do what he says. When I believe that God will fulfill his promises even though I don't see those promises materializing yet, I demonstrate true faith.

Faith is visualizing the future in the present, it means seeing the future in advance. People say, “Seeing is believing.” God says the exact opposite: “Believing is seeing.” Some things I’ll never see unless I believe them first.

Every great achievement started when someone first believed it was possible. Faith turns dreams into realities. It makes reality out of what’s in my imagination. Nothing happens until someone believes it’s possible first.

I need a dream. That dream, my goal is an act of faith. When I’ve tuned in to God and ask him what he wants me to do, I’m saying, “God, I believe you want me to accomplish this action by this time.” When I do that, I’ll be acting on faith. And faith pleases God. Is there some impossible task I’m trusting God for?

In summary, faith means being sure of the things I hope for, and knowing that something is real even if I don’t see it. Faith is the reality of what I hope for; it's the evidence of things I cannot see. Faith is confidence and assurance. The beginning point is believing in God's character. The end point is believing in God's promises. When I believe that God will fulfill his promises even though I don't see those promises materializing yet, I demonstrate true faith. Part of faith is visualizing the future in the present. In God's realm believing is seeing. There are some things I'll never see unless I believe them first. My goals when selected in line with what he wants me to do, is acting on faith. 

Father, as I consider what I’ve read this morning, and reviewed the last few days. I wonder if I’m doing what you want me to do in this life. I’m not sure I have a dream that can only be reached by faith. I don’t think that I’m really giving my life away, and doing something that has eternal impact. I don’t think this is something I can resolve this minute, but I pray Father that your perspectives allow me to continue to reflect on my life and what I should be doing and investing in. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day and time. Thank you for giving me this time off in an unhurried pace to just enjoy things and my time with immediate family and you. These things I pray in your son Jesus name, Amen.

How to Bear Fruit That Lasts

In review of John 15:16 it says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (NIV).

Jesus made the first choice, to love and to die for me, and to invite me to live with him forever. I make the next choice, to accept or reject his offer. Without his choice, I would have no choice to make.

God’s mission is for everyone, including myself. There are not enough missionaries in the world to fulfill God’s mission by themselves. Jesus said of us, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16 NIV). Fruit is a metaphor for a successful and productive life. Jesus wants me to bear fruit that will last.

Most of what I do won’t last. No one will remember most of what I did 10 years after I die. People won’t care what movies I saw, what books I read, or how I spent your vacations.

However Jesus wants me to do something that will last. There are only two things that will really last: truth and people.

I’m challenged today to Imagine a scene when I get to heaven: A person comes up and says, “I just want to thank you.” And I say, “Thank me? I don’t even know you.” “You’re right, you don’t know me. But you helped in a ministry. You helped in a project, a humanitarian effort through your church. You did something that caused me to get to know God. I’m in heaven because of you. I’m your forever friend.”

Nothing I do is more important than helping people determine the destiny of their lives because it’s fruit that will outlast my life.

William James is credited with saying, “The greatest use of life is to invest it in that which outlasts it.”

When I invest my life in people, who are going to last for eternity, I’m bearing fruit that will last. So no matter what my work vocation is, my greatest calling is to use the gifts God gave me to make sure more people will go to heaven.

In summary, Jesus chose me and appointed me so that I might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Jesus made the first choice, I made the choice to accept his offer. Without his choice, I would have no choice at all. Most of what I do in life won't last. However, Jesus wants me to do something that will last. The things that last are the truth and people. Nothing I do is more important than helping people determine the destiny of their lives. It is the fruit that will last. When I invest my life in people, I'm bearing fruit that will last. No matter what my work vocation is, my greatest calling is to use the gifts I have been given, to make sure more people will go to heaven.

Father thank you for the further reinforcement of the perspective of investing in that which will last, the eternal destiny of others. This ties in with yesterday’s study where I need to give my life away. I pray today that your perspective will remain in my life and help shape my thoughts and actions. I pray for wisdom and guidance for my day. I thank you for some time off of work to just be relieved of the work pressures. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

To Find Joy, Learn To Take the Focus Off My Self and To Give My Life Away

In review of 1 Peter 4:10 it says that “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT).

My abilities should be faithfully used in serving others; none are for our own exclusive enjoyment. I have been given gifts. I need to find them and use them. Even as I seek to discover my gifts, if I see a need in the church, I should seek to meet it. I may find gifts in areas I may have ever considered.

Scripture teaches me that I’ll never find happiness in pleasure, power, possessions, position, or prestige. Nor will I find it in success, sex, salary, or status. Those are all temporary things.

Permanent, ongoing happiness only comes when I give my life away in service. God wired me to give my life away. He did this because God wants me to be like him. Most don’t know this, but there are secrets to joy. And I can find both of these secret pathways to joy through service.

The way to find joy is:

First, get my mind off of myself. The more I focus on myself, the more miserable I will become. To find real joy, I must shift from an inward focus of, “It’s all about me”, to an outward focus, “It’s all about God and serving others.”

This is countercultural. Our society screams that everything should be all about me. But the Bible says, “I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy” (Philippians 2:17 NLT). The truth is, the most helpful people are the happiest people.

Second, use my gifts to help others. It feels good to use my gifts to help others.

The Bible says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT). God blesses me so I can bless others. When I bless others, God will bless me.

If I find myself struggling through a lack of joy in life, try serving others in my community and in my church. Then watch God change my perspective.

In summary, God has given me gifts to serve others (not myself.) It's my job to discover them and then use them. Meanwhile, If I see a need, I should seek to meet it. Material things will never bring happiness, as they are only temporary. A permanent ongoing happiness comes when I give my life away in service. He did this because God wants me to be like him. To find joy, take the focus off of myself, shift from "about me" to about serving God and others. Use the gifts he has given me to help others. God blesses me so that I can bless others. When I do, God will bless me. When I find myself struggling with joy, seek to serve others.

Father I thank you for your word on using my gifts and serving. I also thank you for this time off. It’s a chance to take my focus off work and to enjoy what’s around me and to help energize my batteries. I pray that through the help of the Holy Spirit that I think through my life and my purpose and mission. I pray Shrinek and his work visa situation. It would be my desire that he remain in the country helping us at work, however I would just want what is best for him and his situation. Father, give me wisdom and guidance for my day and my thoughts. I ask these things in your Son Jesus Name, Amen.

God Will Finish What He Started in Me

In review of Philippians 1:6 I'm reminded, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (NLT).

The God who began a good work in us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face to face. God's work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. He work in me began when I first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in me, enabling me to be more like his son Christ every day. When I feel as though I'm not making any progress in my spiritual life, I can be certain of this: When God starts a project, he'll complete it. God will help me grow in grace until he has completed his work in my life. When I'm discouraged, I can remember that God won't give up on me. He promises to finish the work he has begun. So when I feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by my shortcomings, remember God's promise and provision. Don't let my present condition rob me of the joy of knowing Christ or keep me from growing closer to him.

God will always finish what he starts, and this includes shaping my character. God has been molding my character to be like his Son’s. I was created to be like Christ.

But here’s the best part: God will complete what doesn’t get finished in this life. He’ll finish my character and bring me to perfection in heaven.

The Bible says, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV).

That will be an amazing day! I’ll see Jesus face-to-face. Every neuron in my brain will go on overload. And I’ll be transformed to be like him.

All of my weaknesses, pains, conditions, failures, frailties, and insecurities will be gone. I will be transformed into perfection that day. I will totally reflect the glory of God.

Right now I’m not what I ought to be. I’m only a fraction of what I will be. But God says, “That’s okay. I’m taking my time. I’m cheering you on at every stage. Just take every step with purpose, because one day I’m going to finish what I started.” And I’ll be changed instantly into his likeness.

That will be a day like no other. The Bible describes that day like this: “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2 NLT).

I may have stumbled and struggled so far in this race of life. But my race is not over. One day I will see Jesus face-to-face. And I’ll never be the same again.

In summary, God who began a good work in me, will continue it until it is finally finished on the day Christ returns. God's work started when Christ died on the cross in my place. His work in my began when I first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in me enabling me to be more like his son every day. When God starts something, he'll finish it. God helps me grow in in grace. When I get discouraged, I only need to remember the God will never give up on me. I shouldn't let my present condition rob me of the joy of knowing Christ or keep me from growing closer to him. When Christ returns, God will complete what he doesn't get finished in my life. He'll finish my character and bring me into perfection. While I'm not what I ought to be, that's ok with God. He's taking his time, cheering me on at every stage. He just wants me to take every step with purpose. So while I may have stumbled and struggled so far in this race of life, I can remember that my race is not over. 

Father thank you for taking such a keen interest in me and wanting to grow and perfect me. I pray this morning that through your Spirit in me, that I’m reminded of that you want to build me and make me more and more each day to be like you son. Also help me when I get discouraged about things going on around me. I also ask for your wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, Amen.