Have you ever learned one of those things that are impossible to do unless you commit completely and expect success; something that you cannot do “kind of” or “a little.” For example learning to do a flip off the diving board, if you don’t commit, you end up landing on your back; How about getting up out of the water when water skiing, if you try to do it slowly, you end up with a face full of water, and the rope yanked out of your hands; Or stepping onto a boat as it is slowly moving from the dock, if you don’t get both feet and your body all the way onto the boat, you end up doing the splits and falling in the water.
In ways, our Christian faith is similar. In a number of Bible accounts, Jesus tells people that it is their faith that heals them. Matthew 9 includes the story of Jesus healing two blind men, and in verse 29 he says, “Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
Acts 9 tells the account of Saul’s conversion from persecutor of Christians to Apostle. Saul was on his way to Damascus to find, imprison or kill the early Christians, but on his way Jesus comes to him in a bright light and makes him blind. In another part of the town, God came to a man named Ananias in a vision and said to find Saul and heal him. Ananias was aware that Saul was persecuting Christians and did not know Saul had been converted. Ananias had to act in faith and trust that God would protect him.
In Deuteronomy 31:6 God says, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
He will not leave us or forsake us if we move forward boldly to do what we hear him calling us to do.
Dear Lord, Thank you that we can know that you are always with us and will protect us. Give us the courage to do the scary things we know we should, trusting in your protection. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
I once heard a preacher say, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Then he would go on to say, “but we’re not a dog.”
I have long considered myself a praying man but I wasn’t. Not like I should have been. I took many things for granted like freedom of speech, right to assemble and worship and bear arms. When I go outside to place my flag it means more to me now than before. I took too much for granted. Anyone else feel that way? God forgive me. I took Him for granted too.
I’am learning more about prayer now and how important it really is to me. I’am learning because I’am not a dog but a child of the living God and I’ve seen the error of my ways. Amen!
I’ve always heard that America was the land of the free and home of the brave and that is true. I think we should add one more thing to that.
America, land of the free
and home of the brave
of those who pray.
Now read these scriptures.
II Chronicles 20:12, 15, 20 & 22
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is anything to difficult for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27
May we as believers revisit the thrown room of God Our father and cry out to Him.
We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee.
II Chronicles 20:12b
God Bless America!