Habakkuk 2

Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

Friday, May 2, 2014

That We May Know Him Better

Friday, May 02, 2014, 6:00 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “Believe Him.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Ephesians 1:15-23 (NIV).

Life, as we know it, has its ups and downs. We face new situations every day. Most always we have decisions we have to make. Sometimes we just need wisdom to know what to say or to not say, or what steps to take next. Frequently we are faced with circumstances where we need to know which way to turn, whether to stay or to go. Occasionally, or perhaps oftentimes for some of us, we face hurts, rejections, disappointments, difficulties and heartaches, and so fears may plague us and tempt us to withdraw or to not move forward. Or, we may believe God is moving us in a certain direction, but we can’t really see where it is headed, and there are confusing parts about it we don’t understand, and so we are not sure how to proceed. And, so we need guidance and direction.

As well, life can sometimes hit us very hard with a huge punch, and our emotions can get the best of us. Frequently we may need to just step back from the situation long enough to evaluate it, pray over it, and allow God to heal our broken hearts, i.e. we may need time to grieve, but not so long that we check out and we don’t get back into life and live. Relationships can be difficult and complicated. We all have different personalities, backgrounds, experiences, histories, etc. That is a good thing that we are not all the same, but it can get messy sometimes, too. So, we need wisdom and guidance there, too. Yet, in all these things, for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, we have much encouragement from these verses concerning what we have and who we are in Christ, to give us hope and peace.

God is In Control!

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Our Father God provides us with wisdom, insight and discernment into who He is and into the truths of God’s word, and how to practically apply them to our life situations. He does this through his Spirit whom he has given to those who love him.

He also gives us an inner awareness to know and to understand the hope to which he has called us, i.e. to know why we are here, who we are in Christ, and what assignments of the Spirit he has for us to do (fill) within the body of Christ; and to know all that God has provided for us, i.e. all the richest spiritual blessings and provisions we have in Christ Jesus. He also promises us much hope for our future, but not just the promise of eternal life in heaven. His word gives us many more hopeful promises concerning what he has for us yet in this life, while we still live on the earth. For instance, he promises us his peace, joy, perseverance, continued presence, love, counsel, and endurance throughout our daily lives.

He also provides for us his incomparably (unimaginable) great and divine power, working, strength and might to work miracles in and through our lives and in our circumstances. That, to me, is awesome! God the Father, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, is at work in and through my life; and in and through the circumstances of my life. He has a plan and a purpose for it all, and he will bring good out of (work all things for good for me in) my life situations, and all for his glory. There is nothing in my life which escapes his notice. He is never surprised, though I may be at times. And, he has already gone before me to prepare the way. Even when I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, or I don’t know exactly what he is doing, or where something is headed, I can trust in his sovereignty, power, strength, providence, rule and authority over all things.

Right now in my life I am stepping out in faith in an area I have traveled before, though not with the same people, but where I have been wounded deeply in many past experiences. Although God has healed me, has given me much hope for my future, and has sustained and directed my life in miraculous ways over the years, and through each of these past situations, the human part of me is feeling some apprehension. Yet, the Lord Jesus has been encouraging me greatly through his word and through song, and he has been assuring me that he has it under control. I don’t know what lies ahead, but God does. I don’t know where God is taking me in this, but he does. And, so he asks me to just trust him and to walk with him one day at a time, leaning on his everlasting arms all the way. So I surrender to him, believing him that he will work it all out for his glory, and for my good. Amen!

Believe Him / An Original Work / July 15, 2013

My heart cries: Lord, won’t You hear me
Seeking You for the answers
To my heartache and questions
I have concerning my life?
Speak, Lord, to me right now.

“Oh, dear one, why don’t you trust Me
With your life’s circumstances?
Give your all on the altar
In submission of your will
To My purpose for you.

“Surrender your life completely
To your Lord and your Savior.
He has all things planned for you
For His glory and honor.
He’ll work all things for good.

“Believe Him. He will fulfill all
Of His promises to you
For your life and your future.
Trust Him. Rest in His love.
He’ll give you peace from above.”



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