Ask like you believe that he’s going to give

Was again reading the story of the loaves and fishes and reflecting on our God being one of abundance.  It follows on from yesterday’s Blog about our expectations being too small.

2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work

We serve a God of abundance, and we should not forget that in our day to day life and our prayer life.  Ask big, ask from the heart, pray with trust and belief..

ASK BIG

Ask big, ask from the heart, for a start ask like you believe that he’s going to give, knowing that he wants us to live a life of joy and abundance, don’t be so reluctant to request a miracle, it’s not like he’s not capable, maybe it’s a faith issue, a matter of trusting that mustard seed, not being greedy just helping the needy, praying for the sick, the poor, asking God to change their lot, to give it all he’s got, don’t let your humanity cramp your style, ask God to go that extra mile, ask in faith, when you’re faced with a mountain to climb, God’s got you every time, this is the God of loaves and fishes, so be ambitious as you speak, don’t be weak or stick to what you’re comfortable with, God can do abundantly more than all you ask or imagine, suppose you really trusted his vision, suppose you understood your role in his mission, ask and you shall receive, have faith in God, trust and believe.

I prefer to ask, knock and receive the best of the best

I have been stressing for a couple of weeks over a major business decision.  Don’t get me wrong I have been talking to God about it but I also have been a bit fixated on the decision as well.  Today I kind of figured that God doesn’t want me to give it to him and then to stress cos I’ve not had a loud word from the heavens above declaring what I should do. God works in mysterious ways and he works in subtle ways.  It’s not all about a booming voice telling us what to do but about God leading and directing us, by references in scripture, by words of friends or family members and by a feeling in the soul which is Holy Spirit led.

Today I made that decision and I feel at peace with it.  God is good, he has helped me make the decision but also has taught me a valuable lesson whilst going through that decision-making process not to stress or worry but just be calm and wait patiently for God to act, it almost certainly will be in a way you don’t expect!

Psalm 138:7 – Though I walk in the midst of trouble you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me

WALK THROUGH THE STORM

When I walk through the storm I do hold my head up high, why, because when I walk through the midst of trouble you preserve my life, you’ve got my back, you fight my corner, when I forget to put on my armour you stretch out your hand against the enemy, you prevent him from getting at me, you remind me that I am free, freedom earned not by me but by Jesus who died for me and that freedom means yes I can choose the path I want to walk but I prefer to talk to you and listen to your plans for me, I prefer to ask, knock and receive the best of the best, but I need to learn to rest in you, to ask then wait, to knock and not get impatient when the door is not unlocked immediately, to seek and be meek as I humbly wait for your answer, and I know that you are training me, training for reigning, how amazing, train me God, guide me and lead me, believe me I will put in every effort to get it, every effort to understand the plans you have for me, I am the clay and you are the potter, mould me, shape me into your favourite daughter!

He sees you sitting under that tree waiting for him

Where were you when Jesus found you? I love this verse about Nathanael:

John 1:48 – Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree. I saw you there before Philip called you.”

We see that Jesus knows exactly where we were when he called out to us, whether we feel like we followed Jesus or he called us, one thing is clear, Jesus knew exactly where he would find us and what we would be doing.  That is how intimately God knows us and how significantly he loves us.

JUST ASK

God is the light, in him there is no darkness, there is no hiding from the Light of the World, he sees you sitting under that tree waiting for him, waiting for him to come and fill the void, the hole in your heart that urgently needs surgery, he knows you are hungry and thirsty, and he says “come to me” , come all who are tired and weary, come to me and find your rest, and take it from me it’s the best decision you will ever make, our faithful God doesn’t make mistakes, abundant in love and mighty in provision, he knows where you are and he sees where you’re going, he shows you the way, he will light up your path all you have to do is ask..

Knock it outta the park as you ask for mountains to be shifted

Been on my mind about being confident in prayer.  If we have faith as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains yet time and time again I find myself asking small not big, saying stuff like “if it’s your will” instead of “God I need you to do this.”  In God’s word it says he can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, so why not imagine big results and be wowed with massive results?  We pray with a human mind asking for what is logical to us or possible for our understanding but God is not logical and he is not fettered by human understanding so our prayers can be confident, bold and forthright.

• Micah 7:7 -But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.
• Jeremiah 17:7 – But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

FIGHT LIKE DAVID

Walk like Goliath but fight like David, walk tall you are a child that God created, tackle in faith don’t tiptoe in fear, God had called you here, called you into this battle, his fight against evil so be strong and let him lead you, be faithful to ask and believe in his promise, he will demolish the enemy, broken hearts will be mended, beauty will rise from the ashes, our God is a God of second chances, as God bends down to listen and you open your mouth to pray will you take a chance today, once in a while just blow your mind don’t be confined to the same old prayers the same old layers of please and thank you, knock it outta the park as you ask for mountains to be shifted, bondage to be lifted, chains to be broken and as God’s word is spoken in situations that once seemed impossible God is unstoppable, his power phenomenal, he is the source of my confidence so I stand bold and confident in his presence and ask for him to do immeasurably more than I could ever imagine, equip me, inspire me as I stand in your power, I look to the Lord my tower, my rock, I stop asking small and start asking for him to rock this world, working around the clock 24/7 to bring a little piece of heaven to earth, blessed as I unearth the true power of prayer, I watch in hope, I wait in peace, I trust completely I ask freely.

If I could ask God one thing what would it be?

Been looking back through my Blog and found that I have referenced Psalm 27 on a few occasions and yet again this morning I have come to it and another amazing verse:

Psalm 27:4

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

 ONE THING

One thing, if I could ask God one thing what would it be, what would I seek from my Loving Father?  I don’t think it could get any better than this, that I live in his House all the days of my life that I get to see his face, gaze on the beauty of my Lord and Saviour, to receive his grace and favour, what could be greater?  Use me Lord as I seek your face, use me as I wait to spend an eternity with you, search me oh Lord and show me what I can do, prepare me to follow the plans you laid down for me before time began, I want to do all I can to serve, to observe your commandments, to obey your word, to share your amazing love with others, to spread the news that you are a forgiving, loving Father who showers your children with love and affection, gives us direction and loves us without question, how can I express my love, how can I give back just a part of what you give to me, Lord take me, mould me, use me, Holy Spirit fill me as I dedicate my life to thee.

 

Ask, seek and knock… I am listening

My daily reading today was Luke 11: 1-13 which covers the amazing promise from God that we can ask, seek and knock and God will always provide.  I was also reflecting on a scripture God gave me yesterday Psalm 107 and in particular v 16 which was exactly the same message I also received earlier in the week from Isaiah 45 v 2

for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

So not only can we ask God for anything and he will provide but he also goes before us to pave the way, however difficult the path may be God can make all things possible (flatten mountains, cut through iron, knock down gates of bronze, sheer brilliance!)

AMAZING PROMISES

So today let’s talk about the amazing promise from a God of love and forgiveness, who gives us more than an earthly father can, who became man so that we could become closer to God, direct access to the Father whose love I will never be able to fathom, so rather than stay in heaven and get madder and sadder about human behaviour, God paved the way by sending our Saviour to teach us and reach us in ways previously unheard of, to show in person that God is Love, to reach down from his home above and touch the world with heavenly love.

So what I am saying is through him paying the price of our sin, we win.  We win salvation, a relationship with such a loving father, and rather than turn us away he has promised that if we ask it is his task to openly give to us, if we seek he will show us the way and if we knock, the door will be opened.  He has taken our brokenness in his stride, his love, so deep and so wide, he is our shield and protector, he is director of our lives, he goes before us to flatten mountains, breakdown gates of bronze and cut through iron bars, oh yes, God who created the moon and stars goes before me to pave my way, looks down on me every day, listens to me when I pray, what can I say except I love you Lord, thank you that my life’s restored and I am safe now in your arms, you shield and protect me from all harm.

So don’t be shy about your prayer life, God has shown you the light and now delights in providing for you, his word is true, he provides breakthroughs in every situation, is the foundation of all that is good and right, be bold in your ask, no task too difficult for our God, no task too large, search for his answers, he enhances your understanding of his word, he’ll show you the way to go, and knock.  Knock at the door and don’t turn away, be persistent, resistant to distractions or outside influences, resist temptations to give up too quickly, feel you’re too busy or can’t find the space to seek out God’s face, ask, seek and knock, God is our rock, on him you can depend, giver, provider, Father, friend.