Have you ever struggled with obeying God because you really wanted to move ahead and do something on your own? If so, I can only urge you to examine your calling. Do exactly what God is telling you to do and go exactly where he is leading. If you are there now, you are at peace. But if you are not at peace, it may be because you are not trusting the Lord in the way you should be.
At one time King David asked God to save him from dying and God answered his prayer: “He asked life from You, and You gave it to him — length of days” (Psalm 21:4). But God went much further in answering David’s prayer. Not only did he give him life, he also put a crown on his head and made him king of Israel.
Most Christians want to hear and know the voice of God and God certainly wants to speak to his people. But many believers get sidetracked by an idol — a favorite minister, teacher or evangelist — who speaks only good things to them. In order to know the Father’s voice, one must go directly to him without a middleman.
From the very foundations of the earth, God foresaw a body of believers joined to his Son. Jesus testifies, “I was my Father’s daily delight, the joy of his being. And now all who turn to me in faith are his delight as well” (see these prophetic words of Christ in Proverbs 8:30-31).
How do we show our love for Jesus? John answers: “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
Our earthly affections fluctuate, sometimes daily, going from hot and zealous to lukewarm or even cold as our emotions change. Like the disciples, we can be ready to die for Jesus one day and then be ready to forsake him and run the next. We can tell the Lord we trust him to supply all our needs and yet entertain doubt and fear when our circumstances change.
Many Christians talk about intimacy with the Lord, about walking with him, knowing him, having fellowship with him. But we cannot have true communion with God unless we receive into our hearts the full revelation of his love, grace and mercy.
Communion with God consists of two things: receiving the love of the Father and loving him in return. Being secure in his love is the first step. You can spend hours each day in prayer telling the Lord how much you love him, but if you have not received his love, you have not had communion with him.
Only one thing can keep us going in the coming hard times and that is an understanding of God’s glory. By grasping it, we unlock the door to an overcoming life!
The glory of God is a revelation of our Lord’s nature and being. In the Old Testament, Moses had a literal glimpse of God’s glory. “The Lord passed before [Moses] and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin’” (Exodus 34:6-7).
King David often expressed his sorrow and struggle: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. . . . I would hasten my escape” (Psalm 55:6 and 8). At times David’s grief drove him to the point of tears and he eloquently expresses his despair.
Because we live in a fallen world, we all face days of grief and struggle. How, exactly are we to find grace to help us in our times of need? Relying on a theological definition of grace does not help us when we are in the midst of crisis. We need God’s very real help when we are hurting.
The writer of Hebrews tells us, “We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Some Christians are always in crisis and seem to want to tell you all about the problems they are facing. They feel a need to describe their troubles to others, but seem reluctant to take them to Jesus, as if he has nothing to offer.