Daily Devotionals
Monday, September 2, 2024 (Mary Ann)
Muscle up!
Well, we’ve reached the end of my fraud case saga. The $19,000 on my Visa card has been erased. Do I hear a hallelujah? I wanted to tell you because I know there have been prayers prayed and for those, Sisters, I am most grateful!
God really does answer prayer!
But here’s what was rattling around the old cranium even before I got the good news: Isn’t it our tendency to say God answers our prayers only when we get what we ask for?
Can’t God say “no?”
“No” is an answer, isn’t it?
So is “not now.”
What if his answer to my prayer had been “no,” leaving me the challenge of paying that debt. Now I did have faith, which is why I prayed. And I did acknowledge that God was in control. But still, what if….
They say faith is a muscle. And building muscle strength takes exercise. Which can hurt. I do believe God answered my initial prayers with a “not now.” So I waited, and that hurt.
But consider who has to be the all-time faith-muscle man — Job of the Old Testament. He had everything going for him — he was rich, had a great family and God called him blameless and upright. But then in one catastrophic day, Job learned all his livestock, servants and ten children had died. Then he lost his health, his friends turned on him and his wife told him to curse God and die. His response — "Though He slay me, I will trust in Him." (Job 13:15) — has inspired countless believers over the centuries to trust in God no matter what.
I honestly don’t know how well I would have responded to a “no” from God. I’m not Job, after all! But I pray that my little faith muscle grew at least a bit with His “not now.”
None of us can know what lies ahead but we can be pretty sure there will be an assortment of challenges, disappointments and heartaches. Sisters, the best — and really the only — way to successfully navigate this life is to allow our sovereign God to be in control and to have a strong, growing faith in His loving care. Even if He says “no” or “not now” to what we ask for.
Remember our promise: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Now here are some exercise tips:
*Get to know the One you have faith in. “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 Bible study at home and with fellow believers is key. Oh and incidentally, this is a shameless plug for the next RCC Bible study beginning Sept. 16! We’re studying Ephesians! Sign up and we’ll see you there!
*Memorize God’s promises to increase faith as we become more aware of who God is and what He can do for us.
*Surrender! It takes humility to let go of your will and surrender to God’s will.
*Pray. Ask God to strengthen your faith. The more we pray, the more we become faithful, and the more we become faithful, the more we pray.
*Practice, practice, practice. We need to apply what we have learned. Matthew 7:16 reads, “You will know them by their fruits.” Part of the Fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness. So we bear fruit when we actually act on our faith.
*Expect to be tested. James 1:2-4 reads, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Remember Ladies, we’re better together, whether the answer is yes, no or not now. So let’s muscle up!
Mary Ann
Well, we’ve reached the end of my fraud case saga. The $19,000 on my Visa card has been erased. Do I hear a hallelujah? I wanted to tell you because I know there have been prayers prayed and for those, Sisters, I am most grateful!
God really does answer prayer!
But here’s what was rattling around the old cranium even before I got the good news: Isn’t it our tendency to say God answers our prayers only when we get what we ask for?
Can’t God say “no?”
“No” is an answer, isn’t it?
So is “not now.”
What if his answer to my prayer had been “no,” leaving me the challenge of paying that debt. Now I did have faith, which is why I prayed. And I did acknowledge that God was in control. But still, what if….
They say faith is a muscle. And building muscle strength takes exercise. Which can hurt. I do believe God answered my initial prayers with a “not now.” So I waited, and that hurt.
But consider who has to be the all-time faith-muscle man — Job of the Old Testament. He had everything going for him — he was rich, had a great family and God called him blameless and upright. But then in one catastrophic day, Job learned all his livestock, servants and ten children had died. Then he lost his health, his friends turned on him and his wife told him to curse God and die. His response — "Though He slay me, I will trust in Him." (Job 13:15) — has inspired countless believers over the centuries to trust in God no matter what.
I honestly don’t know how well I would have responded to a “no” from God. I’m not Job, after all! But I pray that my little faith muscle grew at least a bit with His “not now.”
None of us can know what lies ahead but we can be pretty sure there will be an assortment of challenges, disappointments and heartaches. Sisters, the best — and really the only — way to successfully navigate this life is to allow our sovereign God to be in control and to have a strong, growing faith in His loving care. Even if He says “no” or “not now” to what we ask for.
Remember our promise: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Now here are some exercise tips:
*Get to know the One you have faith in. “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 Bible study at home and with fellow believers is key. Oh and incidentally, this is a shameless plug for the next RCC Bible study beginning Sept. 16! We’re studying Ephesians! Sign up and we’ll see you there!
*Memorize God’s promises to increase faith as we become more aware of who God is and what He can do for us.
*Surrender! It takes humility to let go of your will and surrender to God’s will.
*Pray. Ask God to strengthen your faith. The more we pray, the more we become faithful, and the more we become faithful, the more we pray.
*Practice, practice, practice. We need to apply what we have learned. Matthew 7:16 reads, “You will know them by their fruits.” Part of the Fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness. So we bear fruit when we actually act on our faith.
*Expect to be tested. James 1:2-4 reads, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Remember Ladies, we’re better together, whether the answer is yes, no or not now. So let’s muscle up!
Mary Ann
