2So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife.
4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.
Genesis 16:2-4
Abram received a promise from God but the situation around him led him to a lesser blessing than the one God intended from the beginning. He and Sarai agreed to have sex with Hagar, Sarai's servant. They bore a child but Sarai despised her. When we choose to do it our way instead of waiting on God we create hardships for ourselves and all those around us. We really don't know what we are asking for.
When God says to trust Him with all our heart, mind, strength and soul, He also tells us not to lean on our own understanding... it's too minute and corrupt to see the good things He has in store. The fact is when we try to do things in our own, everything we do is based on me. There's no way we can do Godly work outside of His direction, it's just impossible. I need to base each decision in my life based on His Word.
Father God, thank You for direction even when our ears get in the way. Help me to listen to Your voice when my eyes betray me. Help me to rely on Your touch when my emotions deter me from You. Thank You wonderful counselor for companionship. In the most wonderful name I pray, Amen!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Choose the Better
17But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
18Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
Genesis 12:17-18
Abram tried to avoid being killed by pretending Sarai was his sister instead of his wife; because she was very beautiful and the king would want her for himself. But God is so much greater than anything we can plan or dream of. What happened here is that God inflicted hardship to the pharaoh and prevented adultery from happening. God was in control from the very beginning and would've carried out justice without any of our meddling. We need to trust God even when everything we see is against us.
I need to learn how to resist temptation and stand firm. I get pushed around by my own insecurities way too much and I allow 2nd and 3rd options to step in instead of God's best. This new season will be a milestone in my faith. It is because I choose to no matter how tough the distractions if life are.
Father God, thank You for blessing me with my hands, feet, mind, heart, ears... everything. But I know it's beyond receiving these gifts, it's about using them properly for kingdom purposes. Help me Lord to see and leap. In Your Son's mighty name I pray, Amen!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
18Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
Genesis 12:17-18
Abram tried to avoid being killed by pretending Sarai was his sister instead of his wife; because she was very beautiful and the king would want her for himself. But God is so much greater than anything we can plan or dream of. What happened here is that God inflicted hardship to the pharaoh and prevented adultery from happening. God was in control from the very beginning and would've carried out justice without any of our meddling. We need to trust God even when everything we see is against us.
I need to learn how to resist temptation and stand firm. I get pushed around by my own insecurities way too much and I allow 2nd and 3rd options to step in instead of God's best. This new season will be a milestone in my faith. It is because I choose to no matter how tough the distractions if life are.
Father God, thank You for blessing me with my hands, feet, mind, heart, ears... everything. But I know it's beyond receiving these gifts, it's about using them properly for kingdom purposes. Help me Lord to see and leap. In Your Son's mighty name I pray, Amen!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Bare Minimum
And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious word which were falling from His lips;..."
... And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as then heard these things...
Luke 4:21-22,28
There's a contrast in the people's reaction here. They were speaking well of Him at first because Jesus was telling them what they wanted to hear. In the second passage the people were outraged and wanted to throw Him off the cliff. Why? Because He told them that this Good News wasn't for them, only a select few because of their hearts.
When I read this I can't help but to think what I would've done here. After saying the accepting part of His message I would've stopped there. But He didn't stop, He continued to deliver the message in it's entirety and risked death. I look at my calling and ministry, at what point am I stopping? At what point do I bail because it's getting a little too hot? Am I spreading the good news the way He wants me to or am I just verbalizing the easy part? Unfortunately I'm just doing bare minimum. I need to go that extra mile, the most important mile to reach God's lost sheep.
Father God, thank You for going all the way to reach Your children. Please forgive me for doing less than what I was called to do. I pray Lord God that I don't stop and plow through the tough situations to fulfill my calling. In the moat wonderful name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
... And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as then heard these things...
Luke 4:21-22,28
There's a contrast in the people's reaction here. They were speaking well of Him at first because Jesus was telling them what they wanted to hear. In the second passage the people were outraged and wanted to throw Him off the cliff. Why? Because He told them that this Good News wasn't for them, only a select few because of their hearts.
When I read this I can't help but to think what I would've done here. After saying the accepting part of His message I would've stopped there. But He didn't stop, He continued to deliver the message in it's entirety and risked death. I look at my calling and ministry, at what point am I stopping? At what point do I bail because it's getting a little too hot? Am I spreading the good news the way He wants me to or am I just verbalizing the easy part? Unfortunately I'm just doing bare minimum. I need to go that extra mile, the most important mile to reach God's lost sheep.
Father God, thank You for going all the way to reach Your children. Please forgive me for doing less than what I was called to do. I pray Lord God that I don't stop and plow through the tough situations to fulfill my calling. In the moat wonderful name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
