11/25/2016
Please join me today as I contemplate God's ability to do those things we ask of Him, and the faith it requires for us to trust that He not only can but will do them.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
This morning as I read Ephesians 3 in its entirety, I was thrilled and strengthened by Paul's words, and his humility, but also by his assurance that God is not only capable of doing those hard things we ask of Him, but also far greater things that we can't begin to imagine. He is beyond our ability to fathom in not only who He is, but in what He does, and provides for us... His love reaches heights we can only brush up against, and that through His grace, He has given us a taste of this love within ourselves... a love we often call our own.
Sometimes I think back on the prayers I have offered up that contained seemingly impossible requests of God. I am embarrassed to even write the words "seemingly impossible" because this reveals the doubt I had at that moment in God's ability to answer those prayers.
Even as I was praying them I would feel a twinge of doubt that was the antithesis of a faith characterized by a grain of mustard seed. That wisp of doubt served to reveal a chink that existed in my spiritual armor; even in its fleeting nature my wounded faith was evidence of my subconsciously questioning God's ability; In this way I had doubted His desire to provide, and His unsearchable love for us... And in such moments I defined the limits of my own faith.
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
James 1:6-8 ESV
This morning let’s pray that God forgives us the moments of doubt we have had in our lives, and that He strengthens our faith in Him. Let’s ask that our offered prayers come with the full expectation that He can provide those things, and let’s pray for and a complete trust in His will as it pertains to each of our requests. His will and His love for us works together to determine the shape of His answer to our desires and in that let’s pray for unbridled faith. Let’s not leave our prayer closet wondering if He will give us what we asked, but with great expectation.
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.”
Psalm 5:3 NIV
Jesus, even as you prayed "Yet not My will, but Yours be done." Let our prayers be offered, and our faith be unbound, so that God's will for us will be realized in each of our lives.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for answering our prayers, and for often delivering on them in ways that far exceed our greatest expectations. Thank you Lord for strengthening us in our faith by revealing your will to us, and allowing us to pray in conjunction with it, and then to wait expectantly upon you. Holy Father, don’t let a glimmer of doubt that the dark one tempts us with serve to rob us, through our unstable ways, of the promise we have in you. Help us as we pray, and as we wait, to remain firm in our faithful expectation of your provision. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us and desires only good for us. Holy are you who works all things, and every prayer, exceedingly for our good. Hear our prayers in their truest form, never withholding a shred of what our heart desires out of fear that you might be unable to provide it, nor having a moment’s doubt that your will might fail to do what you have promised us. Show us your perfect will father, that we will be able to pray in it, and by asking in this way, have what we desire in you. Praised be your name father for those things you have given us before the words were able to leave our mouths, and may all glory be yours for this, and the answered prayers that are heard and witnessed by those around us so that they might believe. Demonstrate your goodness Father, and let all men be blessed, increased in their faith, and have their expectations solidified in this way.
Hear this our prayer today Abba, and let every man, woman, and child, say… Amen!
“”I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.””
John 11:42-44 ESV
“And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:23-24 ESV
Rich Forbes