There is No Limit

Sometimes I feel limited in what I can do. But I must understand that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. If God has called me to do something, He will supply the strength that I need. I will never give up because something seems beyond my power to accomplish. In my weakness, I shall realize His strength.  

I love pansies. They bring color and beauty in the coldness of a winter morning. Sometimes, when it is freezing, they are shriveled and withdrawn. As I pour warm water on them, they open to the winter morning and stand strong in the frigid air. I might be weary and shriveled, but I still stand, and wait for the warmth of His Spirit to bring new life to whatever task He has given me.

And as He pours His power into me, I realize that in Him all things are possible.

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

(Matthew 17:20)

At His Cross

I must always remember that I am just an instrument. It is not my place to make things happen. God is ultimately in control. What I must do now is work hard to do the work He has called me to do. The things that have hindered me from yielding completely to His will must not hinder me anymore.

Where does this complete surrender begin? It begins in me. I am the only one that I can make surrender. I am the only one that can allow Him to crucify me. I am the only one who can experience the victory of His resurrection through the selflessness of His cross. I must lay down all that I am.... my worries, my burdens, my struggles, my thoughts, my desires, and all of me. I must surrender all of me. It is ridiculous for me to bear my own burden when He has given me the perfect place to lay them down... at His Cross.

If I am to lay all this at His cross, what does it really mean for me to take up His cross and follow Him? The cross that is given to me is the way that I discover how to crucify my own desires. It is only my own self which hinders the flow of His life through me. I come to His cross to lay down my own cross and to find His. It is in this surrender that I discover His power lifting me from the selfishness of my life into His life of peace and joy.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

Hold Fast!

Whatever problem comes my way, I will face it with His peace. I will remain assured that the Lord is with me, and He will carry me. I will not turn my back on what He has already accomplished, or forget what He has promised will come. No matter the challenge, I will meet it with faith in His faithfulness flowing through me. His love and strength will carry me to the end. It is the last few miles which reveal the depth of His claim on my life. I refuse to fail Him, because He will never fail me. 

Have I had prayers that have never been answered because I did not hold fast? Why did I give up? Maybe I thought it was too late, and I must act for myself. Perhaps I thought God would never act, and I must try to make something happen instead of waiting for His best. I want to always hold on with courage, and faith in Him. Not one of my prayers or cries for help goes unheard. The Lord hears, and will aid me in every way possible. If I will listen and hold fast, and not try to humanly solve problems without Him, I will discover the treasure of a deeper faith. He will unlock treasures that others who have given up have never received.

The Lord aids me in every possible way. If I bravely face my problems, and hold fast to the promise of His answered prayer, I will discover His peace. If I follow in the way He directs me, I will find success in every area of my life. This morning I joyfully wait for His promise in His time. I will not give up. His presence is with me, and I will live with Him in control. There is peace in letting go and letting Him handle what I cannot handle.. So I have let go, and in Him, I have joy and peace.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3).

I Find Me

"I'm so glad, Lord, you accept me in my frailty. I am who I am with you. There is just you and just me. There is no image I have to keep. There is no agenda that has to be met. There is no perfection that I can maintain. You see beyond all my limitations, and you love me still. You always see my potential, and never my failures. You know what you have created me to be, and that is not something that I must struggle to receive. I am a new creature in you because of who you are. Not because of who I am. The idea that the you love me with an everlasting love is beyond my human capability to conceive. It just is. And you just are. And in that wonder, I find me."

In Quiet is Strength

"End your hurried pace" He speaks to my tired heart, "and find rest in me. Rest quietly and wait for me. Wait until my power fills you once more. In the quiet with me, your strength will return, and will remain. Many believe that my strength is seen in action. But my greatest strength is given to you in that quiet moment of time with me. It is true that in the quiet times of refreshing you will find confidence and strength to rise up again and fight your giants. But in this moment find rest and know that I am God."

Now I Trust in Faith!

Faith is what I trust in now!

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is confidence. Assurance is trust.

What do I hope for? I have confidence it will be provided. What do I have assurance and trust in which I cannot see or feel or touch? I have trust in God's faithfulness to me. Hence, I can be faithful to have confidence in His faithfulness to provide for all my needs. I will trust and not doubt. Even though my eyes and ears tell me, "no way", I believe because my heart tells me "yes". I know in whom I trust, and I believe He is able to keep me safe in His loving arms.

Stepping Out

I must pray daily for His faith. He is trustworthy, and I must be faithworthy. Faith is the greatest requirement to see His hand move. To have greater faith, I must pray and have that close communion with Him. In that time with Him, I learn that I can truly trust Him in every moment and every struggle. I learn that because I trust Him, my faith brings forth His work in my life. I can step out in faith knowing that He will provide all that is needed.

Faith is my weapon to overcome all that might come against me in this life. It is my power to accomplish His will, and in doing so, learn that He is constant and trustworthy in every moment of my life.

Not only prayer is needed. "Faith without works is dead." I must reach out in His name to fuel my faith. As I step out in faith, I realize my helplessness, and I turn to Him for power to accomplish what I cannot. And then my faith must grow!

Faith is His gift to me. My works is my gift to Him. I will not grow tired in serving Him. I know that once I have done His will, I will receive His promise.

Perfect Love No Fear

It is impossible for love and fear to exist beside each other. It is one or the other. Evil may come against me, but love is the powerful force which defeats it.

There is a human love which can be tormented by fear, but there is a perfect love which conquers fear and trusts in God's faithfulness to overcome all the I face.

The only way to obtain this perfect Love that conquers fear is to have Christ in my heart. If His love is growing in me, I learn more of His perfect love and its ability to conquer my fears. I can only banish my fears with His presence.

I will pray to Him, and think of Him. I will share His love, and dwell on Him instead of my fears. His perfect love and power will rise in my heart until no fear can claim my mind. I will remain strong in His perfect love that casts out fear.

Upward to Your Promise

Don't dwell on the little problems that come up each day. Recognize each struggle for what it is: a lesson to carry you further to the goal. When you climb a mountain and concentrate on the hardship of each step, you never see the beautiful reward waiting for you at the summit.

Regard each step up your mountain as a springboard toward the top, and don't dwell on each pain. Keep your eyes on your goal, and then as you climb, each step will become another solid foundation of growth. If you consider each step as a means to carry you to the promise at the peak, your climb will not bring despair, but great hope.

The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Habakkuk 3:19

Abundant Life

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Do you see God as being generous? He is! He gives abundant life for earth, and abundant life for eternity. This is the reason He came. To give His life for souls! To give us life instead of death! To give us victory instead of defeat! To speak peace instead of turmoil! To bring rest in the midst of the storms of life!

Jesus Christ came so that we may know overflowing life in Him. He gave all for that purpose. He sacrificed all He was for all the ugliness that we are. In His gift to us He becomes the vine that empowers. We are the branches. When the life of the vine flows into ours, we bring forth new growth! We flourish in His presence. Our being becomes one with His.

Whatever you might face today, He has already given victory. He is Peace. Joy. Strength. Power. Healing. Patience. Forgiveness.... He is everything you cannot be alone. But when you are one with Him, He is all you lack. His Life flowing through your veins is all you need. So look to Him, the Author of your faith, and take courage. It is only in Christ that you can have the greatest peace, strength, power, healing, patience, forgiveness. But you must live with Him, and in Him. Then and only then will His life accomplish the miraculous in your life.

This is abundant life!  This is your purpose, and your promise. This is the reason He came. For you.