Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Joshua 1:9
This is the line to a song sung by Preashea Hilliard which I heard a few years ago. The song almost immediately got my attention. It awakened in me a motivation, a drive to expect great things from God. It can be so easy to expect little from Him. We focus on the problem, the situation, the challenge, the hurt and it becomes so big in our eyes and mind that God becomes very small, and we don’t even realize it. It’s about focus really. Where we place our focus will determine our expectation. If we focus on the problem, our faith becomes weak and we can’t see ourselves overcoming that situation. But when we focus on our God instead, the situation becomes smaller and smaller until hope and faith rise up and we start expecting great things from the God who is well able, even more than able to deliver and to set us free. Interestingly, I had a conversation today with someone and towards the end of our conversation these words came out of my mouth. We had come together to agree in prayer on behalf of someone who is going through a really tough time. We agreed that we needed to stand in the gap for them. Even as we remembered the seriousness of their situation, we also remembered God’s Word that if two shall agree as touching anything they shall ask it shall be done (Matthew 18:19). Once we lifted this person and their situation up in prayer to our big and awesome God, we felt more confident, more hopeful that God would come through for this person. In short, we are expecting great things from God in this situation and in this person’s life. Here’s the interesting thing, we weren’t expecting great things from ourselves because as the Bible says: “With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). We were expecting great things from our God. He did it before for so many others including us, and He would do it again. Our focus was adjusted when we looked to God in prayer knowing only He could work this situation out on behalf of our sister in the Lord. I can’t end this without mentioning king Jehoshaphat. When he found out that a few nations had joined together to fight against Israel he became disheartened and afraid. When he turned to God in prayer, he acknowledged that they could not fight against this great army yet he ended his prayer by saying something interesting: “…nor do we know what to do but OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU” (2 Chronicles 20:12b NKJV). He was afraid but he shifted his focus to his God who again and again had fought and won battles on behalf of His people, Israel. In himself he knew he could do nothing but he expected great things from his God. And Israel did not even have to fight. They praised their God and trusted Him and He did indeed do great things for them. So, reset your focus today. Put it and leave it on God, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). That’s all God needs to start working on our behalf. Fix your focus today!
4 Comments
Melissa
28/6/2020 12:24:20 am
It's so easy to get wrapped up in feelings and focus on the problem, so natural but being born again, really gives us that new natural...trust only in God. Nothing else matters...as the songwriter says...Nothing else.
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Kerry-Ann Lewis
2/7/2020 06:46:02 pm
Yes we are human but at the end of the day as you rightly said being born again gives us a new natural. We can expect great things simply because the God we are serving, not us, is able to do it. That's our privilege. Thanks for sharing.
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Holly
11/12/2020 04:26:01 am
The Lord had laid, I am expecting great things on my heart during my devotion. I dug a little deeper and found this post and it help come back to a place deliverance amd restoration. It helped remember how big and awesome my God is and He holds all power in His hands.
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Kerry-Ann Lewis
12/12/2020 11:30:19 am
Yes God holds all power in His hands. He is able even when we are not. There is nothing too big or too hard for Him to handle for us. In Jeremiah 32:27 God says: "Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for me?" I am glad you have been encouraged Holly. I pray God continues to strengthen and keep you. Be blessed!
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October 2024
AuthorThis blog provides inspirational nuggets inspired by the Word of God and serves to encourage and motivate Christians in their Christian walk. |