This verse tells us about one object of the immeasurable power of God. As a believer, I have access to this power. This passage doesn’t give a lot of specifics. I know God does this on purpose. I walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). I don’t always get to see the specifics. I simply need to ask God as Paul did to learn “what is the immeasurable greatness of His power”. Knowing how great God is, this power is amazing.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your immeasurable power to those of us who believe. Please help me to claim that power in humility that I might serve You better.
This passage tells us the worth of wisdom and understanding. We live in a materialistic society that often values money and possessions over wisdom.
I know God is truth. Everything He gives is true including His word. The more I seek God’s way, the more depth I find in life. Money can buy some fun thing and I need it to live. However, I would rather amass the knowledge and understanding that comes from studying God’s wisdom. I have found more depth of friendship, more peace, and more satisfaction in life when I fill my life with God. I just need more consistency in seeking true wisdom. I’m so glad God does not give up on me.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing wisdom and telling me how much it is worth. Thank You for Your patience with me when I want to go my own way. Please help me to seek true wisdom and send me reminders when I seek my own.
I have found myself being very nostalgic recently. It has been a year since I received a diagnosis of DCIS. Those were hard days. I had decisions to make while feeling overwhelmed. This next week marks one year since I crashed after getting my first opinion. While I am not a fan of crashing (I have done it more times than I like to admit), I am so glad that I got a second opinion. I felt so much better about my decision after the calm atmosphere at CTCA in Zion, IL. I greatly appreciate the expert care I received there.
God allowed what I would consider a crooked and rocky path last year to show me how He can make my paths straight. I had to pray my way through repetitious thoughts of “I don’t want to deal with this”. By God’s grace, He kept showing His love time and again as He led me through the situation. I am so glad this part of my story is past. While I will always have some of the difficult memories and I bear the scar of surgery, I do not want to feel sorry for any of it. God gave so much grace. I continue to pray that God’s hand is visible in my life. Whatever path God leads me to walk in the future.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making my paths straight through tough times. Thank You that I can lean on You. Please help me to continue to submit to Your plans. I want others to see Your hand in my life.
I was at CTCA for my one month post-surgery follow up this week. God has sent many blessings along the way, despite the challenges of surgery. At this point, I have been “released” and do not need any more treatment.
I still can’t say specifically why God chose this journey for me, but I know God has a plan to bring honor to Himself. He will equip me to do His will. There is nothing better in life than living for God.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for all of the blessings and for giving me strength to endure the challenges. Please help me to live the purpose You have for me.
God’s grace is an amazing gift. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us that God’s grace gives us all sufficiency…in all things…at all times. All is a big concept in a little word. All or nothing is rarely true – it IS true when talking about God. Only God can be that consistent.
When times are tough it can feel like we don’t have enough. Worry and fear set in and we don’t respond well or do well in trials. I want to live this verse especially in the next week as I have pre-op appointments and surgery. There will be plenty of challenges, but my God is bigger than the challenges and my fervent prayer is that God’s name will be glorified through my life.
Dear Heavenly Father, please show Yourself strong in the upcoming week. I want to see and show others that Your grace will give all sufficiency in all things at all times. I know You will as I give my circumstances to You.
This week for me was loaded with information and a few decisions. Some I knew ahead of time, but some of the information caused me to rethink some decisions. I knew that, ultimately, I have to feel comfortable with my decision. I also knew that no decision is perfect. No matter what I chose, there would be pluses and minuses. I had prayed ahead of time that I would make a wise and appropriate decision.
God promises to lead us and establish our plans. His way is the best. As I submit myself to Him, God will lead me along the path He lays out. I have confidence that the decision I made was led by God. There is no greater peace.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me through another week of medical decisions. Thank You for the help you sent through CTCA. Please give me strength for the weeks ahead.
As I continue on my journey of being diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer, peace can seem illusive. When I allow my mind to go down path A, B or C there are so many variables I can worry about. At this point I am waiting for the results of an MRI. I do not know what path I will walk down. I need to wait for the next step, not think about 3 steps down the road.
A friend of mine talked about claiming peace. I think we get stuck on God giving it – thinking somehow He is going to miraculously make us feel good. God promises to give peace. I think we need to remember to take it. God doesn’t force His free gift of salvation on us. He isn’t going to force us to take the peace He offers. I definitely need the help of the Holy Spirit to make the wise choice. But I shouldn’t blame God when I have chosen to be anxious. That choice is NOT God’s fault. That choice is mine.
As I work at taking one day at a time, I am going to ask God’s help to claim the peace He so readily offers. Peace is a great gift from a loving Heavenly Father. It is mine for the taking.
Dear Heavenly Father, my mind and heart are so prone to anxiety. Please forgive me for my lack of trust. Please help me to claim the peace You so freely give. Thank you for such a great gift that is mine for the taking.
I don’t think any of us likes suffering – of any kind. The reality is that suffering happens. The Bible reminds us that it will. While suffering is not what we want, God uses it to shape and mold His people (James 1). The pain of the suffering is worth knowing what will come from it.
It doesn’t matter how great the pressure is. What really matters is where the pressure lies – whether it comes between you and God, or whether it presses you nearer His heart.
-Hudson Taylor
I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages.
-Charles Spurgeon
God has a purpose and never makes a mistake. We will survive the suffering in this life for a greater purpose in the next.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for having a purpose for me in suffering. Please give the strength to endure and encourage others in their own troubles.
I fear the concept of truth has been taking hits for many years. We confuse opinion with truth. We have to form opinions – it is in our nature, but I think we need to be careful about the basis for our opinions.
One thing I know for sure is that Jesus, Who is God, came to earth to be born as a baby. He grew up to die to save us from our sins. Many in the world today do not know the truth of Jesus. This has caused us to be at war with each other. If we were to focus on and cling to Jesus Christ, we could stop the warring. Jesus is the only way to peace.
I enjoy Christmas songs that remind us of this truth. One is the song “Glorious Light” by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Ian Hannah.
Glorious light! see the dawn of Salvation: Angels in white fill the skies with their wondrous song; Awakening earth with news of His birth; Join the hymn of the highest heavens!
Long has the world fought the song of the angels. Heavenly music is drowned by a warring world; Yet hope burns a light, that shatters the night; Turn your heart to the call of glory!
Glory to God in the highest! Peace to men on earth. Come and adore Him with wonder – Christ Lord of Heaven and earth.
Keith & Kristyn Getty and Ian Hannah
As I have said before, I pray you know Jesus. He is the only way to have peace and joy.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus. Thank You for the beautiful music many have written about Your Son. Please open eyes to the truth of Who Jesus truly is. Please help me to be an instrument of that truth.
Pleading in Prayer 