Thursday... We think we know what to ask.

Acts 3:3 (NLT), "When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked for money."

Thursday... We think we know what to ask.

We think we are so smart. We think we know what we need so that is what we ask for.

Now, we as Christ followers have this tremendous privilege to connect with God and in that time of connection we can ask of God. Now it is good for us to give thanks. Giving thanks is always a reminder that God is so good to us and that he is a great giver. And then we need to praise him. This is focusing on who he is and what he can do. Both of these help us in our faith so we can ask with confidence.

Now over in Acts 3 it says that Peter and John were going to the Temple to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. This was a part of the tradition before Jesus came to earth to die for our sins and then be resurrected. Now prayer is more than a tradition. It is a personal connection with God. It is such a privilege. And we think we know what to ask God for. We know what we need.

As they were coming in, just outside of the Temple there was this man who had been lame from birth and who was carried in to his place in order to ask for money so he could eat. And Acts 3:3 ((NLT) says, "When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked for money." And that is a big part of our asking, isn't it? Money is so important to us, isn't it? That's why we work, that's why we have parents, haha! Of course we are always glad to help. So asking God for money is a major part of our prayer.

We think we know what to ask.

But this story doesn't stop there. Verses 4-6 says, "Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, 'Look at us!' The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, 'I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get us and walk!'"

I'm not sure what this man thought. Maybe, "But I asked for money."

Now it is important to know that Peter and John had been with Jesus all through his ministry, all the way up to his going up to heaven in a cloud. They saw what Jesus could do.

The last verse in John's book that he wrote of his time with Jesus, John 21:25 says, "Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would have been written." Yes they knew what he could do and they also knew that God wanted to use them to do unbelievable things so (vss. 7-8) "Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them."

Now that is the God we serve. There is so much he wants to do for us, with us and through us. Reading through the Bible we see so much that God wants to give us if we would only ask. Maybe we need to go a step further in our asking. Maybe God's plan for us is more than money.

Yes, there is so much he wants to do for us, with us and through us. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Monday... He did it by Himself

Isaiah 44:24b (AMP), "I am the Lord, Maker of all things. Who alone stretches out the heavens, Who spreads out the earth by Myself." Monday... He did it by Himself. Many have a tendency to think very highly of themselves and what they can do. Oh we do have great ability but we are not the source. Yes it is important to have self-confidence but we are limited. The prophet Isaiah in 44:9-10 (NLT) says, "How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don't know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god - an idol that cannot help him one bit?" Now later in verse 24 (AMP) he writes, "For the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb says, 'I am the Lord, Maker of all things, Who alone stretches out the heavens, Who spreads out the earth by Myself.'" I love that. "By Myself." Now we do need confidence but we are foolish to ma...

Friday... We have this hope of expectancy.

Psalm 5:3 (NLT), "Listen to my voice in the morning Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." Friday... We have this hope of expectancy. Now David found a great way to start his day. He says in Psalm 5:1-3 (NLT), "O LORD, hear me as I pray." And that is a great place to start. It really is. Morning sunrise He goes on, "Listen to my cry for help, my King, my God, for I pray to no one but you." And that is so important. We don't try to pump ourselves up by ourself. No, we pray to no one but you, God, my LORD, my King. Now this relationship with God is so, so very important. And then David says, "Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you" And that is so great. And then he says, "and wait expectantly." Yes, we have this hope of expectancy. We are experienced. That is what a relationship with God and a moment by moment connection does. It makes a difference in our daily wa...

Friday... Yes, we can know this to be true.

Psalm 12:6 (NLT), "The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over." Friday... Yes, we can know this to be true. Maybe this is what you want to say in this day in which we live. Psalm 12:1-2 (MSG) says, "Quick, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, all the friends I depend on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues." Do you ever feel that way?" Have you found that to be true? Well David the writer of this Psalm continues and says in verse 6 something to encourage us, to lift us up, to give us hope. Psalm 12:6 (NLT) says, "The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over." The Message Paraphrase says verses 6-8 this way, "God's words are pure words, pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of his word-kiln, pure on earth as well as in heaven, God, keep ...

Todays Beginning

Search This Blog