My daughters LOVE to sit in my lap when they play. They are just over 1 year old but when given an opportunity, they would rather look at a book than to play with toys.
This gives me so much joy. It's hard to describe why... but their curiosity is so attractive, and they receive much happiness from looking at pictures. My spirit rejoices within me because I know this is the start of a love affair between my daughters and the word of God.
As a result, I have promised to them in my own heart to give them all the books they wish to consume, and that they should never be without a word to feed their spirits. It's a promise from me to them that they have no concept of. It's unimagined by them.
How many promises has our Heavenly Father made us because He takes joy in what (or whom) we are pursuing?
John 16:22-24(22) And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.(23) And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you.(24) Before now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.
So Jesus says that the more we sit in the lap of the Father, and the more we read His face, it will be so that we ask those things that we know He delights to give us - just as my own daughters are learning to do.
This scripture says that God gives us the answers to our prayers in order to make our joy 'full'. When we ask Him to give us things we already possess... we rob ourselves of the joy of receiving. Instead, we replace this miraculous, joyful experience with the boring task of grocery-list prayer... and perceive we've received nothing. That's a different blog... or a past one... or something...
I want my girls to be full of joy when they are in my presence. I wish to give them all they long for... yet I don't concentrate too much on providing more of what they are already holding in their hands. Nor are they asking.
Showing posts with label promise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label promise. Show all posts
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Well... well... well
I missed posting yesterday. The ice has thus far spared our electricity, but darned if it didn't take out the cable (and therefore the internet). What luck!
Gen 26:15-23
(15) And all the wells which the slaves of his father dug in the days of his father Abraham, the Philistines had stopped them and filled them with dirt.
(16) And Abimelech said to Isaac, Go from us, for you are stronger than we.
(17) And Isaac went from there and camped in Gerar Valley, and lived there.
(18) And Isaac returned and dug the wells of water which they dug in the days of his father Abraham; and the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called names to them like the names which his father had called them.
(19) And Isaac's slaves dug in the torrent-bed, and they found there a well of flowing water.
(20) And the shepherds of Gerar fought with the shepherds of Isaac, saying, The water is ours; and he called the name of the well, Contention, for they had contended with him.
(21) And they dug another well, and they also fought over it; and he called its name, Opposition.
(22) And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not fight over it; and he called its name, Broad Places. And he said, For now Jehovah has broadened for us and we shall be fruitful in the land.
(23) And he went from there to Beer-sheba.
The enemy will try to throw dirt into the wells your fathers have dug. He will disprove, dishearten, and discourage you regarding where you've been and what you thought you knew. He will tear down your faith.
That being the case, YOU will have to get out the shovel and start undoing what the enemy has done. You will start digging and because the promise is that if you seek, you will find, then you will find that torrent of living water. But it's not over there.
The more you dig the more you find, and it's not always good. Notice the names that were given to the wells above. First you dig into contention (Esek). Everyone wants to tell you that what you've found isn't real. If you withstand it, they'll tell you it's really not important, even if it is real. Jesus spoke of this when He said, "Don't cast your pearls before swine." Encourage who you can encourage, but do not turn your face either to the right or to the left. Stay focused on what God is doing in your presence.
Then comes opposition (Sitnah).
If you can withstand the contention, people will simply write you off as a loon. This is where it tends to get nasty. People might say, "He's a good guy, but he has some ideas that are just crazy." In a political world of legalistic religion, that is a binding statement. It's a death-knell for reputation. Your influence is taken away. Let's face it - if people don't think they can believe all you say, chances are they wont believe anything you say.
But if you can withstand the opposition, then God broadens the way (Rehoboth). Doors are opened - opportunities are born. All of a sudden, there is room for everyone.
Then comes the promise (Beersheba). More on this later.
Remember, this is all over Living Water.
Gen 26:15-23
(15) And all the wells which the slaves of his father dug in the days of his father Abraham, the Philistines had stopped them and filled them with dirt.
(16) And Abimelech said to Isaac, Go from us, for you are stronger than we.
(17) And Isaac went from there and camped in Gerar Valley, and lived there.
(18) And Isaac returned and dug the wells of water which they dug in the days of his father Abraham; and the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called names to them like the names which his father had called them.
(19) And Isaac's slaves dug in the torrent-bed, and they found there a well of flowing water.
(20) And the shepherds of Gerar fought with the shepherds of Isaac, saying, The water is ours; and he called the name of the well, Contention, for they had contended with him.
(21) And they dug another well, and they also fought over it; and he called its name, Opposition.
(22) And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not fight over it; and he called its name, Broad Places. And he said, For now Jehovah has broadened for us and we shall be fruitful in the land.
(23) And he went from there to Beer-sheba.
The enemy will try to throw dirt into the wells your fathers have dug. He will disprove, dishearten, and discourage you regarding where you've been and what you thought you knew. He will tear down your faith.
That being the case, YOU will have to get out the shovel and start undoing what the enemy has done. You will start digging and because the promise is that if you seek, you will find, then you will find that torrent of living water. But it's not over there.
The more you dig the more you find, and it's not always good. Notice the names that were given to the wells above. First you dig into contention (Esek). Everyone wants to tell you that what you've found isn't real. If you withstand it, they'll tell you it's really not important, even if it is real. Jesus spoke of this when He said, "Don't cast your pearls before swine." Encourage who you can encourage, but do not turn your face either to the right or to the left. Stay focused on what God is doing in your presence.
Then comes opposition (Sitnah).
If you can withstand the contention, people will simply write you off as a loon. This is where it tends to get nasty. People might say, "He's a good guy, but he has some ideas that are just crazy." In a political world of legalistic religion, that is a binding statement. It's a death-knell for reputation. Your influence is taken away. Let's face it - if people don't think they can believe all you say, chances are they wont believe anything you say.
But if you can withstand the opposition, then God broadens the way (Rehoboth). Doors are opened - opportunities are born. All of a sudden, there is room for everyone.
Then comes the promise (Beersheba). More on this later.
Remember, this is all over Living Water.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)