All GOD needs is your obedience

"In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father" 

Mat 5:16

GOD wants to perform miracles through us!  I sometimes struggle with this concept, because I think that the sin in my life precludes me from being used by GOD.  I think that I need to be more 'righteous' or I think that I don't deserve to see miracles like that!

I was thinking these exact thoughts recently when GOD spoke to me and said "Tim, you don't perform the miracle, I do."  This shook me for two reasons:  firstly, in not expecting miracles due to my own faults I was assuming that I would be doing the healing.  Secondly, GOD truly wants to use us in our brokeness.

Why?  Why would GOD use me when I am broken?

FOCUS ON TODAY

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Matthew 6:34

 

After having seen Louie Giglio's Idescribable several times, I am now reading the book by the same title that he co-authored with Matt Redman.  I was awed by the DVD, and I'm even more awed by the book!  It amazed me that GOD has created so much, yet still wants a personal relationship with me.  

With the recent space jump, by Felix Baumgartner, I was struck by the amount of time, energy, resources and money that must have been invested into getting one man to the ends of our atmosphere.  Hundreds of people, millions of dollars, expensive machinery and technology, so that one man could be elevated to 39km above the earth's surface - only to jump back down again.

It seems huge to us - because it is huge to us.  But to GOD, it's nothing major at all.

MANNA FOR TODAY

 

"You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus."

 Phil 4:19

It seems that one of my biggest faith challenges is putting my Faith in GOD for my everyday needs.  I'm good at trusting Him for the future, but when it arrives... today... I struggle.  I keep thinking that I need to make ends meet, I need to invest my strength and I need to take care of today.  I think that GOD will take care of tomorrow, and I will take care of today.   The result is that I feel anxious, unsettled and cannot rest in GOD's presence.

THE POWER OF YAHWEH

"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

John 14:14 

 

In the early Hebrew texts we read of two distinct names for GOD: Elohim and Yahweh.  If you look in your Bible at Genesis 1, you will see that there are no references to LORD (Yahweh), only GOD (Elohim).  Then, if you turn to Genesis 2, there is the introduction of LORD (Yahweh), and it's a different creation story to Genesis 1.  This is because GOD had revealed himself to two different groups of people who eventually united under the Hebrew nation.  It's not because they worshipped different GODs, but because they realised that they worshipped the same GOD.

WORSHIP WHEN PLANS CHANGE

"He must become greater; I must become less."

John the Baptist (John 3:30)

So here I sit, with 15 minutes left to board a flight for Durban.  Everything is on track; for once - no delays, all is going according to schedule.  Except, I left my wallet (and ID) at home.  My first response?  Panic!  The next flight is in five hours time.  I frantically phoned my lift to check the car, just to confirm that it wasn't there.  I then phoned my wife, who confirmed that my wallet was indeed at home; 20 minutes one-way...

As the realisation sinks in that I've woken up at 04:30 all for nothing, I am reminded of GOD's overriding control of everything.  My mind fights it and tries to remind me that the situation that I'm in is my fault, not GOD's.  I should worry - that's natural!  I should blame myself - that's what any sane person should do!

But then the Spirit reminds me that GOD is greater than my absent mindedness, His presence shines through the holes of my inadequacies.  I don't need to ask GOD to make a plan, because He has already made a plan.  My plan was to board the 06:15 flight, because I had meetings at 08:00.  My plan was spend the morning in Durban.  My plan should've been to remember my wallet.

GOD's plan?  For me to worship Him.  That's all I have to do.  Worry about a missed flight?  Certainly not.  Worry about missed meetings?  Certainly not!  GOD wants me to relax and rest in His presence.  He has His plans, and those are more important than mine.  It's that simple.