Scripture says Abraham “rose up early in the morning” and that “on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off” (Genesis 22:3–4). For three days Abraham walked toward Moriah with a knife, a fire, and a son he loved. He had no idea that while he was traveling, God’s provision was traveling too. That ram did not stumble onto the mountain by chance. Somewhere, days or even years before, God had marked that animal. He guided its steps across the wilderness and brought it to the exact mountain, the exact spot, at the exact Read More
Making Plans: But Did You Ask God?
I was thinking through some plans recently. Nothing major, just a few tweaks here and there. Then I heard the Holy Ghost say, “Ok, but did you ask Me?” I had to stop. The honest answer was no. I hadn’t asked God about any of it. It didn’t seem important enough to bother Him with. But that thinking reveals something. Somewhere along the way, I had decided which parts of my life were worth bringing to God and which parts I could handle on my own. The big decisions got prayer. The small ones got my own judgment. Scripture doesn’t Read More
Fully Persuaded: Confidence in the Impossible Promise
“And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.” (1 John 5:14) Let’s revisit this scripture from last week. Confidence. Assurance. The privilege of boldness. Certainty. This is not wishful thinking or hopeful guessing. This is settled knowing. Abraham walked in that kind of certainty. God promised him an heir, and then the years piled up. Abraham turned ninety-nine. Sarah was long past childbearing. Every natural Read More
God’s Plan: Consult Before You Commit
The Condition We Skip “And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.” — 1 John 5:14 We love to quote this verse. We claim the confidence, the boldness, and the promise that God hears us. But too often we rush past four words that hold the whole verse together: according to His will. God Is Not Obligated to Your Plans Here is the pattern Read More
Close the Books: Living the Love That Keeps No Record
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7) Some of us are carrying ledgers we were never meant to keep. We remember the exact words spoken in anger, the date the promise was broken, the moment we were overlooked. We file every offense away, ready to pull Read More
Deepest Recesses of Your Heart: Form or Power?
When the music stops, what’s left? When the lights go down, the band goes home, and the room goes quiet, does your worship stop with it? Matt Redman’s “The Heart of Worship” was written to bring a church back to this question. God is not after the sound. He is after the one behind it. If God searched the deepest recesses of your heart tonight, what would He find? Some of us want the form but not the power. We know the songs, the posture, and the language. We can lift our hands on cue; but Paul warned Timothy about Read More