Unbelief 

 Streams in the Desert

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (Rom. 3:3).

I think that I can trace every scrap of sorrow in my life to simple unbelief. How could I be anything but quite happy if I believed always that all the past is forgiven, and all the present furnished with power, and all the future bright with hope because of the same abiding facts which do not change with my mood, do not stumble because I totter and stagger at the promise through unbelief, but stand firm and clear with their peaks of pearl cleaving the air of Eternity, and the bases of their hills rooted unfathomably in the Rock of God. Mont Blanc does not become a phantom or a mist because a climber grows dizzy on its side.
--James Smetham

Is it any wonder that, when we stagger at any promise of God through unbelief, we do not receive it? Not that faith merits an answer, or in any way earns it, or works it out; but God has made believing a condition of receiving, and the Giver has a sovereign right to choose His own terms of gift.
--Rev. Samuel Hart

Unbelief says, "How can such and such things be?" It is full of "hows"; but faith has one great answer to the ten thousand "hows," and that answer is--GOD! 
--C. H. M.

No praying man or woman accomplishes so much with so little expenditure of time as when he or she is praying.

If there should arise, it has been said--and the words are surely true to the thought of our Lord Jesus Christ in all His teaching on prayer—if there should arise ONE UTTERLY BELIEVING MAN, the history of the world might be changed.

Will YOU not be that one in the providence and guidance of God our Father?
--A. E. McAdam

Prayer without faith degenerates into objectless routine, or soulless hypocrisy. Prayer with faith brings Omnipotence to back our petitions. Better not pray unless and until your whole being responds to the efficacy of your supplication. When the true prayer is breathed, earth and heaven, the past and the future, say Amen. And Christ prayed such prayers.
--P. C. M.

Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.

Strength in Waiting.....Dr. Charles Stanley

Strength in Waiting

Dr. Charles Stanley

Isaiah 40:28-31

God has a purpose and plan for your life, and His timing is perfect. Sometimes He answers our prayers with "yes" or "no." But at other times, He says "not now"--when that is the case, we can avail ourselves of the rich rewards that come when we wait.

One very practical blessing is that God strengthens us as we lean on Him during delays. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that "those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." We are given the metaphor of an eagle with wind beneath his wings. It is interesting to note that the words "wind" and "spirit" come from the same Greek word--pneuma. The spirit of God lifts us up, and His energy and strength sustain us as we abide in Him.

When we are facing a difficult decision, the real key is learning to wait. There is no verse of Scripture that tells us to take control and fight our own battles. God is the one who fights them on our behalf (2 Chron. 20:15). We are to be patient and trust in Him.

When David faced his greatest battles, he waited upon the Lord. God delivered him from destruction and set his feet on solid ground. (Ps. 40:1-3) He will do the same for you. When you abide in Him, He gives supernatural energy to accomplish the things He requires of you--His Spirit does for you what you cannot do for yourself.

In reading through the Scriptures, we see that every time one of God's saints gains a victory, he or she is waiting and trusting in the Lord. You can likewise experience triumph in your life. When you have the omnipotent Creator of the universe acting on your behalf, you can't lose.

Waiting for God’s Best

Waiting for God’s Best
SARAH GERINGER

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

When I prepped my day planner for the new year, a surprising fact hit me: I had been waiting in prayer for 18 months.

A year and a half earlier, I would have never imagined I could pray that long without getting solid answers. But God had called me to pray for a specific person during that period, and I had persisted for over 500 days.

The first few months, I was overwhelmed.

God called me to obey Him one day at a time, without understanding all the details. Every day, I was instructed to enter my private prayer closet and lift up the person.

As I persisted, God gave me more details. He showed me how this person was struggling. My prayers were making a difference even though I couldn’t see specifics. I thought I was finished about six months in, but God wanted me to pray longer, harder and with greater fervor.

I continued in this prayer journey, expecting an answer any day. Impatience tempted me. Frustration called my name. Yet God wanted me to be faithful. He asked me to trust His sovereign, wide-scope view of things greater than I could imagine — if I would simply wait on Him to act (instead of taking action myself).

A year in, I felt more peace and certainty. Surely, I’d receive an answer soon. However, God instructed me to pray on and on. God was teaching me about desiring Him more than answers to my prayers.

Those 18 months were a testing period of waiting for God’s best. In prior seasons of my life, I have succumbed to temptation and chosen second-best.

There have been times when I resisted for a while, and even asked God for help, but took a shortcut when I felt overwhelmed. Each time, I paid a price for running ahead of God’s best.

Over and over, the Israelites also decided to run ahead of God’s best for them. They grew weary of waiting for God to fulfill His promises. They wondered if God had their best in mind, or if He could be trusted at all. But Isaiah offered them hope:

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4).

Isaiah wanted to elevate the Israelites’ view of God so they would learn to trust Him more. No other god can do what God can do. No one can perceive, hear or see God’s plan until He reveals it. Only He knows what is best because no one else compares to Him.

When we understand God is good, we can trust He has good in store for us. When we know Him as the sovereign Lord over our prayers, plans and hopes, we can believe He wants our best. When we wait for God to act on our behalf, we receive the fullness of His blessings.

Maybe you are struggling to wait for God’s best. Everything in your heart, mind or flesh may be crying out for a shortcut — one that will relieve the pressures of life right now.

When you’re tempted to run ahead of God’s best, He’s never further away than an arrow prayer. Help me. Save me. Comfort me. God loves to hear your short, sweet prayers of trust. As you lean on God instead of your own desires, He’ll act on your behalf.

Though you can’t hear, perceive or see God’s master plan for your life, you can trust Him today in your struggles. Surrender all your hopes and desires to Him. Keep praying for as long as it takes. His presence will be an incomparable comfort if you choose to wait.

Lord, I believe You have Your best in mind for me. When my desires crave what is second-best, remind me to cry out to You. Help me trust that if I wait for You to act, I’ll see You reveal an amazing, custom-made plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 37:7a, “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.” (NLT)

Isaiah 33:2, “But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.” (NLT)

3 More Habits of Happy People

3 More Habits of Happy People
by Debbie Holloway

In a previous devotional, I mentioned the first 3 "Habits of Happy People" according to a list I recently found. I figured I would share more Happiness Tips and continue to measure how the wisdom fits into a Christian worldview. So, let’s look at three more habits of happy people…

1. Express gratitude for what you have

Gratitude, or thankfulness, is encouraged throughout Scripture. Just a few verses espousing this attitude include:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).

Followers of Christ are meant to be selfless, other-focused, and God-focused, not wrapped up in our own temporary discontentment. Noticing the blessings we do have, and expressing gratitude for them, helps us remember the big picture: we have already been given the ultimate gift of life through Christ!

2. Dream big

The most important thing the Bible tells us about ourselves is that our identity in Christ, and our status as God’s creations and children, should underscore everything we do. Do you think of yourself as a slave to sin, or to a static, hum-drum life? Well, Paul says:

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17).

Co-heirs. Sharing in his glory! According to Christ, God notices the fate of sparrows – so how much more does he care for the hopes and dreams of his sons and daughters? Christ also says that our faith is strong enough to move mountains, and that we will accomplish greater things for his Kingdom than even he did during his ministry. If that doesn’t say “dream big!” – I don’t know what does!

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff

Not only do the Scriptures encourage us to let go of anxiety over “small stuff” – but God even wants us to relinquish worry over BIG stuff! Consider this passage from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Intersecting Faith and Life: Is active gratitude part of your daily routine? What about anxiety? Is a skewed perspective of yourself limiting your potential?

What the Book of Judges Can Teach the Church Today

What the Book of Judges Can Teach the Church Today
By Chara Donahue

It is a frightening thing to know that churches can grow and find success not because they are close to the heart of God, but because they have learned through tradition and good business how to build an enterprise. The time of the judges was full of rising and falling, disaster and success, but there is a constant refrain of people forsaking the one true God for a false idol, which knowledge, business, and best practices can become. The church and its leaders can never forget where true life comes from. They must remember the prayer Jesus prayed for his church: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

One of the most striking and beautiful characteristics of the church is her diversity. She reaches across the world and makes disciples of all nations. While the global church may be made up of every race, sex, and ability, many local churches struggle with homogeneity. Another problem is when churches welcome others who are different, hoping that they will assimilate and adhere to their church’s customs, which may be outside of what Jesus asks of his people.

When building teams or choosing leadership, churches must remember that a body is composed of many parts, and each has their particular function.

In Judges 3 it was Ehud’s differing characteristic that enabled him to be Israel’s deliverer from Eglon, the king of Moab. Ehud was a left-handed strategist who was born into a right-handed society. While this difference is slight, it was vital to his success as a judge. Ehud was underestimated because he was different, and we lose strength as the church when we demand that people think, act, and look the same. We should all stand firm on the Word of God by following his commandments as the Spirit enables, seeking unity amidst diversity. We are at our best in glorifying God when the different parts of the church body function as a whole.

If you have never read the book of Judges, today is a good day to start. Far beyond the paltry dramas you find on Netflix or Twitter; not only will you find the full stories to the lessons mentioned here, you will also read of Samson, the rash vow of Japheth, a tragically slain concubine, and many more. Judges reveals the brokenness of humanity apart from the Spirit interceding. These stories clearly show that what the church needs most is Jesus’ rule and reign.

A Prayer for the Lost

A Prayer for the Lost
by Debbie McDaniel

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Dear God,

You know our hearts, you hear our prayers, and care about all that concerns us. You understand the burden we carry and how we want, more than anything, to see our loved ones come to you. Help us to remember that you love them more than we ever could. And you desire to extend your great love and forgiveness, your mercy and hope.

Thank you that nothing is too difficult for you. Thank you that your power is unlimited and you came to set the captives free. Thank you that you wait, arms open, for the prodigal to return, that you look for his arrival to lavishly celebrate that he’s come home.

We praise you for you are Redeemer and Rescuer, Savior and Lord. We know and believe that there’s no pit so deep that your love can’t reach us still. We understand that your mercies are new every morning, and your faithfulness is great. 

Lord, we ask that you would halt the plans of the enemy over these we love as we bring them before you right now. We pray that his schemes be demolished and that your plans for good, for a future and hope, would prevail. Would you open blind eyes that they might see your Truth. Would you rescue those walking in darkness and heal the deep wounds of those who’ve been hurt.

We pray for the miraculous intervention of your Spirit to draw them to yourself, to work strong on behalf of our loved ones who are lost and wandering.

For you came with good news, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for captives and release for the prisoners.

Though we deserved penalty for our wrong, you stood in our place and took the blows on our behalf.  You choose to die, so that we can live. Forever and free.

Lord, forgive our unbelief. Forgive the times we’ve doubted that you could ever change a distant heart. Forgive our hard-heartedness, our weariness, or forgetfulness to “pray continually.”

Thank you that you never give up on us.

Remind us of how you’ve changed our own hearts. How your miracle of life and hope has sprung up deep within our souls.

We love you Lord, we need you, and we thank you that you hear our prayers and are at work even now.

Powerfully. Faithfully. Miraculously.

Thank you for the gift of our Savior, God with us. Thank you for your goodness and love…

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.