Blessed

 Scripture:

“About this time Abimelech and his army commander Phicol said to Abraham, “God blesses everything you do! Now I want you to promise in the name of God that you will always be loyal to me and my descendants, just as I have always been loyal to you in this land where you have lived as a foreigner.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21:22-23‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Abimilech and Phicol came to Abraham after some time of living near each other and said, “God blesses everything you do.” They went on to ask Abraham to make a peace treaty where they would always be at peace because they knew God was with Abraham.  God had so blessed Abraham’s life that those around him wanted to be on his side because they knew they didn’t stand a chance if they were ever against him.

Application:

I love to see people so blessed that their enemies want to have agreements with them. I want to live such a blessed life that those who don’t like me have to know that it is the blessing of the Almighty. I need to live in such a way that God would want to pour out His blessings on my life. God blesses obedience, therefore, I want to live a life of obedience to the ways and the words of God.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to live a life that You want to bless. I know obedience brings blessing so help me to walk in obedience in all areas of life. Teach me to hear Your voice and know Your word. This morning I pray like Jabez, Lord bless me and increase my territory.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Don’t Doubt What God Speaks

 Scripture:

“The Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? I am the Lord! There is nothing too difficult for me. I'll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18:13-14‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

God had spoken to Abraham and Sarah about her having a child in her old age. The Lord asked Abraham two questions, “Why did Sarah laugh?” And “Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age?” He responds to His own question by saying, “There is nothing too difficult for me.” God reminded Sarah that nothing was too difficult for Him and that this was nothing to laugh about. 

Application:

Things that seem impossible for us, are never impossible with God. He is all-powerful and we must remember that when He tells us He is going to do something, our place isn’t to laugh, but to believe. Sometimes God knows things that we don’t yet know or understand. He can show us things to come that we think are totally impossible. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we can ask, think or imagine. We must never doubt when God speaks, rather, we should say like Mary, “be it unto me according to Your word.”

Prayer:

Father, I want You to speak to my heart. I long to hear Your voice and more clearly. I long to walk with You. When you share things with me, help me to never walk in doubt, but to believe by faith that what You say will come to pass. Teach me to walk in step with you at all times and never to doubt what You are doing. Help me to believe You over the science.

Your Son,

Jeff

Who Gets the Credit?

 Scripture:

“Abram answered: The Lord God Most High made the heavens and the earth. And I have promised him that I won't keep anything of yours, not even a sandal strap or a piece of thread. Then you can never say that you are the one who made me rich.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭14:22-23‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

The King of Sodom offered Abraham land, possession, and anything else he wanted except his family. Abraham’s response shows a reflection of his character. He told the King that he wouldn’t accept even a sandal strap or a piece of thread because he didn’t want the king to be able to say, “I made you rich.”  What he was saying was that God is his source and resource and he wanted everyone to know how he got so blessed. He didn’t want a human king to be able to o take any credit in what the Lord had done.

Application:

If our desire is to truly honor and bless the Lord, then we shouldn’t take credit for what He does in our lives. Like Abraham, we should not want anyone to get the glory except for the Lord. It is He who provides for us, takes care of us, and heals us. He is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, and our trust must be in Him alone. I want to live a life that blesses God and can’t take the credit for.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are great and awesome in power. You are everything to me. Help me to follow You well and to bring You honor and praise with my life. When it’s all said and done, I want to be able to say, only “only God could have done the things done in that life.” Father, I don’t want anyone to get the credit for what You do in my life. You are incredible and I love You.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Famous Last Words

 Scripture:

“they said: Let's build a city with a tower that reaches to the sky! We'll use hard bricks and tar instead of stone and mortar. We'll become famous, and we won't be scattered all over the world.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭11:3-4‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

As God was scattering people around the earth, those in Babylon decided they would build a tower that would reach to the sky. In this passage you can see that it was all about them and their pride in what they could do. Four times pronouns like us, we, etc. are used. They were wanting to build and do everything on their own and leave God out of the picture. Their pride was their downfall.

Application:

We, I, mine, ours, etc. are famous last words when dealing with the Almighty God. It is better to say, “If the Lord wills” then to declare what you are going to do.  James 4:15 tells us that we should actually say just that, “If the Lord wills, we will…” Pride is the root of destruction, division, hatred, envy, greed, jealousy, etc. We must never walk in pride about what we are going to do, but rather do what God wants us to do with our lives. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in humility all the days of my life. You are the only one worthy of anything. You deserve the glory and the honor and the praise. Teach me to say, “if the Lord wills” instead of “I’m going to do this or that.” Forgive me to the times I have lived out of my own heart and what I want to do instead of doing Your will for my life.

Your Son,

Jeff

Seasons Happen

 Scripture:

“As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat; winter and summer, day and night.” Genesis‬ ‭8:22‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

After the flood waters receded and Noah came out of the ark he had made, God told Noah He would never again destroy the earth in that fashion. Rather, there would always be seasons. God told him there would always be planting and harvest, cold and heart, winter and summer, day and night. In other words, there will be seasons for everything. He was telling Noah he would rest assured that there would be cycles in the earth he could trust.

Application:

First the natural, then the spiritual. Just as God placed seasons after the flood and let Noah know that they would never stop as long as the earth remained, so we can rest assured that life also has seasons.  There are seasons of preparation, seasons of harvest and blessing, and seasons of waiting for the next season. There are times in our lives when things are producing incredibly and there are winter times when it seems nothing is happening and all is dead. The reality is, “This too shall pass.”

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, you created this earth and laid down ground rules through the rotation of planets and the moon. It is snowing today because we are in winter here in Virginia and that’s okay because it is expected in a winter season. I also know that Spring is just a few months away and this cold weather won’t last forever. Help me to be patient on things in my life and teach me to wait for the right season, the season You have prepared for me. Teach me not to rush the seasons, but to enjoy them as I walk with You.

Your Son,

Jeff

EVERYTHING

 Scripture:

“Noah did everything God told him to do.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:22‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Genesis six tells how far man had quickly walked away from God after the fall of man. God couldn’t find anyone righteous in the earth except for Noah. Therefore, God decided to destroy the earth with a flood. He would never send judgment on the righteous so He told Noah to build an ark to save him and his family. In this verse we are told that Noah did EVERYTHING God told him to do.

Application:

How may times have I partially obeyed God? How may times have I heard from God, then amended what he said to me to make it more acceptable to others? How may times have I walked in partial obedience? We need to live in complete obedience to the word of the Lord. He will protect us, shield us, and take good care of us, but we must do our part and obey Him in EVERYTHING. Noah’s list didn’t make sense because it had never rained, but he obeyed completely. I want to obey God completely with my life.

Prayer:

Father, partial obedience is not obedience. Forgive me for the many times I have obeyed the parts I felt good about and did part of what You told me to do. Forgive me for the times when I have edited what You have told me to something more palatable. Help me to obey You completely and in EVERYTHING.

Yours,

Jeff

When God Speaks

 Scripture:

“God said, “I command light to shine!” And light started shining.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

In the third verse of the Bible, God makes a very simple command. He says, “‘I command light to shine!’ And it started shining.” God spoke into darkness and light came into existence. With a simple four or five word phrase, depending on your translation, God made light to shine. His words are absolutely powerful!

Application:

Sometimes our problems look so big and we feel that we can’t overcome them. It is easy to look at our human situation and think that things are impossible and will never change, but one word from God can change everything. We must realize that one sentence from His mouth and everything can change. We must stop limiting God and we must start walking by faith and listening for what He is saying.

Prayer:

Father, let me never see anything as impossible for You. Let my faith increase more and more that You are the God who speaks four or five words and the whole world changes. Speak Your blessing over my life. Speak Your blessing over the church I pastor. Speak Your word over my region and let revival come. Help me to speak more like Your speak every day. Let me speak words of faith and power.

Your Son,

Jeff