FOCUS ON JESUS

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

[1 John 5:14]

I feel so encouraged when someone shares a testimony of what God did for them and it is exactly what I need to hear.

"What God did for one He can do for another "

We should always pray according to His will for our life, but we should also believe that He will answer. Even if the answer doesn’t come the way we expect it to.

I remember one time I when I first started working after college I was sharing my plans for financial planning with my grandfather. I admired his work ethic and success and so I was shocked when he said I didn’t need to worry about all that.

Over the years I have come to realize what he meant. He didn’t mean that I should be irresponsible, he meant that I shouldn’t worry and fret over it. What we are praying for or what we are working towards can easily become an idol in our life if we become consumed with it.

Timothy Keller wrote a fantastic book called Counterfeit Gods. In it he says,

“What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God…An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, ‘If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.’

There are many ways to describe that kind of relationship to something, but perhaps the best one is worship.” We should remember this when we are praying for something or petitioning God for an answer. Do we trust God enough for Him to say no, for Him to rearrange the time table or for Him to use our circumstances for His glory? Who or what am I worshiping?

My grandfather was a godly man and he lived his life for King Jesus. He worked hard, loved his family, fished a little and he hugged so big his whiskers would scratch my face. His testimony to me is summed up by Matthew 6:33. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.”

He didn’t follow a rule book on his career, and he didn’t do what everyone else did. He followed the instincts that God put in his heart and was always faithful to give God his first and best, and the Lord took care of him every step of the way. I understand what Papa meant. He wanted me to focus on Jesus and then my life would be fulfilling.

What is your testimony? Are you in need of encouragement today? Ask someone what God has done in their life! It will encourage and revive both of you to hear of God’s faithfulness!

I pray that you know God loves you so much. It doesn’t matter if you’re qualified, He can equip you for whatever is ahead. Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” He was referring to salvation. If He can save and redeem you, don’t you think He can handle the details of the journey? Yes, yes He can.

Dig Deeper

Ephesians 3:20 | Matthew 6:33 | Revelation 12:11 | Exodus 20:3 | Romans 2:11 | James 4:2-3

#testimony, #PaPa, #possible, #encourage, #unqualified, #equipped, #loved