IN WHAT and IN WHOM will you place your trust?

I used to believe and avidly declare, "Me and Jesus, we can do anything!" NOW, because of where God has taken me...because of the enormous promises and endless possibilities positioned before me...I pray, "Oh God, if You don't show up, none of this can happen!"

There is NO part of me in the equation! I simply need to show up...but the results...the victories...the provision...the EVERYTHING relies on GOD ALONE!

I love the quote from A.C. Dixon, in Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, M. Cocoris, Moody, 1984, p. 108 who writes, "When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do, and so on. Nor am I disposed to undervalue any of these things in their proper place, but when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do."

So, how about it? IN WHAT and IN WHOM will you place your trust? Where does your confidence rest?

Some of us face impossible situations...struggling relationships, financial struggles, sickness, grief...but (my dear dear friends) we are not alone!!! God never called us to accomplish. He never required us to be successful. He simply invites us to be obedient and to trust Him to do the impossible.

"Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily. "How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?" he asked. Mother Teresa replied, "My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful." (Beyond Hunger, Beals)


Jesus said, "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:14)

NOTICE the qualifier of " in my name."

What I realize more fully than ever is that in Jesus name is not a magical word that provides the formula for getting all my selfish desires, rather in Jesus name aligns my faith with the assurance of God's Promise. I can request what He birthed in my heart and know He will cause it to be...I can ask Him for what He has already said is His plan and know that it will come to pass. When I hear His faithful voice leading me through Scripture I can ask for the evidence of His promise.

Friend, God hasn't commissioned us to results, He commissions us to obedience. Let's position ourself to hear Him. Let's qualify all that we feel He has commanded or promised with the truth of His Word. Then, let's boldly follow after Him and demonstrate genuine faith. After all, our only opportunity for faith exists on this side of eternity. In heaven, we will see the evidence of what we hoped for. But true faith trusts regardless of appearances. Genuine faith remembers WHO GOD IS and HOLDS FAST to what HE has PROMISED.

Friend, our FAITH flows from our relationship with God and remains strong by resting in the assurance of God's love. FAITH runs full fledged towards our GIANTS knowing "OH GOD, if YOU DON'T show up...the victory won't happen!"

My prayer for 2012 is that God fills each one of our hearts with a lasting faith, birthed from the confidence founded in His LOVE!