Matthew 13:58 (NLT)
58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:58 (MSG)
58 But Jesus said, “A prophet is taken for granted in his hometown and his family.” He didn’t do many miracles there because of their hostile indifference.
Matthew 13:58 (CEV)
58 And because the people did not have any faith, Jesus did not work many miracles there.
I was just wondering how many times my unbelief has tied the hands of God. My brothers and sisters, where would we be, if we actually practiced and implemented the Word in our life? What mightier things could be done in our lives, if we had more than a “head knowledge” or an “academic knowledge” of the Word of God. So often I have found myself trusting in my ability, resources, or knowledge “first” and then turn to God afterwards. When my oldest daughter was young, whenever she got scared she would always run to me, because I was the person who she trusted the most. I hate to admit it, but when things go wrong in my life, I’m tempted all to often to turn inward. Isn’t depression, anxiety, worry, frustration, impatience, exasperation, etc., all signs that says we are trusting in ourselves rather than God? My my my!
I don’t want my life to be a frustrating event for the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit’s power in my life. When it comes to blessing me or using me, I don’t desire to force God to ration His power in my life. I WANT IT ALL! I want the Spirit of God to have full access in my life. I desire to give Him complete control and never be short-circuited by my lack of faith/believe. I want to experience another level in my growth, love, devotion, and trust in God.
“Lord it is my prayer that my faith be the vehicle You will use to do a mighty work in me – so that You can do a mighty work through me. Father I pray that my life never again be filled with doubt and unbelief.”
What about you?
Pastor Anderson~
I would like to think that I have grown as a Christian versus the fact that I am aging. Let me explain it like this. At 49, I have learned to trust God…..Let me borrow a term from the world…..”experiential learning”.
Now let me say it like the ole folks sing it, “He’s never failed me, yet!”
Suni
Amen and so true!
Not many Christians will admit that we arent where we should be. I feel sorry for those who think that they have already arrived. I know what it means to trust God and I know what it means to fail in my faith. I dont want God\’s power in my life to have limits either. I WANT IT ALL TOO!
It’s a constant battle for all of us.
This is so true. It’s ironic that I guess I never have looked at it like that. When things happen, the biggest struggle at least for me is the battle of knowing how I “should” respond. My first respond should be in unwavering faith that either God will work it out or that if he doesn’t, the situation is working for my good so suck it up until I learn whatever it is I’m suppose to be learning. However, my struggle is and has always been dealing with the struggle of my heart and my brain getting on the same page. My heart knows God’s got it but it is at times an out and out fight with my mind when life’s storms come. I struggle and fight with “ME” not with anyone else. In that I find I am all in God’s way. I know that may sound whatever to some but I totally understand what it is to handcuff the Holy spirit. This last battle I literally was sitting on my hands trying to keep from trying to “fix” it. Know all the time I can’t “fix” anything but it’s the letting go that is the struggle but each time I peel back my hands from a situation and grab onto Christ things always turn out much better and each time, it’s easier to let go. So maybe that’s how we begin the process of not “hand cuffing” the Holy Spirit… take it one day and one situation at a time
As I reflect on my spiritual growth, I recognize areas in my life where I had God’s hands in cuffs. I trusted Him with the “big stuff”, but attempted to handle the “small stuff” on my own. I’m at a point where I trust God in all areas of my life! I know what my grandma meant when she sang; Without God, I could do nothing. Without Him, I would fail! Now I have my own testimony; Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Just to take Him at his word!! Uncuff God’s hands, and allow Him to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that you can ever think or imagine.
Lord, help my unbelief! I too want my life to be a walk of trust and faith in God so that HIS will- will be done in and through me. I want to be used by God. I too must admit that there are areas of my life I keep trusting me… and coming up short. Lord, Help my unbelief!
It’s funny, once I read this I find myself in a state of reflection on my current situation, for so long I have not given God the credit that he deserves in a lot of ways I have “short-changed” his abilities. Looking in depth on certain situations I have felt pitty on myself, not knowing that in the midst of troublesome times GOD’s power and blessings are on the brink of awesome measures. I attest to the fact that because of my own unrighteous living, I have placed great limitations on the power of GOD, thus believing more in my own abilities than his. Without saying reality sinks in fast and I come to point of being in state where GOD has me in a “still frame,” as it pertains to this topic GOD breaks the handcuffs of his works in my life. Being at the point where I am currently in my walk and in my life, I do not want to live another day wondering where would I be if I just lived in faith, trusting and believing in the promises of GOD and walking in the greatness of GOD. We serves an awesome, excellent, great GOD, but yet we feel and believe that these atributes do not apply to us for some reason. Just as GOD promised Abraham we are heirs to this land, I pray that GOD reveals his power to me and allows me, leads me into the greatness that he has already promised me!!!! It is my season and my blessing is prosperity
Often times in my short time on earth I have found myself taking many situations to God. Some I leave with him, and some I take from him and try to handle on my own. What I have found is every time I have taken a situation from him he has allowed me to have it, and in doing so I would make the situation worse than what it was. I think as christians we are all guilty of this a time or two. As I re-examine the times that I left the situations with him they ALWAYS worked to my benefit whether I realized it at the time or not, and he was always RIGHT ON TIME. My point is this: When we as christians take something to God we MUST leave it there, and give God time to work. He’s not on our time or our schedule, and when we give him time constraints we miss out on our blessings. As I strengthen my walk with God i must truly committ myself to the saying “let go, and let God”. I will no longer stand in the way of receiving what God has for me.
It is so sad that most of us have to get to the point of depression, anxiety, worry, frustration, impatience, exasperation, etc., in order to recognize that we are in a self-reliant state. It is at that point when most of us stop after trying to make it on our own and realize that we have to turn to God. I’m tired of trying to rely on self, because I don’t know what to do. God is in the process of teaching me that I can’t depend on me, because there are things that I still can’t be trusted with. Like you Pastor Anderson, I want God to take full control of my LIFE to the point where there will not be a question of my faith and belief!