“God by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of…infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.” Ephesians 3:20 TLB
What would today look like if we lived, thought, walked and talked, like we truly believe this?! What can you dare to ask or dream?! What are your highest prayers, desires, thoughts and hopes?! Do we dare to dream, to ask, to pray and let God work His great plan! It’s a great day to be alive for King Jesus and see what He wants to do!
Early this morning a little book caught my eye so I picked it up and read it. It was full of scriptures, prayers and thoughts. Ephesians 3:20 was one of the scriptures and my mind couldn’t help but pause at those words and contemplate them. When I was in college, a single missionary lady, Helen M, who traveled the United States and around the world encouraging Christians and witnessing for Christ, spoke in Chapel. She told thrilling stories of experiences she had; impossible situations when God intervened in miraculous ways. It was amazing; totally wonderful to hear the details of such adventures! After chapel, students walking the halls commented on her presentation and I was truly astonished to hear one say, ‘You don’t really believe that stuff, do you?” His comment was unbelievable to me. How could he NOT believe the things this person witnessed and recounted to us?!
Upon retrospect, I can’t help but wonder if my friend knew or served the God that lived in and through Helen; the true and living God of Creation, heaven and earth. Coming back to the present, I wonder if that unbelief has crept into our lives? Do we really KNOW the God of miracles? Do we really experience His reality as we live our daily lives? If not, why not? It’s certainly not because the Lord is unavailable. His Word tells us He is as near as our breath. It’s not because He does not long for us to have intimate fellowship with Him. We’re all acquainted with John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Is it perhaps that we do not know this great and mighty God at all? This Creator of all things we see and do not see, ‘the same yesterday, today and forever’, who ‘holds all things together’ by His power (Colossians 1:17)? My heart cries out to know Him as He would have us know Him, in His fullness; to live with assurance that He hears and answers prayer; that He is always working ‘all things’ (Romans 8:28) for our good and His glory, whether things are going our way or down the drain! To see beyond the circumstances that may look grim; to see the reality of eternity. His Word IS true. We can stake our lives on it! But do we LIVE that reality?!
He did not speak in vain but rather spoke that we might have assurance and live with confidence in His unfailing, tender care for us. Kurt Kaiser expressed it well in the words of his song, “Oh, how He loves you and me”
Oh, how He loves you and me; Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for mankind to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh how He loves you and me.
Today is the day to begin to live new life in Christ, to take Him at His word, to let Him do what He wants to do in and through us. The words my mother painted often linger in my mind, ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life.’ What an opportunity we have …NOW…TODAY! God wants to help make it a great day, a truly wonderful life…in Him!
Today IS Gonna’ Be Good…because of Christ!
LaWanda
