One of the greatest blessings in my life is when the living, breathing, Word of God speaks to me. I have had the privilege of walking with the Lord Jesus for 20 years now, and I will never cease to be amazed by how He talks with me and teaches me through His Word. Especially when it's a verse that I have read countless times during these last 20 years. Such was the case this morning. An old truth hit me in a new way; a truth that I pray will deepen my relationship with the amazing God who still chooses to bend down to lead and guide His children.
Today, I was in Hebrews 11, reading again about the members of the Hall of Faith. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and the rest.
"Who, by faith, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."
The older I get, the less inclined I am to think of these men and women as the "greats" of the Christian faith. They were just ordinary men and women like me, like you, who chose to believe God. There was nothing extraordinary about them except one thing: They believed God for what He said and who He is. Here is the verse that slammed itself into my head and heart this morning: "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." I was working through my Bible study this morning and this is what it said concerning this verse:
"Are you still searching for your calling? Are you still wrestling with your purpose on this earth? Our calling is to please Him - to wake up every moring saying, 'Yes, Lord,' then live through the day to discover His questions."
My husband and I are in a new season of life and I am struggling to find out what my calling is in the midst of it. For the past eight years I knew my role. Youth pastor's wife; mama; teacher of the Word to high school and college students. God took most of that away from me and I've felt like a fish out of water. What now, Lord?? I believe He answered my question this morning. "You are to concentrate on pleasing Me." How can I please you, Lord? "By believing that I AM and that I reward those who earnestly seek Me." (See Heb. 11:6)
I am tempted to think in my head, "Well, that's a beginning!!" But it's not. It's everything. I want to understand what it means to walk with God and please Him. To remember that what I do does not give me my identity. He does. I want my story of faith to bring pleasure to my heavenly Daddy who loves me. What will be written about me in the annuls of heaven?
"By faith Noah.... by faith Enoch.... by faith Abraham.... by faith Rahab.... by faith Jennifer Travis...."
Today, I was in Hebrews 11, reading again about the members of the Hall of Faith. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and the rest.
"Who, by faith, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."
The older I get, the less inclined I am to think of these men and women as the "greats" of the Christian faith. They were just ordinary men and women like me, like you, who chose to believe God. There was nothing extraordinary about them except one thing: They believed God for what He said and who He is. Here is the verse that slammed itself into my head and heart this morning: "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." I was working through my Bible study this morning and this is what it said concerning this verse:
"Are you still searching for your calling? Are you still wrestling with your purpose on this earth? Our calling is to please Him - to wake up every moring saying, 'Yes, Lord,' then live through the day to discover His questions."
My husband and I are in a new season of life and I am struggling to find out what my calling is in the midst of it. For the past eight years I knew my role. Youth pastor's wife; mama; teacher of the Word to high school and college students. God took most of that away from me and I've felt like a fish out of water. What now, Lord?? I believe He answered my question this morning. "You are to concentrate on pleasing Me." How can I please you, Lord? "By believing that I AM and that I reward those who earnestly seek Me." (See Heb. 11:6)
I am tempted to think in my head, "Well, that's a beginning!!" But it's not. It's everything. I want to understand what it means to walk with God and please Him. To remember that what I do does not give me my identity. He does. I want my story of faith to bring pleasure to my heavenly Daddy who loves me. What will be written about me in the annuls of heaven?
"By faith Noah.... by faith Enoch.... by faith Abraham.... by faith Rahab.... by faith Jennifer Travis...."
