Prayers of Desperation

The Lord Jesus was never tired of inviting, encouraging, exhorting, even commanding people, especially His disciples, to pray. He said that they “should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). When you are “under the broom tree” [and discouraged as Elijah was in 1 Kings 19] that is very hard to do, but at these times, we are not praying intercessory prayers. These are prayers of desperation. Keep talking to the Lord, even if you are mad at Him or doubting His very existence.

Where was God in Elijah’s situation? Read 1 Kings 19:5-7. God was there in the person of the angel of the Lord. God is always present and waiting to help His exhausted servants. Jesus promised that a sparrow would not fall to the ground without the Father knowing it (Matthew 10:29). God is never surprised by our visits to the broom tree. Knowing all things, He waits to strengthen us by the appropriate means, just as He waited for Elijah and had a meal prepared for him.

Already Blessed

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” – Ephesians

God has blessed you! Past tense — He’s already done it! Now, you may not feel blessed, you may not look blessed; in fact, all the circumstances may tell you that you’re not blessed. But you’ve got to be bold enough to say, “No, I see it right here in God’s Word — I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ!”

What does it mean to be blessed? It means that you are supernaturally empowered to do whatever God has called you to do; to be whoever God has called you to be; and to have whatever God has called you to have. God’s blessing is His empowerment! The key is this: you have to believe it in order to receive it. You can’t walk around in guilt and condemnation from the past thinking you can’t do anything right and expect to keep moving forward. You have to shake off those old mindsets by declaring God’s truth over your life. Truth sets you free. When you speak God’s truth that you are blessed, you will be free to believe it and free to receive it! Today, take hold of what belongs to you. Approach the day with an attitude of faith and victory knowing that you are already blessed!

Nothing Wasted

“After everyone was full, Jesus told His disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted” – John 6:12.

The Bible tells of a time when Jesus fed a crowd of five thousand with only five loaves and two fish. That day, everyone had more than enough to eat, and there were still twelve baskets full of bread and fish leftover—more than what they started with! We serve a God of abundance! I love that Jesus told the disciples to collect all the leftovers “so that nothing is wasted.” With God, nothing is ever wasted. He’ll never waste an experience, He’ll never waste a hurt, He’ll never waste a dream, He’ll never waste even a single piece of bread.

If you’ve felt like you’ve wasted years of your life in the wrong job, hanging around the wrong people, doing the wrong things, God will gather those years and restore them back to you. He’ll take those experiences that the enemy meant for your harm and turn them around for your good. He’ll make you stronger, wiser and better off than you were before. He can launch you further into your destiny than before. Be encouraged today because with God all things are possible and nothing is ever wasted!

Never Let Go

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.

Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs.

That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father’s fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved. The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter,

“But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn’t let go.”

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too.

No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let you go. In the midst of your struggle, He’s been there holding on to you.

The Scripture teaches that God loves you.

You are a child of God.

He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way.

But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril – and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.
That’s when the tug-of-war begins – and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful.
He did not and will not ever let you go.

The Right Kind of Heat