Monday, July 29, 2013

Taking the Limits Off God

God is infinite.  He is all-powerful.  He is all-knowing.  He is always present.  He is limitless.  However, people tend to limit God.  They try to limit Him anyway.  His character never changes, and He doesn't change His mind.  (Numbers 23:19)  Therefore, it is only people's perception that changes Him or their personal experience with Him. 

I came to realize awhile back that I had previously been limiting my Father God and my experience with Him for a few years in my own life.  I didn't intentionally set out or plan to do it either.  It just happened because I had already made up my mind.  I  had pre-conceived thoughts and ideas of exactly how and when I would enter my "Promised Land", the land flowing with milk and honey.  (Deuteronomy 27:3)  I expected to enter it over three years ago.  When it didn't happen then, I thought that it had just been delayed for the time being.  Then, early last year, I expected to enter my "Promised Land" going a different way and another route.  However, it didn't happen then either.  I came to realize even more that I had been limiting my Father God and my personal experience of Him. 

Therefore, I decided to take the limits off my Father God.  I don't know exactly how and when I will enter my "Promised Land", but I know that I will enter it at just the right time and in just the right way with the help of my Father God.  I may still have some thoughts or ideas of how I would like it to happen.  However, I decided that I am not going to limit my Father God with those kind of thoughts or ideas. 

I have moved on with my life as well as my relationship with my Father God.  I am sure that He knows exactly how and when it will happen.  He also knows when I am ready to enter my "Promised Land".  Until then, I am taking the limits off Him and myself.  I am trusting Him with His plans for me.  I know that He is good, and His plans for me are good.  (Jeremiah 29:11)


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Counting Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings is an old hymn that is sung in many churches around the world.  I grew up singing the song in church.  I am sure that many others who grew up in church also are familiar with the song.  Have you ever really listened to the words of the song?  Just listen here and now...

 


"Count your blessings...Name them one by one...Count your blessings...See what God has done..."

Those are just a few of the words to the old hymn, Count Your Blessings.  Sometimes, it is easier said than done though.  There may be times when you get down or discouraged about a situation in life.  It is just easier to see the negative and natural circumstances sometimes.  However, our Father God wants us to praise Him in all circumstances.  David who went through a lot of difficulty in his life knew that he needed to praise His Lord at all times.   

"I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."  (Psalm 34:1, NIV)

The Psalmist in 119 also knew that he needed to praise God.

"Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws."  (Psalm 119:164, NIV)

God our Father wants us to truly know Him.  He wants us to see and know His goodness, His love, and His faithfulness in every circumstance in our lives.  He definitely wants us to praise Him.

How do we do it?  We get our eyes off of our natural circumstances and put our eyes on Him.  (Hebrews 12:1-3)  Then, we praise Him for what He has already done for us in our lives.  We praise Him for what He is doing 'behind the scenes' in our lives.  We praise Him for what He will do for us in our future. 

Start praising Him right now where you are...I am sure that you can think of something to praise Him and thank Him for in your life.  Begin with some of the basics like your home, your family, your food, your clothing, and whatever else.  If you need to go back to the above song, there are some hints and reminders in it.  All of your blessings come from God the Father!  (James 1:17)  Therefore, count your blessings!  Then, see what God has done!


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Exalting God's Word

I have often wondered the reason believers exalt natural circumstances over God and His word.  God is so much bigger and more powerful than any natural circumstance.  After all, God is a supernatural being which means He is over the natural.  He created the world and everything in it into existence.  (Genesis 1) God's word is also very important and powerful.

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  (Hebrews 4:12, NIV)

What if Jesus while on this earth exalted natural circumstances over His Father and His word to Him?  What if He told His Father, "I know what you say but..."?  Then, Jesus would not have healed the sick.  He would not have made the lame walk, set the captives fee, taught the parables, discipled His followers, and so on.  He would not have done the work and the will of His Father.  There would not have been signs, wonders, and miracles.

We, as believers in Jesus Christ and children of God, have Jesus' spirit.  We are created in the image of God.  (Genesis 1:27)  We also have God's word.  In His word, He tells us that we are to be just like Jesus in this world.  (1 John 4:17b, KJV)  According to His word, we are able to do even greater works than Jesus did while He was here in this world.  Jesus had to leave this world to be with His Father in Heaven.  (John 14:12-14)  All of us who have Jesus' spirit living within us now are more than the one man named Jesus.  His spirit has been deposited inside of every believer in Jesus Christ.  Therefore, we should be doing even more of our Father's work and will in this world.  There should be many more signs, wonders, and miracles now than back in Jesus' day and time.  

First, we have to realize that we cannot do anything without Him.  He is the true vine, and we are the branches.  (John 15:5We can only be fruitful when we abide in Him and Him in us.  (John 15:4)  We also have to stop exalting natural circumstances over God and His word.  We have to believe God and take Him at His word.  Then, we will be seeing and performing many more signs, wonders, and miracles in this world.  Many more people will be healed, set free, and preached the Gospel all in the name of Jesus.  All glory, honor, and praise will go to our Father.  


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.