In the Palm of His Hands
When we pray something happens. The one who is asking is receiving, the one who is seeking is finding. Finding what? God.
Luke 11:10
This past Sunday, I shared about the conviction I have of the quality of my faith. I can be amazed at what God is doing and has done, and yet not be living by faith.
I shared that I am asking myself 4 questions about the quality and depth of my living faith:
Am I settled, hopeful, courageous, active, celebratory with a God-glorifying faith knowing I am in Jesus’ hands?
Do I really believe that Jesus, You do exist, and You reward those who seek You? Those who are in Jesus’ hands.
Do I really believe that you are saying, “Continue steadily on with what I have asked you to do, and I will guard your life and mind”? I have you in the palm of my hand.
Is my faith radical, revealed most clearly in not giving up in prayer? Having a persistency that stands in the gap, when I face obstacles, disappointments, fears, anxieties and returning to the reality, I am in Jesus’ hands.
Jesus says that living faith keeps asking. Not because we need to wear God down, but because that is what living faith does. It asks God to do what only God can do. In some ways, faith knows we are helpless. When we stop praying, we have stopped believing; believing there is a God and also that He really does care about me.
Hebrews 11:1 says "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
There are three Living Faith Mindsets I want to leave with you from this devotional.
Persistence in not succumbing to the worry of the age.
When the age does not build upon the Living God, the age will build on idols and any age built on idols will be marked by profound worry. In a 2020 survey, 62% of respondents reported they are struggling with anxiety. As I looked at research on this issue, all sources are commenting on an increase of anxiety in children and youth. Since the pandemic, this percentage has increased.
Yes, we need community and at times to be sharing with a few how you are doing; something occurs in our brains when we share our fears, even when the person we are sharing with can only listen.
Yes, at times, you need professional support
Yes, be persistent in recognizing the age you are in and it does have an impact on you; be persistent in understanding that as our world faces greater issues, Jesus is building His Kingdom. Things are not what they appear
Yes, ask for prayer.
2. Persistence in knowing Jesus is coming again
I love the picture which Dr. Darrell Johnson gave us some years back of Jesus building his Kingdom. He likened it to tectonic plates in the earth’s crust as they rub and grind back and forth. When this occurs, there are severe consequences with earthquakes and volcanos. As we look out and see the world in great chaos, we can become discouraged and even give up. Jesus says, as I build my Kingdom, the battle is going to intensify. So, as you see this happening in our age, look up.
Friends hang in there. I have not lost control; it is the opposite.
The Kingdom is coming speedily, because where Jesus is, the kingdom is. Where the King is, there is the Kingdom. Jesus is very close at hand. He is returning not from a far place, rather so close. That is why when you call upon Him, He will come to your help speedily.
Live with heaven in sight. Jesus is coming back.
3. Persistent in being a person of prayer
What do you need to practice persistency in to keep being diligent in your prayer life? Where are you tempted to give in and say what is the use? Where do you need help in saying to another, please pray for me, not to lose heart and give up, rather to stay the course and pray for this situation, to pray for our city, to pray for our nation.
Why? Because Jesus is building His Kingdom; He is coming back.
When we pray something happens. The one who is asking is receiving, the one who is seeking is finding. Finding what? God. Luke 11:10
"The clearest manifestation of faith, the clearest expression that faith is alive is that it prays. And that it prays until the not-yet is the now and until the unseen is seen.”
— Dr. Darrell Johnson
Poem by Nancy Spiegelberg:
Lord
I crawled
across the barrenness
to You
with my empty cup
Uncertain
In asking
any small drop
of refreshment
If only
I had known You
better
I’d have come
Running
With a bucket
Jesus stands and waits ready to fill your bucket, so that you can truly live today to invest in tomorrow.
Yes, He has you in the palm of His hands.
He will hold you fast.
~ Bruce
