From reading 1 Kings 13, noticed is how God sought to change a man so he would step ahead into the future as a better person. Throughout our journey, we have the opportunity to gain lessons from the Word of God and from each other. As the New Year approaches, we have the perfect example in Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the life.
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
Written in ”Believing and Seeing” is the need to rely on God for the possible when it seems impossible. It’s when you hit a wall that the opportunity for the Lord to make the impossible possible exist. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can take on difficulty and figure out how to climb over the wall, work around it, or go right through it.
Aspire to rely on the Lord for the glorious impossible. Start this day with the song In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible) by Katy Nichole and like the song says, “pray for a miracle”. Speak the name that no grave can hold. For healing or that circumstances will change. That a breakthrough will happen, for a revival, or new life for many in Jesus’ name.
I remember an inspirational story my baseball coach gave the team before a game. It was about a person who was sick and had to lay in bed for weeks. During that time, he played rounds of golf in his mind hitting the perfect shot. When he got better from his illness, one of the first things he did was to go out and play an actual round of golf and shot his best round ever.
As we read today in John 11:17-44, be thinking of seeing God at work in your life. Take note of what Jesus tells Martha about believing and seeing the glory of God. Life is hard and sometimes we hit a wall but that’s when the impossible can become possible because during our weakness, Jesus steps in to help us do the amazing. We may be given ideas from Holy Spirit to help climb over the wall, work around it, or go right through the wall.
Reading today’s passage, remember that the woman that poured perfume on Jesus and wiped his feet named Mary and her sister Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother named Lazarus was sick. They told Jesus in the message that the one you love is sick.
We know from our previous study of this chapter that Jesus said that the reason for the illness of Lazurus was that another miracle could occur so that God’s Son would be glorified through it (v. 4). So Jesus had stayed where He was for two more days before He told His disciples that it was time to go back to Judea.
When Jesus arrived in Bethany which is about two miles from Jerusalem, Lazarus had been dead four days but the timing was right because more of an impact would be made to those who did not yet believe.
Jesus met Martha first for she was more task-oriented so she had made the effort to meet Jesus as he arrived. Mary was more people oriented and was with everyone who had come over to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
Jesus was deeply moved when He saw Mary weeping and the others who had come with her who were weeping. In verse 35, we note that Jesus wept showing us that Jesus felt the same emotions as we do in life. Jesus was fully human but also fully divine. When the people saw that Jesus wept, they understood how much Jesus loved Lazurus (v. 36).
Then Jesus came to the tomb where Lazurus was and told them to take away the stone from the entrance to the tomb. Martha points out to Jesus that there would be a bad odor because Lazurus had been there four days (v. 39). Then Jesus said the following in verse 40:
Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?
Jesus then prays a thankful prayer to His Father for hearing and explains that His thankful prayer is for the benefit of those witnessing this experience so that more may now believe because of the supernatural event of raising Lazarus from the dead.
This day with God, commune with Him through His Word and in prayer. During your prayer time, reflect on a time you have seen the glory of God. Aspire to believe and have confidence that you will see the glory of God again in the future.
This day, the impossible can become possible and like Jesus tells Martha, believe and you will see the glory of God. Today, we pray for big things like peace, hope, for healing, for revival, salvation, and victory because we have confidence that God will provide. We will work together with Jesus who connects us to our awesome God who is unstoppable. Today, we read about the extraordinary miracle of raising Lazurus from the dead and we are now prepared for an amazing day because we serve an extraordinary God, and we pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1
As brought out in “Things Turn Out Alright Walking In The Light”, Jesus demonstrated His willingness to die to accomplish God’s purpose. Take this encouragement and know God’s glorious power is available to conquer fear.
You have all you need in order to courageously face the delays, disappointments, or other challenges this world sets before you. Here’s a song I Saw The Light by David Crowder. A song to offer more encouragement as you follow the light along the path.
This time of the year, it gets dark early so it’s sometimes getting dark while I walk my dog. It’s good to have Christmas lights that light up the way. This day with God, we will rely on the Word as our guide, listen to the Holy Spirit inside, and write down the steps of action. God is in control so we take courage as we boldly step ahead knowing that things will turn out alright walking in the Light.
Reading today in John 11:1-16, the woman named Mary who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair had a brother name Lazarus. He became critically ill, so Mary and her sister named Martha sent a message to Jesus.
Jesus said the reason for the illness of Lazurus was that another miracle could occur so that God’s Son would be glorified through it (v. 4). He stayed where He was for two more days before He told His disciples that it was time to go back to Judea. The disciples pointed out that it would be dangerous because a short time ago, the rulers had tried to stone Jesus in Judea.
Along the walk to Judea, Jesus told the disciples that Lazarus was asleep. They misinterpreted this as normal sleeping. They thought sleeping would help Lazurus to heal but Jesus told them that Lazarus was dead (vv. 14-15).
Jesus knew the death of Lazarus was not permanent and He was not afraid of the rulers because He was on the Father’s schedule, and nothing could harm Him until His purpose was carried out. To fulfill God’s plan is to walk in the Light. To stray from God’s plan is to walk in the dark.
This day with God, let us walk in the Light, receive today’s encouragement from Jesus who demonstrated His willingness to die to accomplish God’s purpose, and have faith in God’s glorious power to conquer fears. We have all we need in order to courageously face the delays, disappointments, or other challenges this world sets before us.
Thank You God for giving us the Light. The plan that takes away our fears because power is available to courageously face the future. May we spread the Light so others will see throughout the world and the Light keeps on shinning from generation to generation! There is no need to be afraid because we’ve been set free and carefree to shine the Light in order to help the fearful, the doubting, and the struggling. Thank You God for the Light of the world. Amen.
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This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 