Great devotional on FAITH

MAY THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEART
by David Wilkerson

The Spirit has been making it so clear to me that all my praying is totally in
vain unless I pray in faith. I could weep, fast, intercede, agonize and travail
in prayer, yet make no impact with the Lord at all – unless I was doing it all
with simple, childlike faith.

God will not act on our behalf without faith. The Word says, “Let not that
man [the doubter] think he shall receive anything from God” (James 1:7).

The Lord commands us to trust him. Yet often we have so little confidence in
him, so little faith in his willingness and desire to answer our heart-cry.
When we get to heaven, we will be amazed to discover all the blessings, peace
and power we had at our disposal but did not appropriate because of our weak
faith.

I AM GREATLY MOVED UPON BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO INCREASE YOUR
FAITH. Ask the Lord to forgive your unbelief and to flood your soul with
confidence in his willingness to over-answer your sincere prayers.

Do you want an increase faith? When you go to prayer again, use the following
Scriptures to reason with the Lord. He will not deny his own Word. Lay hold
upon these:

• Psalm 62:8
• Psalm 91:4
• Psalm 56:3
• Proverbs 30:5
• Jeremiah 29:10-14

Hold on by faith! He will answer you, and soon.

GIVE ME ALL YOUR TOMORROWS

GIVE ME ALL YOUR TOMORROWS
by David Wilkerson

The Lord appeared to Abraham one day and gave him an incredible command: “Get
thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house,
unto a land that I will show thee” (Genesis 12:1).

What an amazing thing. Suddenly, God picked out a man and told him, “I want
you to get up and go, leaving everything behind: your home, your relatives,
even your country. I want to send you someplace, and I will direct you how to
get there along the way.”

How did Abraham respond to this incredible word from the Lord? “By faith
Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he
went” (Hebrews 11:8).

What was God up to? Why would he search the nations for one man, and then call
him to forsake everything and go on a journey with no map, no preconceived
direction, no known destination? Think about what God was asking of Abraham. He
never showed him how he would feed or support his family. He didn’t tell him
how far to go or when he would arrive. He only told him two things in the
beginning: “Go,” and, “I will show you the way.”

In essence, God told Abraham, “From this day on, I want you to give me all
your tomorrows. You’re to live the rest of your life putting your future into
my hands, one day at a time. I’m asking you to commit your life to a promise
that I am making to you, Abraham. If you will commit to do this, I will bless
you, guide you and lead you to a place you never imagined.”

The place God wanted to lead Abraham is a place he wants to take every member
of Christ’s body. Abraham is what Bible scholars call a “pattern man,”
someone who serves as an example of how to walk before the Lord. Abraham’s
example shows us what is required of all who would seek to please God.

Make no mistake, Abraham was not a young man when God called him to make this
commitment. He probably had plans in place to secure his family’s future, so
he had to be concerned over many considerations as he weighed God’s call. Yet
Abraham “believed in the Lord; and [God] counted it to him for
righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

The apostle Paul tells us that all who believe and trust in Christ are the
children of Abraham. And, like Abraham, we are counted as righteous because we
heed the same call to entrust all our tomorrows into the Lord’s hands.
by David Wilkerson

The Lord appeared to Abraham one day and gave him an incredible command: “Get
thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house,
unto a land that I will show thee” (Genesis 12:1).

What an amazing thing. Suddenly, God picked out a man and told him, “I want
you to get up and go, leaving everything behind: your home, your relatives,
even your country. I want to send you someplace, and I will direct you how to
get there along the way.”

How did Abraham respond to this incredible word from the Lord? “By faith
Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he
went” (Hebrews 11:8).

What was God up to? Why would he search the nations for one man, and then call
him to forsake everything and go on a journey with no map, no preconceived
direction, no known destination? Think about what God was asking of Abraham. He
never showed him how he would feed or support his family. He didn’t tell him
how far to go or when he would arrive. He only told him two things in the
beginning: “Go,” and, “I will show you the way.”

In essence, God told Abraham, “From this day on, I want you to give me all
your tomorrows. You’re to live the rest of your life putting your future into
my hands, one day at a time. I’m asking you to commit your life to a promise
that I am making to you, Abraham. If you will commit to do this, I will bless
you, guide you and lead you to a place you never imagined.”

The place God wanted to lead Abraham is a place he wants to take every member
of Christ’s body. Abraham is what Bible scholars call a “pattern man,”
someone who serves as an example of how to walk before the Lord. Abraham’s
example shows us what is required of all who would seek to please God.

Make no mistake, Abraham was not a young man when God called him to make this
commitment. He probably had plans in place to secure his family’s future, so
he had to be concerned over many considerations as he weighed God’s call. Yet
Abraham “believed in the Lord; and [God] counted it to him for
righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

The apostle Paul tells us that all who believe and trust in Christ are the
children of Abraham. And, like Abraham, we are counted as righteous because we
heed the same call to entrust all our tomorrows into the Lord’s hands.

Hope in the Coming Storm

David gives us a clear picture of Jesus’ attitude in the face of the coming
storm. He speaks prophetically of Christ, saying, “I foresaw the Lord always
before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved” (Acts
2:25). The literal meaning here is, “I was always in his presence, beholding
his face.” David quoted Jesus as saying, “Therefore did my heart rejoice,
and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope” (2:26).

Here is the secret: Jesus kept the Father always before his face! Jesus
continually sought out secret places to be shut in with his Father. And it was
only after being in God’s presence that Christ came forth to minister, fully
persuaded that his Father was always with him. “He’s at my right hand—and
nothing on this earth can move me.” The Greek word for move here means
“agitated or shaken, disturbed.” Jesus was saying, “None of these
problems, evils or coming events can cast me down or shake my confidence. My
Father is in complete control.”

Beloved, if we’re going to face the coming storm, then we need to be prepared
so nothing disturbs our spirit. And the only way to do that is to spend time in
the Father’s presence beholding his face. We have to be shut in with him—on
our knees, practicing his presence, seeking him—until we’re thoroughly
persuaded he’s at our right hand.

God is clearly telling us, “Don’t be moved or agitated by anything you see.
Keep your eyes focused on me and you’ll retain your joy.” And, according to
David, Jesus testified, “Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance” (Acts 2:28).

It’s as if Christ is telling us, “I faced everything you’re going to face
in the closing days of time. I had the same foreboding feelings, because I saw
the coming storm. But I ran into the presence of my Father, and he lifted all
my concerns. He showed me the outcome to it all. And in his presence I found
all the joy, hope and rest I would ever need—to the very end. I have peace
and joy because I’ve been with him.”

“My flesh shall rest in hope” (2:26).

DISCOURAGEMENT!!!

When we hurt, when we are lonely, afraid, and overwhelmed by circumstances

beyond our control—we quickly turn aside from our true source of peace and

victory and look to human ways and resources. How tragic! We know God is still

on the throne waiting for us to call on him. We know the answer to all our

needs is to be found alone with God, shut in with him. We will even confess to

our spiritual friends, "I know I need to pray! I know God has the answer! I

know I need to cry it all out in his presence!



It is discouragement of the worst kind to give in to fear and despair while

ignoring the majesty and faithfulness of a loving Father. God said to Israel,

"...I have talked with you from heaven…in all places where I record my name I

will come unto thee, and I will bless thee" (Exodus 20:22.24). But Israel

answered, "God hath forgotten to be merciful” (Psalm 10:11). "But Zion said,

The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me" (Isaiah 49:14).



Are you a discouraged Christian? You are if you ignore the Lord's majestic

promises and doubt that he means what he says! He promised, "Can a woman forget

her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?

Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee

upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me" (Isaiah

49:15-16).



You will be downcast if you go on carrying unnecessary burdens of guilt, fear,

loneliness, anxiety, and turmoil simply because you refuse to rest on the

Lord's great and precious promises.



God is not mocking his children when he promises, "And we know that all things

work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called

according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).



God is not lying when he promises, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the

righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry…. The righteous cry, and the

Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles" (Psalm 34:15 and

17).



Let’s not become impatient and act according to our feelings. When we get

into trouble and cry out to God for mercy and help, all heaven goes into motion

on our behalf. Should the Lord let us see into the spiritual world to behold the

good things he is preparing for those who call on him and trust him, it would be

an incredible sight for our eyes.

PRAISING GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS

“They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing
of thy righteousness” (Psalm 145:7).

We cannot deny God’s claim to praise him in all his excellencies, but we are
especially called to praise him for his goodness.

Note that the Psalmist insists on an abundance of praise in memory of the
Father’s goodness—they sang the Hebrew for abundant utterances: to gush out
like water rushing from a fountain.

In Psalm 107:8-9, David writes, “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his
goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth
the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

This truth of praising God for his past goodness struck a cord in my heart and
I have been moved upon to do as David did. We are called upon to celebrate his
goodness.

David opens up the goodness he speaks of—God is inclined to use mercy, as he
sympathizes with our affliction and miseries. David borrowed from Exodus 34:6,
where God spoke to Moses: “The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The
Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in
goodness and truth.”

Beloved, look back over the past and remember how good the Lord has been to
you. Remember his compassions that never failed to bring you through. I am
finding pleasure in praising God for all things, but especially for his
goodness. Not only for past goodness, but for those I see daily—the goodness
I see all around me now in the present.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I
will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (Psalm 23:6).

Great devo by David Wilkerson

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011

PRAISE GOD FOR HIS TENDER MERCIES

I have a short message for those who are experiencing a painful, overwhelming
situation. I am not speaking to those who now enjoy a time of rest from
suffering, who are not in any kind of pain or sorrow. Thank God for those times
of quiet rest.

Rather, I receive so many letters from precious followers of Jesus who are
living with incredible inner sorrow and crisis situations: divorce, children on
drugs or in jail, the death of a spouse. A woman who is so in love with the Lord
grieves over the death of three of her children, who suffocated in a fire. A
pastor grieves for his wife, who left him and his children for a lesbian lover.
It goes on and on, as so many godly people are burdened with grief and pain.

I have a message for you who suffer sorrow, who grieve or live with pain. In
Psalm 40, David cried, “Innumerable evils have compassed me about… Be
pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me” (Psalm
40:12-13). “Let all those that seek you rejoice and be glad in thee… But I
am poor and needy; the Lord thinketh upon me; thou art my help and my
deliverer; do not tarry, O my Lord” (40:16-17).

I have been so blessed and comforted by this one line in verse 17: “The Lord
thinketh upon me.” Imagine that. The Lord God who created all things, the God
of this universe, is thinking about me.

Even now, at this very hour, his thoughts are about you, in your hour of need.

When Israel was captive in Babylon, mourning over the loss of homes and
families, enduring grief and trouble, God sent word to them through Jeremiah:
“For I know my thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of
peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). God said
to his people, “Your nightmare is going to end. I have only good, loving
thoughts toward you, and if you seek me with all your heart, you will find
me” (see Jeremiah 29:11-13).

God is not mad at you. Saintly people do get afflicted, so do not waver in your
trust in him. In times of stress and feelings of loneliness and regrets, go to
prayer. Pour your heart out to the Lord. He is thinking of you – and he is at
work for you.

Do you have room for Jesus this Christmas?

Hope to see everyone this Sunday, Dec. 19th at 10a.m. as Pastor Mike preaches a message on this very subject.