He...Will do it...

Just a few years ago I kept hearing the whisper of the Holy Spirit say..."I will do it!" 

"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."
1 Thessalonians 5:24

I honestly had no clue at the time what He might be referring to. I just kept hearing this phrase, over and over.

About a month into this continual impression on my heart, our son took a drastic turn away from his faith and family. Oh...my....gosh.
Has anybody have their world drop out from under them?

The Lord Jesus is fantastic, amazing, awesome, and wild! He already knew what my husband and I would face and He was telling us that ...HE would do it! HE would bring full restoration. Other brothers and sisters in the faith, not knowing anything, would speak the scripture above to us...a divine echo of reassurance.

You know what? God did DO it! Within months, our son had his own Damascus Road experience (Look up Acts 9:1-22 for the story).

What are you facing today? Whatever it is...let God DO IT! Don't try to figure it out. Be absolutely obedient to what He tells you. Don't try to HELP Him out. If you are in control...He isn't.

Read the verse at the top, again. Let it sink into your soul. Look at the verse prior to it (v.23), you'll see that it pertains to everything in your life...

God will DO IT! (If...you let Him!)

photo: Donal Skehan

Willing...and Obedient...

Obedience....The truth of the matter for me...and a smile comes to my face... is that I am usually willing...but not obedient. Or....I am obedient...but, without a willing heart! Think about that for a moment!

"If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;"  Isaiah 1:19

My heart's cry lately comes from James 3:17, where one of the attributes of the Lord that He wants to impart to my life is the ability to be "willing to yield." Something about that phrase speaks to the depths of my soul...to yield...everything...yes, everything to Jesus and His plans, His work, His desires...without a moment's hesitation on my part.

Often, obedience sounds like such a harsh word...until you become a parent. Then, it is a rhapsody to your ears! The word...indeed the action...means to watchfully and carefully listen and follow through with matching behavior to instructions given by someone.

Now...think Someone...who knows better, best, greater, kinder, with unfailing love, and purposeful benevolence...yes, I am learning increasingly as the days, months, and years pass, that Lord Jesus knows what is best for me. My own way...well...is hollow, not fulfilling...often destructive...much like a handful of ashes.

Then the promise...yet, isn't His presence promise enough?? Still... God gives a lavish promise to willingness and obedience: we will eat the good (translation from Hebrew - goodness, prosperity, joy, and peace) of the land...the land of our lives.

Yes...this is the truth...and what a lavish truth it is....

photo: Haircut Economics