with God."
(Luke 1:37)
Welcome back, precious friends! How are you feeling this morning? Elated? Discouraged? Tired? Energized? Hungry? Full? Hopeless? Hopeful? Regardless of your fleshly feelings, I encourage you to drink deeply and eat hungrily from the Lord's Word.
Forty days may seem incredibly long, but the journey is one day at a time, one meal at a time, one moment at a time. The enemy may attempt to discourage you, but cling to the Lord "because the One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4).
Today's reflection Scripture, Luke 1:37, reminds us that nothing is impossible with God! If we attempt anything in our own strength, it's doomed to fail, at least from an eternal kingdom perspective. We will succeed, however, in that to which God has called us ... if we submit to and trust in Him.
Last night, I was drawn to the quiet faith of Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus Christ, and her cousin, Elizabeth, the miracle mother of John the Baptist. I was struck by their confidence in accepting and submitting to the Lord's plans for each of them. The Lord's will for their lives involved personal sacrifice and a degree of persecution from doubters and discouragers. Yet, they remained faithful to Him and encouraged one another:"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1:45).
Indeed, blessed are we who believe! Whatever the Lord has purposed during this 40 days, He will accomplish! "The One Who calls you is faithful and He will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24). We must be willing, however, to submit to Him. Our purpose during this time is the same--to draw nearer to Him with whole-hearted devotion--but our path may differ. He has a unique plan for each of us as well as a personalized route to get us there.
Praise God for His love and faithfulness! "God, Who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." (1 Corinthians 1:9).
Precious Father, thank You for the gift of this day! Thank You that Your Word "is at work in [those] who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). I pray, Lord, that You will continue to guide each of us on this journey and that Your faithfulness will strengthen our faith along the way. I pray, Lord, that we would be an encouragement to one another, as we individually seek to glorify You through the sacrifice of our lives. In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
"He has filled the hungry
with good things..."
(Luke 1:53)
(How can we encourage and pray for you today? Please feel free to let us know by posting a comment below; click on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer.)
PS-The enemy was fiddling around in cyberspace yesterday, and there were some technical difficulties with our website server. We apologize for any problems or frustrations you may have experienced. Of course, the website and its content exists only as an encouragement and as a practical tool. All you really need is the Lord and His Word as recorded in the Holy Bible! Everything should be up and running today. We thank you for your grace and patience, and we pray that you have a glorious day in the Lord!
Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.
Precious Father, thank You for the gift of this day! Thank You that Your Word "is at work in [those] who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). I pray, Lord, that You will continue to guide each of us on this journey and that Your faithfulness will strengthen our faith along the way. I pray, Lord, that we would be an encouragement to one another, as we individually seek to glorify You through the sacrifice of our lives. In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
with good things..."
(Luke 1:53)
(How can we encourage and pray for you today? Please feel free to let us know by posting a comment below; click on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer.)
PS-The enemy was fiddling around in cyberspace yesterday, and there were some technical difficulties with our website server. We apologize for any problems or frustrations you may have experienced. Of course, the website and its content exists only as an encouragement and as a practical tool. All you really need is the Lord and His Word as recorded in the Holy Bible! Everything should be up and running today. We thank you for your grace and patience, and we pray that you have a glorious day in the Lord!
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10 comments:
Praise God for His wonderful faithfulness! I'm going through EAT a second time, as I feel the need to go further with the Lord there. As I was reading Isa 58, I realized that I needed a fresh filling from the Holy Spirit. I cannot do this fast on my own strength, and perish the thought of even trying to accomplish this, or any venture of God's, on my own.
I finished my breakfast with prayer and repentance, and then came over to the blog. To my delight, today's blog touched on the truth that we cannot do this fast in our own strength, but that we must filled with the Holy Spirit. I praise God for the way He uses those who developed this blog (and EAT & WELLSPRING). I praise God for using His people as His hands and feet, and for revealing His desire for us to be truly of one accord in Him. I am so excited to see God at work through this fast. MAY ALL GLORY AND PRAISE BE UNTO JESUS!
Thanks so much for your comment, Cheesy Goodness, and all glory to God! I had an entirely different idea for today's post, but, thankfully, I submitted it to Him and let Him lead me, according to what HE wanted to say this morning! Bless you for your faithfulness; please know that we are lifting you in prayer.
Kathryn,
I ask prayer for a concert ministry at church this afternoon and for the Lord's guidance for the development of several ministry teams at our local assembly.
Thanks, Mike, for sharing your prayer requests. Please know that we are interceding for you.
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5)
I covet prayer for our first Women's Retreat in many years at our church. Around 70 women have signed up, and I pray that the Holy Spirit's presence would be palpable through the whole weekend and that the women of St. Luke would be spiritually revived.
I will also be presenting at one of the sessions and ask for prayer that I submit myself to God in humility so that He may speak through me.
We are praying, Celly B., for the St. Luke women's retreat this weekend!
Father, I do pray that You will touch every heart in attendance this weekend. Encourage those who are earnestly seeking You, and make Yourself known in a personal way to those who are feeling empty and dry. Give them a taste of Your river of delights (reference Psalm 36:8)! Cover Celly and the other presenters, Lord, in Your grace, and bless these willing vessels. Let them speak only that which You want said ... nothing more and nothing less. Work in the hearts of all so that this revival time of fellowship and teaching takes root in the lives of everyone in attendance. I pray in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:5-6)
Kathryn, the Lord gave me Gen. 18:14a - "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" - to use as I prayed for healing with Bruce (paralyzed) this morning. The Lord was using that question as He responded to Abraham when Sarah laughed about being able to get pregnant. Luke 1:37 was referring to Elizabeth's pregnancy.It wasn't until I read today's Fan into Flames that I made the connection between Gen. 18:14a and Luke 1:37. God can bring life into any impossible situation! Thanks for sharing this yummy morsel.
Thank you so much for your recent visit and encouragement and for writing such a beautiful and inspiring blog
Amen, Jan! Thank you for sharing that beautiful and truthful insight.
" 'Go, stand in the temple courts ... and tell the people the full message of this new life.' " (Acts 5:20)
Becoming Me, thank you, too, for the beautiful blessing of all that you share. All glory to God! Have a glorious day in the Lord ...
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