Today’s Reading: Josh. 19-21, Luke 2:25-52
Today’s Reflection: Josh. 19:50 According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
Joshua, a man of faith, asked for a specific city, and the Lord granted his request. Did you know that God still grants that which we ask? Oh yes, nothing would please Him any more than to give you the desires of your heart. The only stipulation is, your desires need to fit within His desires!
Now, before you feel like that narrows your options, you better think twice. God does not set boundaries for us to be bound, but for us to be free. For example, since I live in America, I have freedoms granted me by the United States Constitution that give me a broad spectrum of legal activities to benefit from and enjoy.
As a matter of fact, there are many more liberties than there are laws. However, if I break even one law badly enough (say, for example, murder), then all of the sudden I am imprisoned and can no longer enjoy all of the freedoms that the constitution allows for me to enjoy, because I broke the law.
In like fashion, all God wants is for us to live within the provisions of His constitution (aka word). When we desire what He desires, He freely gives us all things to enjoy. When we desire what He forbids, we restrict ourselves from the benefits of God’s favor.
We cannot expect a righteous judge to reward lawlessness. Now, having said that, I like what Joshua asked for…an entire city. I not only like the fact that he asked for the city, but I like the fact that it was granted just exactly as he asked.
When was the last time you prayed a BIG prayer? To give you an idea of how big your prayers are permitted to be by God, Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”.
Do you know what that means? That means that we can’t pray a prayer too big for God. We can’t even get close to how big God thinks. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask, OR think. You know, those crazy huge thoughts we wouldn’t dare pray because we think there’s no way God would give us THAT.
Yep, THAT is EXACTLY what we should ask God for, because even THAT doesn’t come close to how much higher His thoughts and abilities are for us! So, what “city” are you going to ask God for?
It may not be a literal city, but let that word “city” be symbolic of whatever monumental prayer request you have in your heart, but have been too timid to talk to God about. Pray big, dream big, and expect big things from God!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Floodgates of Heaven, Volume 2, Entry 84 of 365
-------------------------------------------------------------
copyright © by Gary D. Caudill
Give the gift of INSPIRATION this year! Fill someone's 2017 with a word of HOPE each and every day of the new year (iPhone and/or iPad users may need to "view in Safari" to see the "Give as a Gift" option, email me at floodgatesofheaven1@gmail.com if you need assistance...
copyright © by Gary D. Caudill
Give the gift of INSPIRATION this year! Fill someone's 2017 with a word of HOPE each and every day of the new year (iPhone and/or iPad users may need to "view in Safari" to see the "Give as a Gift" option, email me at floodgatesofheaven1@gmail.com if you need assistance...
