Not "HOW" but "WHO"

One of the greatest hindrances to faith is trying to figure out HOW God will answer your prayers. Quit asking yourself “HOW is this possible? HOW will God provide for me?” HOW does God perform miracles?” We think if God will simply explain everything to us ahead of time that it will increase our faith. It won’t.

When a blind man begged Jesus to give him sight, he didn’t ask Him to explain HOW He would do it: “Before you heal me, could you please tell me HOW you’re going to fix my eyes? It’s a problem with my optic nerve, isn’t it? Since you don’t have a scalpel, HOW will you get inside my head to perform surgery?”

Jesus didn’t reply, “Those are great questions that deserve an explanation. Here’s exactly how I plan to do the miracle and restore your sight…” Of course, Jesus never explained how He did miracles. He doesn’t want us concentrating on HOW our prayer will be answered but on WHO is able to bring it to pass.

When the angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary she would be pregnant with the Son of God, Mary asked, “HOW can this be, since I am a virgin?” Instead of explaining HOW, Gabriel answered WHO. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:34-35). (If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray? p.37,41).

So if you’ll stop asking HOW God will answer your prayer, and instead focus on WHO has the ability to do the impossible, you’ll experience peace as you learn to trust Him.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net ****************************************************************************************************

NEW STUDY: “Can Evolution Produce an Eye?”

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

No More Than You Can Handle

A friend of mine was helping unload a moving truck. He was inside the truck handing out heavy boxes for men to carry to the house. My friend’s four-year-old grandson saw what they were doing and wanted to help. He couldn’t give the boy heavy objects, so he handed him little boxes to carry. He knew how much the boy could handle and wouldn't give him more than he could carry. God knows our limits and won’t give us more than we can handle. 

Here are three ways that He keeps burdens from being too great to bear.
1. God won’t reveal more than you need to know. Although you might think you’d like to see your entire future, you would live in dread of the upcoming trials if you knew they were coming. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). He gives information on a “need to know” basis. Life is a cinch by the inch but hard by the yard.

2. God sets limits on your trials. Just as bridges have a load limit, God places a “load limit” on our trials. “No temptation (Greek-"test") has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted ("tested”) beyond what you are able” (1 Cor. 10:13). God’s not going test us with more than we can bear.

3. God will give you the strength and wisdom to get through your problem. When Paul went through his “thorn in the flesh” difficulty, God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). When we depend on God’s grace rather than our own human power, we will experience strength from God to get through the problem.

God may allow you to go the edge so you can experience His power, but He will never allow you to go over the edge. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net ****************************************************************************************************

BIBLE STUDY: “How did Peter’s shadow and Paul’s handkerchief heal people?”

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

Check Your Motives

When detectives try to solve a murder they ask themselves, "Who had a motive for doing this?" Was it someone who would inherit a fortune? (Greed) Was it a person who had something to hide and wanted to keep the victim quiet? (Felt threatened) Was it someone who was wronged by the victim? (Revenge) Was it a rejected lover? (Jealousy) Figure out the motive and you'll narrow down the list of suspects.

Motives lead to actions, although actions don’t always reveal motives. Proverbs 16:2 says, "All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight but the Lord weighs the motives." Jesus specifically instructed us how to correctly give offerings, fast, and pray to keep our motives in check (Matt. 6:1-6, 16-18). The Lord looks past our outward deeds to see why we’re doing it.

On the Day of Judgment, He “will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts, and then each man’s praise will come to him from God” (1 Cor. 4:5). If your heart is right, then what you do will also probably be right and God will reward it.

So as you go about your business today, check your motives. “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31) www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net ****************************************************************************************************

BIBLE STUDY: “What does ‘the earth is full of God’s glory’ mean?”

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett