The Stumbling Block

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!  

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him...Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” - Acts 12:5, 13-16 

Father, this is so like us.  We pray and hope, but when You answer we struggle to believe it, even when we see it with our eyes.  It is a strange place that we find ourselves, with enough faith to pray, but not enough to believe You will answer.  After the woman who was healed of the issue of blood reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, Jesus said, “Daughter, your FAITH has healed you. Go in peace." - Luke 8:48.  I wonder how many times our lack of faith has been a stumbling block to what You intended to do.  How can we believe You for miraculous answers when we stumble over the mundane ones?  “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” - Mark 9:24.


Lord, I lift my friend.  I ask that You blow on the embers of their faith.  Exchange their half-hearted, timid prayers for ones that are full of faith and trusting in Your goodness and power.  Lord, You are sovereign and know what is best, but I ask that their faith-filled prayers would be met with a glorious answer.  Help them to not only answer the door at Your first knock, but that they would even now be looking out the window in hopeful expectation.  On opening the door, bless them to find a beautiful gift that no one else can give or take away.  You call us to pray, becauseg You intend to answer.  Increase their faith to ask, believe and receive.  Thank You in advance for answering, Lord!  We praise You for Your goodness, and miraculous power!  In Jesus Name!  ❤️

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unshakeable Hope

Image
  UNSHAKEABLE HOPE By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” - Psalms ‭139:23  ‬NIV As the times we are in are heating up, our eyes search for HOPE and comfort.  We look longingly over our shoulder at the “Good Old Days”—simpler times, old relationships and habits—people and things that, in the past, brought momentary relief.  But, more often than not, we find that the fleeting well of comfort found there has since dried up. ‬ We have not been abandoned to fend for ourselves, however. God, Himself, will be our refuge!‬ When everything else is shaking, we have been given a glorious hope.  God is immovable, and when we put our trust in Him, so are we!  ‬ “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 125:1-2 NIV Beloved, let’s not until the worl...
Read more

Kissing Boo-Boos

Image
  KISSING BOO-BOOS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly Oh, the miracle of a kiss on a boo-boo!  I remember being little and getting a cut on my finger.  I’d raise that chubby finger and go running to my mom.  She always knew what to do.  She would gently clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  We weren’t done until my hurt had been kissed.  There was magic in that application of compassion and love.  It made the pain go away. We have all seen that toddler with a boo-boo.  They run to their mom or dad to clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  If the wound isn’t treated, the tiny nick can continue to hurt and bleed. Each time it is touched or bumped they are reminded of the pain.  And an untreated wound can become infected and grow. There are people all around us with unkissed boo-boos today.  They are hurt, afraid or sad.  They go through life fearful of being hurt again, and looking for someone they can t...
Read more

The Secret of The Birds

Image
 THE SECRET OF THE BIRDS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Praise the Lord from the earth, Sea monsters and all deep sea creatures; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged birds.” - Psalm 148:7, 10.   Morning has broken and the choir of birds outside my window is singing their hearts out.  Birds may not be considered to be intelligent, yet their response to God in hardship could teach us a few things.  We humans grumble to God about so much, but the birds praise their creator in severe heat and bitter cold.  They may have nests and the shade of trees, but they don’t have the many comforts we enjoy, yet they praise Him.  They know a secret:  God is enthroned upon our praises.  When our hearts are full of worship, He takes His rightful place and brings with Him joy and peace. Let’s take a lesson from the birds.  Their trust in their maker to provide for their needs, even in the face of harsh seasons, calls out to our faith.  It ...
Read more