You Are Fully Loaded
Let me tell you something … You are like an expensive sports car – you come fully loaded.
When God created you, He put in you everything you would need to live a rich meaningful life. He put in you everything you need to fulfill His plan for your life.
God is a strategic God. He’s not random. He didn’t just create you and say, “Hmmm. Let’s just see what happens. Let’s see what he can do.”
No, God is precise. He’s intentional. Down to the smallest detail. And when He laid out a plan for your life, He studied it carefully. He thought about what you would need, and what it would take to get you there. And then He matched you with your world.
He gave you the talent you would need, the creativity, the strength. You’re the right size, and you have the right looks, the right personality, and the right family. You didn’t get shortchanged. You are completely equipped for the race that’s been designed for you.
Don’t say: “If I had a better personality, I could do something great … If I was more outgoing … If I came from a different family … If I weren’t so small.”
Winning Against Weariness
Today you may be dealing with battle fatigue. It’s taking longer than you thought. You’re tired of fighting, and you don’t think you can go on.
Those who “wait upon the Lord” are described in one version as “those who look for God’s goodness, who expect God’s favor, who long for God’s blessing.” Waiting is supposed to be active. Take hold of God’s strength. Say: “Lord, thank You that You’re turning this situation around. Thank You that You’re bigger than my problems. Thank You that You’re stronger than my cancer.”
Don’t Be Discouraged by the Dark
The dark doesn’t mean that nothing is happening. The dark doesn’t mean that God is not working, that He didn’t hear your prayer.
Your thoughts will tell you, You would have seen something by now … You would start to feel a little better … One of those companies would have called you back … That addiction wouldn’t be this strong.
But the Bible says, “The moment you pray, the tide of the battle turns.” (Psalm 56:9)
You can’t see it, but when you prayed, you left the p.m., and you came into the a.m. It’s a new day. You may not see any sign of it – that’s okay, the sun is on its way up. You can’t stop the sun from rising, and you can’t stop God from keeping His promises.
Don’t give up. Don’t get discouraged. The moment you began to pray, the tide of the battle began to turn.
God is on Your Side
You have Almighty God on your side.
David was a teenager when he faced down Goliath. When Goliath saw how small David was, he began to laugh. He said, “Am I dog that you come at me with a stick?” He was saying, “Is that the best you’ve got?”
David looked at Goliath and said, in effect, “I may be small, but I’m stronger than I look. I may be young, but I’m more experienced than I look. I may be skinny, but I’m more powerful than I look.”
David took his slingshot and, with one stone, brought down Goliath.
You may have some Goliaths telling you what you can’t so:
- “You’re not strong enough to break that addiction.”
- “You can’t beat that sickness.”
- “You’ll never accomplish that dream.”
- “You’re not big enough!”
You have to do like David, and tell Goliath, “I may look small, but I’m stronger than you think. You haven’t seen the best of me. You look at me and you think I’m just a small David or a weak Gideon. But you’re looking at a Mighty Hero.”
I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but hear me when I say this … That problem is not going to defeat you. That trouble is not going to define you. That loss is not how your story ends. You are going to discover things in you that you didn’t know you had.
I believe even now strength is rising up in you. Dreams are coming back to life. You’re about to see God do things that you couldn’t do, turn situations around that looked permanent, and open doors that person can shut.
Your Place is Waiting
Prayer of Forgiveness
Get Off Your High Horse
Jesus, I picture You right now … not as a character in a dusty old book or a figure in a stained-glass window … but as You really were. A young man, full of life, full of love. Your smile is bright. A crowd is gathered around You. But You focus on one person in that crowd … one person who’s lived a very messy life – a life out of bounds. But you don’t judge them, You just love them. A love that changes them. Now, Lord, look at me like that. Because I also have lived a life out of bounds, for I am a sinner. I’ve messed up. And I need Your forgiveness. I need Your mercy and grace for all the times I have done deeds worthy of judgement.
Jesus, I give My life to You. I surrender.
In Your Name I pray, Amen.