Devotions

Have you been challenged to step out in a new direction that demands supernatural faith? Do you need God to work a miracle in your life so that you can realize your dream?

In God’s eyes, true faith has nothing to do with the size of a work you aim to accomplish. Rather, it has to do with the focus and direction of your life. You see, God isn’t as concerned with your grand vision as he is with who you are becoming. Indeed, no work, regardless of how great, is of any value to the Lord unless the lesser, hidden matters of faith are being done.

“If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:12). Jesus is saying to his disciples, “You say you want a revelation, something to enable you to do greater things. Yet, how can you be entrusted with that kind of faith if you’re not reliable with the things others have given you?”

Jesus’ words must have left his disciples scratching their heads. The Master knew they didn’t own anything and they had forsaken all to be his disciples. So what does Jesus mean when he says, “that which is another man’s” (16:12)? He is speaking of our bodies and souls, which he purchased with his own blood. “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Jesus is telling us, “Your body doesn’t belong to you anymore, and if you don’t take care of that body — if you don’t allow me to look inside you, deal with your sin, and sanctify you — how can you expect me to entrust you with something greater? I want you to step back and look at what you’ve done with the things I have already given to you.”

I thank the Lord for heaven-sent visions and God-given burdens. Yet, many burdened believers don't realize that before a dream can be brought to pass, God often does years of stripping and breaking. Jesus wants us to just bring our faith, he will bring about a true vision.

“I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38).

Paul gives us a helpful word to cling to here: convinced. It is the key to being freed from every doubt about God’s favor toward us.

Even when we have lingering doubts, God’s grace flows freely to heal us. It happened for the disciple Thomas, who doubted his friends when they said Jesus was alive. Thomas represents a lot of Christians today. They once believed in Christ and rejoiced as they saw God transforming lives. But then came a lingering trial that dragged on for years.

These Christians still go to church and hear sermons about God’s goodness. But something inside them has died and they can’t resurrect it. The lingering disappointment of their long, dismal setback has beaten them down too far.

Is this you? Jesus wants to come to you just as he did to Thomas. He wants to show you his scars from the worst possible trial. He wants the power of his resurrection to raise you to life in a way you could never do for yourself. He comes to convince you of his eternal Word — to demonstrate through his resurrection that nothing will ever derail you from his kingdom purpose: “No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (8:39).

Because of Jesus’ loving grace, Thomas believed again and became one of the most impactful of all the disciples. Jesus withheld nothing from Thomas when his friend needed to believe again. Jesus also calls you his friend, and he has withheld nothing to keep you in his love. He brings resurrection life to you in the midst of your trial and, like Thomas, you will see his glory again and be amazed.

Psalm 56 is meant for those who have been wounded — whether by family, friends, or the words and actions of the ungodly. It is a word for those who love the Lord yet who shed tears and carry burdens that seem to grow heavier by the day.

Some believers wake up every day under a cloud of fear and despair. They may feel crushed and frightened because of financial problems. Others face serious health battles and insufferable pain while still others grieve over family members who are in deep trouble, perhaps in rebellion against the Lord.

Hear the blessed Word of God directed to you in your hour of need:

• Psalm 56:3: Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
• Psalm 56:4: In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?
• Psalm 56:8: You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?
• Psalm 56:9: When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me.
• Psalm 56: 13: For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

These are anointed words from the Spirit of God. The Lord knows all about your struggles and pain. He knows every detail of your situation, and he hears even the unspoken cries of your broken heart.

Heed the words we have been given: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Your cries and prayers have been heard by the Lord and even now he is doing his secret, behind-the-scenes work of deliverance. Until you see the answer, he will give you mercy and strength.

You are probably familiar with the story of Job in the Old Testament. If so, you remember that Satan could not touch this godly servant of God without first obtaining permission from heaven. The Lord told the devil he could afflict Job’s body, he could take him through baffling trials, but he could not kill him.

But did you realize that Satan also asked permission to test Peter’s loyalty? Satan knew Jesus’ kingdom was about to come so once he had possessed Judas, he determined to go after another disciple. I believe he made his presence felt at the Passover table, as “there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest” (Luke 22:24). The disciples had just had an intimate time of communion with their Lord, who told them he was about to die, but apparently they understood nothing of what he had said. Instead, they started arguing over who would be left in charge when he was gone.

Satan was thrilled as he sized up the disciples one by one, wondering, “Who should be next after Judas? Nathaniel? John? Ah, there sits Peter! Jesus called him a rock; in fact, Christ said he would build his church on Peter’s proclamation that he was the messiah. Yes, Peter’s the one.”

Satan lobbied to make Peter a target. “Jesus, you claimed you would build your church on this man’s testimony. Well, if you’re so sure that Peter is a rock, let me sift him for a while. I’m telling you, Peter will crumble, just as Judas did.”

Sifting is obviously a purifying process, separating the bad and useless from the good and fruitful. I believe that Satan thought Peter’s faith would fail in the shaking. But Jesus promised Peter, “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:32). Jesus was assuring him, “Even though you will have some serious failures, I am telling you that ultimately your faith will not fail.”

Beloved, don’t be afraid of the trial you are going through. Jesus knows the outcome and he is telling you, “Hold fast. I have an eternal purpose behind your sifting. It’s all for the weight of my glory.”

Shortly after the resurrection of Jesus, Peter and John encountered a crippled beggar just outside the temple gate where they were going to worship. This man was carried to the gate daily to make his living by begging and he asked Peter and John for alms. Peter responded, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The man was instantly healed and in utter joy he began running through the temple, jumping and shouting, “Jesus healed me!”

People recognized the cripple and a crowd gathered as they marveled at the sight. Peter and John took advantage of the situation and began boldly preaching repentance, resulting in the salvation of thousands (see Acts 4:4). When the rulers of the synagogue saw what was happening they were outraged and had the men thrown into jail. Then they demanded to know, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (4:7). Of course, they knew exactly whose name was being preached, but they purposely blinded themselves to it.

Peter was emboldened by the Holy Spirit and answered the rulers, “By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead … There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (4:10 and 12). The rulers were stunned and “they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (4:13).

What was the mark that distinguished Peter and John? It was the presence of Jesus! Those synagogue rulers realized, ‘We crucified Jesus, yet he’s still speaking today through these two men.” In that very hour, Peter and John were fulfilling Jesus’ command to testify of him “in Jerusalem” (Acts 1:8). Likewise, I believe God’s powerful witness in these last days will not come through preaching alone. It will also come through men and women who “have been with Jesus” by shutting themselves in with him and seeking him with all their heart and soul.

What greater evidence of God could there be than lives transformed by the supernatural power of Christ? May it be said of you, “That man, that woman, has been with Jesus!”