God is Not an "Or" God

By: Jenifer Metzger

Several years ago I was praying and asking God to work is a few areas. Then I followed the prayer with, "But if I can only have one, please answer the first need." Wait. What!?

God nudged me and said, "Jenifer, I am not an 'or' God."

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything,

through prayer and petition with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

The Bible tells us to submit our requests to God. It does not say to submit our requests to God in order of importance. God doesn't look down from Heaven to see which need we want answered the most or which seems the most important. And He doesn't look at our list of needs and say yes to what we wanted the most and no to what we weren't as serious about. God's yeses and nos come from His plan and will for our lives.

This is the confidence we have before Him:

If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

And if we know that He hears whatever we ask,

we know that we have what we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15

God hears every single prayer we utter. He has the power to answer every single need we ever lift to Him. His power is limitless. We need to go to Him with the knowledge and confidence that He hears and He will answer according to His plan.

Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you

believed you would see the glory of God?”

John 11:40

Friend, go to God with confidence. Believe in Him. Know He hears and will answer. And know that He is not an 'or' God.

Discussion:
1. Have you ever prayed like I did; "But if I can only have one, please answer the first need"?
2. Have you ever not prayed over a need because you felt it wasn't important or wanted to make sure God answered another need first?

Names of God Series: Cared for by the Eternal Father

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: Mohamed Awwam

"For a child will be born for us,

a son will be given to us,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

He will be named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

~Isaiah 9:6

In our names of God series, we come now to the name "Eternal Father", also translated "Everlasting Father". This name means that God is our Father for eternity, that His love, care, provision, and protection of us will never come to an end.

This truth is an especially beautiful and comforting one for those who didn't grow up with an earthly father or for those whose earthly father left a lot to be desired. For people in those situations it can be hard to relate to God as a Father in a positive light, for that experience is so foreign to them. But it is passages such as this one that can help make God as Father a beautiful and comforting doctrine. 

While your earthly father may not have been reliable, God is.

While your earthly father may not have loved you unconditionally, God does.

While your earthly father may have turned his back on you, God won't.

While your earthly father may have refused to meet your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs, God doesn't. 

Rest assured, dear sister, that God is your eternal, everlasting Father, Who has voluntarily tasked Himself with faithfully meeting your every need for all time. He loves you that much!

Reflection Questions:

1) What comes to mind when you think of God as Father?

2) How can this become a comforting doctrine for you?

3) How can you encourage someone else with this truth today?

Ask For It

 By: Joanne Viola

Wisdom. We know we need some to navigate life properly, or successfully. But do we possess wisdom?

Tucked away in the Old Testament we find a king. King Solomon. Solomon was fully aware of his own inexperience to lead the nation, the nation’s greatness, and the great responsibility now placed upon him to lead them.

When, in a dream, God asks him what he would want, Solomon responds:

“Give me an understanding heart so that
 I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. 
For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” 
(1 Kings 3:9, NLT)

A most simple request, and yet we are told:

“The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom.” 
(1 Kings 3:10, NLT) 

Wisdom.

We still need it to live and make right choices today. It’s a necessary ingredient in leading our families, in our places of work, and in our churches. Solomon humbly recognized his need to understand the people around him to lead them well and make the right and just decisions.

“Wise people not only have knowledge of human nature and of the created world, but they also know how to use that knowledge in the right way at the right time. Wisdom isn’t a theoretical idea or an abstract commodity; it’s very practical and personal. Many people are smart enough to make a good living but aren’t wise enough to make a good life, a life of fulfillment that honors the Lord.”

(from The Wiersbe Study Bible, page 479)

Having knowledge, being smart, is not enough. We need to know how to use and apply knowledge to our situations. It is wisdom which will guide us rightly in God’s ways.

The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom, but He is also pleased when we ask for it as well.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, 
and he will give it to you. 
He will not rebuke you for asking.” 
(James 1:5, NLT)

We need wisdom daily in every situation, with each person. As we humbly come before God, acknowledging our inadequate supply of wisdom, He is generous in supplying wisdom.

“Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.”
(Proverbs 4:7, NLT) 

 

Reflection:
Is there a situation in your life in which you need wisdom? Ask God to supply what you need and see how He will help you to work through it.

 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

 

 

YOU Be Strong and Courageous

 By: Lauren Thomas 

“Be strong and courageous.” You might know this as the famous line from Joshua 1:9, where God commissions Joshua on how to approach the task of leading Israel. But in my Bible reading this year, I have been struck by just how many times this phrase is sprinkled throughout. 

 

If this phrase happened only in Joshua 1:9, I would believe that this exhortation to strength and courage only applied to Joshua and only to the task of leading Israel.

 

However, because it is found elsewhere, I’m inclined to think that this is an exhortation for all of us! 

 

Be strong and courageous!

Based on translation, this phrase is found as much as 15 times in the Bible. And if we consider derivatives or synonyms, this message is plentiful in Scripture. 

 

Joshua was a leader of God’s people, but the message was not unique to him. It’s not just for Christian leaders. It’s for all who put their hope in the Lord. 

 

Be strong, and let your heart be courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord.

Psalm 34:21 CSB

 

I’ve seen the phrase on men’s ministry shirts – “be strong and courageous”. But it’s not just for men. It’s for all who wait for the Lord.

 

Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14 ESV

 

It’s for you, dear sister. It’s for whatever you face. Be strong and courageous! 

 

That tough conversation you need to have? Be strong and courageous!

 

That parenting situation that is challenging you? Be strong and courageous!

 

That school or work presentation coming up? Be strong and courageous! 

 

The fear and uncertainty you feel about our world right now? Be strong and courageous. 

 

Whatever you face as a Christian, be assured, God is calling you to strength and courage.

 

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

Proverbs 31:25 ESV

 

Reflection:

Do you believe “be strong and courageous” applies to you? What situation are you facing that needs you to show up with strength and courage. How does the Lord help you to be strong and courageous?

Servant's Heart

 By: Grace Metzger 

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.
 If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,
 so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ

1 Peter 4: 10-11 ESV

Recently my mother and I were discussing something, which in reality that means I was complaining very loudly and my very kind mother was allowing me to vent to her. But we were talking about how people serve nowadays. I am very passionate about serving in the Church, growing up as a pastor's kid this was just something you always did. I started serving as soon as I could; since I was 11 years old I've been teaching in the preschool class, running the coffee house and helping out in nursery. But as I was complaining I realized that I kept saying that serving is just what you're supposed to do, I wasn't talking about the actual reason why we should be serving. I started looking into why I actual serve in the church.

 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak,

remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35 ESV

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about serving is Jesus washing the disciples' feet. Jesus Christ Himself knelt before the disciples and washed their dirty feet, not because He was asked to, not because no one else could, but He did it out of His love for others. It would have been easy for Him to tell one of the others to do it, it would have been easy for Him to refuse to do it. But instead, He humbled Himself to do it because of His great love for others. 

Cleaning their feet wasn't a pretty job, it wasn't like His other acts of service such teaching others or healing. But He still felt like it was important to do the not so pretty jobs -that He wasn't too good to do that kind of service. 

 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach

Roman's 12:6-7 ESV

Everyone has a different gift that we're called to use. Sometimes we don't get the "glamorous" gifts, not everyone is called to preaching and not everyone is called to be on the worship team. But Jesus Himself demonstrated the importance of each gift. He showed that helping others by cleaning the disciples' feet is important just like teaching. Maybe your gift is to clean the church, maybe your gift is to be in the nursery, or serve coffee in the coffee house. Those are all important gifts that God is calling us to use. 

Having a servant's heart is about accepting that God gave each of us a gift and we are called to use it to help others so that we may glorify Him. Whether that be singing on the worship team, teaching a Sunday school class, or cleaning the church building. Whatever our gifts are, God is wanting us to use these gifts and use them with a happy and grateful heart. God called me to work with the younger kids, that is why I serve in my church. What gift is God calling you to use?

Discussion Question: What do you believe a servant's heart means?