James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5 NIV)
Every Bitter Thing is Sweet
A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. – (Proverbs 27:7 NKJV)
Chauncey Crandall is a friend of mine and a heart specialist, one of the best in the nation. Chauncey had twin sons, and when his sons were 20 years old, one son got Leukemia. Chauncey believed in healing and in miracles. Everybody and his dog prayed for that son, that he would live. But he died.
When is son died, Chauncey was holding him, and he said, “God, I will never stop praying for the sick. I will walk in anointing and I will believe in the miraculous.” As he held his son, his dead son in his arms, the glory of the Lord came on him.
Since then, Chauncey has written a book called, Raising the Dead, about his experience with the miraculous. Now that is crazy faith! Chauncey goes all over the world, raises the dead, and sees miracles like I have almost never seen. You see, Chauncey could have said, “God, You betrayed me. You didn’t let my son live.” But he didn’t let that betrayal become a barrier to his faith. He allowed it to become a blessing because he never stopped believing in the power of God.
If we will believe, even if it doesn’t turn out exactly the way we want it to, surely blessing He will bless us. Because Jesus always shows up when you put your faith in Him.
So, hang in there, because in due season, we shall reap if we faint not. And thanks be to God Who always leads us to triumph in Christ.
Jesus, I declare that Your power brings the miraculous. In the same way that You brought Lazarus back to life You can bring people back to life today. But when my miracle doesn’t come, give me the strength to press through barriers to receive my blessing on the other side.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of light. (James 1:17 ESV)
Moments with Marilyn
We need to honor God as our Source and in our abundance. Give to others and furthering the spreading of the Gospel honors God. ~Marilyn Hickey
Proverbs 3:7-8
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:7-8 ESV)
Rejoice, Pray & Give Thanks
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
I want to end every day with thanksgiving. I want to begin every day with thanksgiving. I want to live in thanksgiving.
I don’t think we appreciate all the miracles that God does. It could be the simplest little things: a special dessert that I liked, or time spent with my grandkids. Or it could be something big. It’s a miracle that I am accepted by the Muslims and get to travel to places like Iran. What about an answer t prayer? We pray continually for something, but then we forget to give thanks when God answers our prayers.
Friend, I’m so shocked at every miracle that God gives me, so I give Him thanks. It’s when we get into an attitude of entitlement or expectancy, when we think we are in control of the answers to our prayers that we forget to give thanks. But when we live in thanksgiving, when we live in prayer and rejoicing, thanksgiving will flow from our hearts.
Hold on to how much God loves you. Believe that He will take you through your circumstances and not leave you there. Rejoice, pray and give thanks!
Dear Heavenly Father, the men on the road to Emmaus said, “Did our hearts not burn within us?” and I want that same fiery passion inside me to do Your will, to hear Your voice and to overflow with thanksgiving for the daily miracles in my life! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Moments with Marilyn
Speaking the Word, thinking the Word, and doing the Word gives you intimacy with God as He speaks revelation from His Word into your life. ~Marilyn Hickey
Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)
A Book of Prayer
Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. – (Nehemiah 1:6)
Nehemiah is one of my favorite books of history. I know what you’re thinking. “Every gook is your favorite book.” Let me tell you something. When people would ask my husband, “What’s Marilyn’s favorite book?” he would say to them, “Whatever book she’s currently reading in the Bible. That’s her favorite book.” And that’s so true!
Today, we are in Nehemiah, so Nehemiah is my favorite book today! I love Nehemiah because the name means “comforter.” Who else do we know who is a comforter? The Holy Spirit! Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26 KVJ). So, as a comforter, Nehemiah actually gives us a picture of what the Holy Spirit will be like!
But Nehemiah is also a book of prayer. There are only 13 chapters inn this little book, but nine different prayers! The wonderful prayers of Nehemiah remind us of the prayer ministry of Jesus and how God is going to have His way no matter how bad or dark the circumstances.
Jesus, I declare that in You there is always victory! As I pray through difficult circumstances, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to comfort me. Amen!
Moments with Marilyn
Meditating on and memorizing God’s Word is where the real miracle of expectation comes from. ~Marilyn Hickey
Wednesday in the Word, Marilyn shares from Romans 5:8, Have a Miracle Life!
Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn shares from Romans 5:8, Have a Miracle Life!
Psalm 113:7-8
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. (Psalm 113:7-8 ESV)
God Sticks with Us
By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take. – (Nehemiah 9:12)
Do you ever think, “I blew it. Surely God is tired of me and wants to throw me out”? It’s not true! Read what He did with the Israelites in the book of Numbers: As they wandered through the wilderness they kept messing up, but His presence never left them. He had His special presence at night—the pillar of fire; and His special presence by day—the pillar of cloud. It not only showed them His presence, but it also guided and protected them.
Jesus is so in this, because Jesus doesn’t throw us out when we make mistakes! You might say, “You don’t how bad mine are, Marilyn.” Well let me tell you something, do you remember that the Israelites made a golden calf to worship? Do you remember they started complaining three days after God had delivered them from their enemies? But God stuck with them, and He sticks with us.
How do you feel about your children? Do you want them to fail? No way! Do I want my grandchildren to fail? No way! You constantly believe God for them. So, God saw the failures of His children but He didn’t give up on them. And God sees your failures, but He doesn’t give up on you.
Nehemiah quotes the book of Numbers to remind his people that they can trust God to guide and protect them, regardless of how far they backslide. And we too can be inspired by this revelation of God’s love.
Jesus, I declare that You came to set the captives free, and it doesn’t happen by my self-efforts. It happens by the redemption of the cross!
Weekend Action Plan
When we show our faith, we get to see God’s faithfulness!
Moments with Marilyn
As you read the Word and practice what it says, your faith will grow significantly and crowd out fear. ~Marilyn Hickey
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you. So that having all sufficiency in all things at all times. You may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV)
