What’s more important than getting a life-changing handle on everything God has promised you? How would your life change if you could begin to tangibly see the promises of God coming to pass in your life? Right now, perhaps more than ever, we need to get the promises of God into the people of God. This devotional helps to do that by examining forty promises from the Bible in which the Lord uses the word “WILL” to express His commitment to keep all of His promises to us.
This devotional is unique in that each day's key verse/s focus on a promise from the Bible which includes the word "WILL". Whenever God says that He will do do something, we need to sit up and take notice. The Power of God's Will - 40 Days of God's Promises Devotionals enables the reader to do just that and by limiting Bible verses to those which contain the tiny but powerful word "WILL", this book packs a uniquely powerful punch that makes a lasting impact.
I feel as if the book's introduction and the devotional for Day 1 carry a tremendous amount of weight, spiritually speaking. I have heard from several people that what they read at the very forefront of this book has stuck with them and has changed the way they think about God's promises whenever they come across them in their own personal Bible study time, in small groups or during a worship service. It has been one of the greatest blessings of my lift to encourage other believers by sharing this one key thing that the Lord showed me several years ago, and I hope many more people can grow to believe that when God says He will do something, He most certainly will.
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) - You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.
Matthew 6:11 (KJV) -” Give us this day our daily bread.”
Although it may not seem like it at first glance, these two Bible verses go hand-in-glove with one another. Let’s take a closer look.
The struggle is very, very real when it comes to our prayer lives, am I right? Distractions abound - the things on our to-do list vy for our immediate attention - and sometimes we simply are unsure how to garner up more faith so that we can pray faith-filled prayers. Life wears us out and doubts press in upon us. We need to pray, of that much we are certain. We want to pray, without a doubt. And yet, we struggle to pray.
The verse from the sixth chapter of Matthew gives us a very clear directive, straight from the mouth of our Savior, Jesus, as part of His answer to the disciples request that He teach them how to pray (see Luke 11:1-3). This one sentence in Matthew 6:11, taken directly from the Lord’s prayer, tells us to ask for whatever we need today; however, it does not tell us to ask for what we may need for our tomorrows. We are to ask for what we need TODAY.
At times, my prayer life is difficult, a struggle, because I am praying for my tomorrows and have exhausted myself, using up the strength God has given me for the current day. Perhaps this has been your experience as well. Jesus instructed us to ask God that our daily bread be given to us for this day, just for today. Am I, then, in a sense outside of the will of God when I fail to ask just for today but insist (usually in a state or panic or fear) for provision for tomorrow? I believe I probably am…
Since it was Jesus who told us to pray in this manner for this exact point of our need, then wouldn’t it be impossible (ludicrous, even!) to think that God would fail to give us exactly what He told us to ask Him for? Reminding ourselves that asking God for our daily provision was His idea in the first place can embolden us and renew our faith when we stand praying.
So, how does the verse from Isaiah coincide with Matthew 6:11?
It speaks of peace...something the entire world is chasing after. As Christ-followers, we do not have to chase after peace. The Lord offers it to us because of His great love for us, and from this verse in Isaiah we learn that as we trust in Him, keeping our minds steadfast on the Lord God Almighty, this promised peace will be ours. Definition of steadfast - resolutely firm and unwavering; immovable, firmly fixed in place; steadily directed
A steadfast mind is steadily directed back to the Lord whenever it begins to wander. It is firmly fixed upon Him and is resolute and unwavering.
It is difficult for us to sincerely and trustingly approach God’s throne of grace to find help in our time of need (see Hebrews 4:16) and also have our minds un-steadfast, un-fixed on Him, un-trusting. When we are steadfast in our focus on Him, then we will be in perfect peace and our praying will reflect that perfect peace.
Today my prayer is that God will provide you with your daily bread, whatever that “daily bread” might be. Perhaps you have a prodigal child, or a strained marriage, financial woes, a frighteningly serious health diagnosis, or are in desperate need of employment. No matter the need, I have asked the Lord to meet it and even to exceed it today.
Lord, give each one of us this day our daily bread. Meet our needs, every one of them in their varied forms. Give us more of You, Jesus - for You are the Bread of Life. Move quickly on our behalf.
Amen.