God Is in Control

Mark 9:17-27 Smart Views In today’s Scripture passage, a father brings his demon-possessed son to the Lord. Nothing is more important to this father than to see his boy healed, and he believes that Jesus has the power to do it. When he finally reaches Jesus, however, the father experiences a slight hesitation in his faith. We can detect it in the way he words his request: “If You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” (Mark 9:22, emphasis added). Jesus, sensing the man’s subtle doubts, replies, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). At once the father realizes the disparity between his words and his actions, and he cries out, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). What an odd statement! What are we to think—does this man have faith or not? Yet when we look closer, we realize that this father is crying out in complete, unashamed honesty to the Lord. He knows that there is no point in attempting to “puff up” his faith before Jesus. Instead, he humbly admits that while he does in fact believe in Jesus’ saving power, some things—such as parental concern for his son—can still interfere with his faith in God. Scripture says that the Lord is sovereign over all things (Ps. 103:19). Do you believe He has the power to change your life? Do you allow outside influences to affect your trust in Jesus Christ? If so, be honest with God about your fluctuating faith, but always remember that His power does not ebb and flow along with our confidence in Him. Regardless of how we feel, God is always in control. Sharing with you from "In Touch Ministries/Dr. Charles Stanley"

Training to See God

Training to See God

Proverbs 3:24-26
David was confident that the Lord was always right there with him (Ps. 16:8). His psalms reveal that in surveying his life, he saw God’s fingerprints all over it. Like David, we must train our spiritual eyes to notice evidence of the heavenly Father’s presence in our life.
Seeing with spiritual eyes isn’t a now-and-then kind of thing—it’s a lifestyle. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Those who walk before the Lord with a clear conscience will take captive unholy thoughts, habits, attitudes, and words. They will cast out sin and live in righteousness. As a result, such believers have a spiritual clarity that sharpens their awareness of God’s presence and involvement in their life.
I developed a habit years ago that has helped me to focus on Him. When I lie down and talk to the Lord before going to sleep, I try to recall the events of my day. What I’m really doing is looking for evidence of God’s hand at work. How did He guide this decision? Answer this question? Protect me in this situation? Help me in this relationship? Appreciating the Lord’s handiwork a second time (even when the initial experience may have been difficult) etches the reality of His love deeper in my heart.
The evidence of God’s great power is all over your life, if only you will see it. Viewing the world with wide-open spiritual eyes changes one’s perspective. Instead of saying, “I can’t,” say, “I can because the Lord always enables me.” Live confident in the loving, omnipotent God, who dwells within you. Sharing with you from "In Touch Ministries/Dr. Charles Stanley"