Divine Note #57 - Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010
God is approachable
Genesis 17:18-19a (NIRV) 18 Abraham said to God, "I wish Ishmael could receive your blessing!" 19a Then God said, "I will bless Ishmael.” …
Just a little background in case you’re not familiar with this story, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, decided to get ahead of God’s plans. Sarah arranged for her maid, Hagar, to have Abraham’s child instead of waiting to have her own baby as God had promised. This had incredible consequences. As you know or can imagine, things don’t work out when we don’t obey God. But God remains the same. God never changes.
Many sermons have been written about this wonderful story, and as I sit here about to write this message, I can think of two more messages, but this is what God put in my heart: “You can talk to me instead of keeping the storm churning in your heart.” The Holy Spirit led me to this Scripture early this morning as all the things that are happening in my life started to creep up and ruin my day. Instead, I opened my Bible and God showed me that Abraham really messed things up by having an illegitimate son, but that didn’t stop Abraham from talking to God and moving ahead. Abraham told God that he wished that Ishmael (the illegitimate son) could receive God’s blessing! God responded by saying, “I will bless Ishmael.” WOW!
Why can you approach God?
Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord. The Lord accepted Abram because he believed. So his faith made him right with the Lord.
This message only applies to those who have a personal relationship with the Lord. This means that you must have faith, so that you can communicate and be connected to God who is so powerful, so personal and so loving. We can approach him when things look scary, sad, bad, negative because we know he cares and we know that he will work things out for our benefit (but that’s another Note).
God knows we aren’t perfect. I struggle with this and I also struggle with wanting to control things in my life. When I goof up, I start to put on that “holy cloak” which inevitably overwhelms and discourages me. Instead of making things hard for ourselves, go to God in prayer and …
Blessings and Big God Hugs,
Love,
Blanca
God is approachable
Genesis 17:18-19a (NIRV) 18 Abraham said to God, "I wish Ishmael could receive your blessing!" 19a Then God said, "I will bless Ishmael.” …
Just a little background in case you’re not familiar with this story, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, decided to get ahead of God’s plans. Sarah arranged for her maid, Hagar, to have Abraham’s child instead of waiting to have her own baby as God had promised. This had incredible consequences. As you know or can imagine, things don’t work out when we don’t obey God. But God remains the same. God never changes.
Many sermons have been written about this wonderful story, and as I sit here about to write this message, I can think of two more messages, but this is what God put in my heart: “You can talk to me instead of keeping the storm churning in your heart.” The Holy Spirit led me to this Scripture early this morning as all the things that are happening in my life started to creep up and ruin my day. Instead, I opened my Bible and God showed me that Abraham really messed things up by having an illegitimate son, but that didn’t stop Abraham from talking to God and moving ahead. Abraham told God that he wished that Ishmael (the illegitimate son) could receive God’s blessing! God responded by saying, “I will bless Ishmael.” WOW!
- That tells me that we need to keep that connection to God open and honest regardless of what we’re dealing with in our imperfect lives. I don’t know about you, but I tend to start thinking about things in my mind and I forget to lay them down in front of God.
- Don’t think that you can’t approach God because you are sinful or unworthy! None of us are worthy, but we have a God who is always willing to listen and forgive us! This is especially true if you grew up in a strict “religion” or if people made you think or believe that you were unworthy or are worthless. You are loved by God! That is the truth and there is nothing you can do that will surprise him!
Why can you approach God?
Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord. The Lord accepted Abram because he believed. So his faith made him right with the Lord.
This message only applies to those who have a personal relationship with the Lord. This means that you must have faith, so that you can communicate and be connected to God who is so powerful, so personal and so loving. We can approach him when things look scary, sad, bad, negative because we know he cares and we know that he will work things out for our benefit (but that’s another Note).
God knows we aren’t perfect. I struggle with this and I also struggle with wanting to control things in my life. When I goof up, I start to put on that “holy cloak” which inevitably overwhelms and discourages me. Instead of making things hard for ourselves, go to God in prayer and …
- Don’t keep things in your heart
- Don’t go talk to 10 different people who will give you 10 different opinions
- Don’t make your own rash decisions
Blessings and Big God Hugs,
Love,
Blanca
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