Tag: <span>depend</span>

Thank Offeringsdevotional
Published June 4, 2016

Thank Offerings

devotional

“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23

Giving thanks to God can be a hard thing to do, especially when things happen that make us more likely to say, “Why, God?” instead.

Thank offerings come easy some days. The sun shines and we feel the blessing of the Lord. Thanksgiving is our natural response.

On other days, thanksgiving is truly a sacrifice. In the middle of writing this devotional, our home was broken into. Thanksgiving was not my first response. Yet here in this verse, God tells us an amazing truth. He says that when we offer thanks and praise to Him, even when it’s a sacrifice to do so, we honor Him. This prepares the way for Him to work on our behalf. Thanksgiving is actually a door.

I pondered how to thank God in the midst of this violation. I was not thankful for the loss, but I discovered I could be thankful in it. As I intentionally shifted my gaze to God and not to the mess around me, I became aware of being thankful for several things: our personal safety, that certain items were not taken, the immediate help and care from family and friends, and the reminder that God is our Warrior, working, even fighting on our behalf. As a result, God’s peace settled over our hearts and minds and over our home.

Thank You, Lord God, that thanksgiving is so much more than a trite “attitude of gratitude.” Thank You for the truth of Your word that when we do give You our thanks, even when it’s hard to, we honor You and it opens a door for You to work and to bring Your peace and wisdom. Thank You that we can always offer thanksgiving for who You are and all You are to us — even in the midst of challenges. We praise You and ask this in the strong name of Jesus. Amen.

By Gail Rodgers

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Gail Rodgers Thoughts by Women

Published May 23, 2016

Absolute Dependence

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“Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches… For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

The Christian Life is a life of Absolute dependence.  At Hampton Court there was a vine that sometimes bore a couple thousand cluster of grapes.  People were amazed at its productivity.  Later the secret was discovered.  Not too far from Hampton Court flows the River Thames. The vine had stretched its roots hundreds of yards under the ground until it came to the riverbed.  There, in all the nutrients of the river bottom, it found rich nourishment and moisture.  The roots drew the sap all the distance to the branches.

The vine had the work to do.  The branches simply had to depend upon the vine and receive what it gave.

That is exactly what Christ desires you to understand.  Christ desires that in all your work, the very foundation should be the simple acceptance that Christ must care for all.

As you depend on Him He supplies your needs by sending down the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants you to be dependent as you serve Him.  Day by day, hour by hour, in everything you do, simply abide before Him.  Live in the total helplessness of one who can do nothing.

Absolute dependence upon God is the secret of power at work.  You and I have nothing unless we receive it from Jesus.

By Andrew Murray
From: ‘Teach Me to Pray’
Used by permission.

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Andrew Murray Thoughts by Men