new SOAP - God is faithful to keep every promise

Scripture:

God promises: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” Psalm 32:8 NKJV

Observation:

The Lord makes a promise to instruct, direct, teach and lead us. His Word assures us He will point out the path on which we are to travel Not one step can be taken without His loving, watchful, all-seeing eye upon us. God’s children can be confident they will not “miss a step’ as they walk forward in faith and trust.

Application:

As I ponder this promise during a time of great uncertainty, I told the Lord, “I know You led Abraham on an unknown path. You guided Moses and David and Joseph through trials and troubles. But I need reassurance right now that You will lead us during these difficult times.”

I wasn’t demanding an answer. I was pleading with the Lord to help me trust Him and to open my eyes to “see” the way in which He was leading.

Suddenly the word “butterfly” flashed in my thoughts. Peace flooded my heart as intricate details of the Monarch’s migratory flight from Eastern Canada to a specific grove of trees in Mexico were brought to my remembrance.

Fragile butterflies with tiny brains embark an uncharted flight-plan to a grove of trees they have never seen. And they all arrive the same week down in Mexico after flying thousands of miles. What a demonstration of God’s guidance in His creation!

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord for Your promise to guide and lead me. Thank You for reminding me of the amazing way You lead fragile creatures to their destination. Grant me grace to believe Your Word. Give me faith to move forward each day with peace beyond my understanding. I rest in Your promise, knowing You WILL help me make the right choices and teach me the way I should go, because of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

Between a Rock and a Cool Place

S: Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water. Pslam 114:7-8

O: God is mighty! The whole psalm is about His mighty power to deliver and how His creation rejoices in His salvation!

A: This psalm is meant for encouragement. It builds my faith in our God who shows up when He's needed most. He pushes back the tides that would overcome me. Just as He held back the Jordan to bring His people into the land He promised them. He gives cool water to me in the dry places of my life. Just like He did for Israel in the wilderness when He miraculously brought water from a rock. And He offers me Living Water from the Rock, Jesus Christ. All because He is both mighty and good. I can join all creation in praising God for His awesome greatness!!

P: Dear Lord, I want my worship of You to be deep and flowing, not dry and dusty. Can I tremble in your presence? Can I feel the awesomeness of my savior, and will Your Spirit show me the deep things of You, so that I will tremble in loving wonder?

Where in the World do you find Faith?

S
Acts 3:16
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus Name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him as you all see.
O
Peter tells the crippled man to "look at us." He needed this man to stop looking around, looking for help elsewhere and to look at them. Silver and gold I don't have...Peter said. Then he says "In the name of Jesus..." and the man is healed.
A
Did this man have the faith in Jesus for his healing? Probably not. Jesus was not physically there and there is no indication he had ever met Jesus before. Plus this man was concentrating on collecting as much money as he could. But Peter had faith. How did he get faith? ...and the faith that comes through Him [Jesus] — through Jesus. Peter had spent a lot of time with Jesus. He'd answered Jesus' call when he was just an uneducated fisherman. He'd learned through Jesus' teaching, through watching Him, but mostly through relationship. Peter loved Jesus and believed Him. Once when Jesus asked His disciples "Who do you say that I am?" Peter had replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replied . . . flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 16:13-17) Peter said to the man, hey, look at us . . . stop looking around for your help. It's right here, right now, today.
P
Jesus I ask that You will open my eyes, ears and heart as You walk with me, teach me, and instruct me in Your ways that I might know you intimately. My faith comes through You. You taught Peter about faith, about trusting in You - teach me. I now receive, by faith, all that you have for me. Amen.