Wonder & Faith

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

My new favorite Christian author is Michelle McKinney Hammond. Right now I'm finishing up her book titled How to be Blessed and Highly Favored. I don't know if I'm being lazy or I just really like what Michelle has to say but much of today's blogging will be from this book.

"One little word: faith. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

We put so much trust in technology and the ability of man without considering the likelihood that those things will disappoint us. How much more should we put our trust in God, who is truly able and faithful to do what He says? How can we be sure of what we hope for? How can we be certain of what we do not see? Because of the promise. God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19

What hinders our faith? Could it be our preconceived notions of how God should or will act in a situation? Could it be our personal timetable of when we think that He should come through? It amazes me how often we assume the way in which God will carry out His promise to us. We stand looking to the left, waiting to see Him come over the horizon. All the while He is coming from the right. But we cannot see him, so we decide He is not coming. At other times the clock on the mantel of our hearts chimes the hour, and in the deafening silence that follows we begin to undress and settle in for a night of weeping, concluding we've been stood up. Then He appears in the morning, bringing His joy with Him. When questioned as to why He didn't come the night before, He looks at us quizzically and answers, 'You never asked me when I was coming, so I believed you would wait'."

The best example of a person's faith from the Bible to study is Mary, Jesus' mother. Can you imagine being told what she was told about her virgin conception? I cannot fathom how she felt and then to trust it! I pray for that kind of faith on a daily basis since reading more about Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel in the Beth Moore Study, Jesus, the One and Only. I am fascinated by her wonder and faith. She never once wavered in her belief of what God told her. I want that kind of faith, every day, every moment. I've had moments in my life when God has placed certain things on my heart that were wonderful and I couldn't enjoy them fully b/c of my lack of Mary-like wonder. Do you know what I'm talking about? It's a shame for Christians to live their walk with Jesus that way, with doubt. We should never doubt anything we know the Lord has told us. But we do don't we? I know we do, b/c I do it. I'm learning more and more to give God my doubt and allow Him to fill me with wonder from His Holy Spirit.

Father God, Right now in the name above all names, I ask for You to pour out Mary-like wonder into everyone who is reading this. May they know Your voice so well that they never question anything You tell them as it is in accordance to Your Will and Your Plan. Thank You for giving us Jesus so that we can have wonder and faith in everything You say You will do in our life and through our lives. Amen.