Lysa TerKeurst
"’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’" Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Five years ago I sat beside my youngest sister and listened as she boldly rejected my views of God. She’s always been a free spirit, much too non-conventional for traditional religion.
"Good thing I’m not into religion," I gently replied.
She twisted her face as if half expecting a lightening bolt to strike us both. "But you ARE religious."
I laid my head against the back of the lounge chair, closed my eyes to the sun now washing over me and simply replied, "Nope."
Deciding to let my statement just sit for a while, I decided not to clarify unless she asked. And ask she did.
That’s when I explained that I follow God not a list of rules. I am passionate about getting into the Bible - God’s teachings - and letting the Bible get into me. I no longer evaluate life based on my feelings. Instead, I let my feelings and experiences be evaluated in light of God’s Word.
I have watched God chase me around with rich evidence of His presence and invitations to trade apathy for active faith. But I had to make the choice to see God. Hear God. Know God. And follow hard after God.
Then I took my sister’s hand and told her I’d be praying for God to mess with her in ways too bold for her to deny.
Fast forward over five years later. My sister walks into one of her professor’s office and sees one of my books on her bookshelf. I don’t think she really believed anyone actually read my books. But there it was. And it messed with her.
She later went home and poked around my blog a bit where she found a clip of my testimony. Again, it messed with her. One verse in particular messed with her so much that she let the possibility that God exists slip into her heart.
A few days later she went and had Jeremiah 29:11 tattooed on the back of her neck. And she started calling wanting to talk to me. About life. About tattoos. And about God.
Last Thursday, I stood in the middle of the Atlanta airport praying for this precious girl who had called asking for those prayers. She had called. She had asked. And that’s the miracle of our Jesus. He is the God of the impossible.
I wonder what might happen if we dared to ask God for the impossible just a little more often. I’m up for it? Are you?
Dear Lord, use me today to reach the heart of one. I want to trade any apathy I may have today for active faith. Lead me, and I will follow. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Lysa’s blog for a chance to win a book and video package called “Sun Stand Still” by Pastor Steven Furtick. These great resources address how to pray for those things that seem so impossible. Plus, you can leave your prayer requests and our prayer team will pray for you!
Lysa will be speaking in over 40 cities this year and would love to meet you! To check for a city near you, click here.
Learn how to study the Bible in a fun and relevant way on your own by reading Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
Read the book of John over the next several days. Let the truths of Jesus’ life resonate in your mind and soul. As you read and ponder each verse daily, let your feelings and experiences be evaluated in the light of God’s Word.
Reflections:
Have you made the choice to see God recently? Hear Him? Take the time to know Him? And follow hard after Him?
How can you, right where you are, choose to see the rich evidences of God? How can you show this to someone else who needs to hear it?
Have you asked God for the impossible lately?
Power Verses:
John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (NIV)
Colossians 1:9, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." (NIV)
© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
"’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’" Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Five years ago I sat beside my youngest sister and listened as she boldly rejected my views of God. She’s always been a free spirit, much too non-conventional for traditional religion.
"Good thing I’m not into religion," I gently replied.
She twisted her face as if half expecting a lightening bolt to strike us both. "But you ARE religious."
I laid my head against the back of the lounge chair, closed my eyes to the sun now washing over me and simply replied, "Nope."
Deciding to let my statement just sit for a while, I decided not to clarify unless she asked. And ask she did.
That’s when I explained that I follow God not a list of rules. I am passionate about getting into the Bible - God’s teachings - and letting the Bible get into me. I no longer evaluate life based on my feelings. Instead, I let my feelings and experiences be evaluated in light of God’s Word.
I have watched God chase me around with rich evidence of His presence and invitations to trade apathy for active faith. But I had to make the choice to see God. Hear God. Know God. And follow hard after God.
Then I took my sister’s hand and told her I’d be praying for God to mess with her in ways too bold for her to deny.
Fast forward over five years later. My sister walks into one of her professor’s office and sees one of my books on her bookshelf. I don’t think she really believed anyone actually read my books. But there it was. And it messed with her.
She later went home and poked around my blog a bit where she found a clip of my testimony. Again, it messed with her. One verse in particular messed with her so much that she let the possibility that God exists slip into her heart.
A few days later she went and had Jeremiah 29:11 tattooed on the back of her neck. And she started calling wanting to talk to me. About life. About tattoos. And about God.
Last Thursday, I stood in the middle of the Atlanta airport praying for this precious girl who had called asking for those prayers. She had called. She had asked. And that’s the miracle of our Jesus. He is the God of the impossible.
I wonder what might happen if we dared to ask God for the impossible just a little more often. I’m up for it? Are you?
Dear Lord, use me today to reach the heart of one. I want to trade any apathy I may have today for active faith. Lead me, and I will follow. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Lysa’s blog for a chance to win a book and video package called “Sun Stand Still” by Pastor Steven Furtick. These great resources address how to pray for those things that seem so impossible. Plus, you can leave your prayer requests and our prayer team will pray for you!
Lysa will be speaking in over 40 cities this year and would love to meet you! To check for a city near you, click here.
Learn how to study the Bible in a fun and relevant way on your own by reading Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst
________________________________________
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can’t compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!
________________________________________
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can’t compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!
________________________________________
Application Steps:
Read the book of John over the next several days. Let the truths of Jesus’ life resonate in your mind and soul. As you read and ponder each verse daily, let your feelings and experiences be evaluated in the light of God’s Word.
Reflections:
Have you made the choice to see God recently? Hear Him? Take the time to know Him? And follow hard after Him?
How can you, right where you are, choose to see the rich evidences of God? How can you show this to someone else who needs to hear it?
Have you asked God for the impossible lately?
Power Verses:
John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (NIV)
Colossians 1:9, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." (NIV)
© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Labels: Balance, God's Perspective, Overcoming, Time with God, Trusting God, Walking in Faith
22 Comments:
I am believing God for the restoration of my marriage. We are divorced, but I am standing! Nothing is impossible with God!
i am in tears after reading this! I have been praying for two of my siblings, but realize I have really not believed they could come to salvation; I have only been praying with my mouth, not with my heart. God can do the impossible!! I need to trust Him to work in His timing, and be faithful to pray and BELIEVE!
Lysa,
I have several family members that I have been praying for. Several weeks ago, in my prayer time, I came to the realization that I really wasn't believing that they could come to know the Lord,I was just praying that they would. We have to believe in His power to change peoples hearts. My prayers are different now. I am not settling for what Satan says(they will never change) concerning my loved ones lives.I am believing God!!
I actually attend Pastor Steven Furticks church, and I am so happy that God is using Steve to spread the word about active faith! AMEN.
I enjoyed this the first time I read it. And have enjoyed just as much this time around. God has an incredible way of "messing" with us and getting our attention. He never gives up on us!
Lisa, I encourage you to keep praying for your siblings. Prayers that have gone up will not go in vain, just like when I prayed for my siblings for years, now they are walking with the Lord.
Slds56, the most profound answer to my prayer was when my mother accepted the Lord. I prayed for her salvation for over 20 yrs. I used to think that anyone will come to know the Lord except for my mom, coz she was a devout buddhist. God answers my prayer and I know He will answer yours too. The bible tells us to pray without ceasing. I encourage you to do the same. Bless you!
Thank you Lysa, for this devotion and your ongoing support and encouragement. God bless you and your family.
amen....
The impossible is God's specialty! Absolutlely loved your post...great testimony!
Pam,
Don't stop praying and believing,stand firm in your faith. I remarried my husband after a divorce. He is saved and we now worship as a family. God has a fantastic way of surpassing our expectations! Nothing is impossible with God! When we remarried I know a lot of people thought I was crazy, but God did not just restore our marriage he gave me a "new" husband! :)
13 is my lucky number so I'm always more vigilant for messages on this day. And yours was a lightning bolt. I used to believe the impossible and then life happened a little too often over the past 3-4 years. I've been getting back on track...slowly. I think this post came my way for a bigger reason than I realize today.
Oh, and Pam, in my Bible, the heading for Jeremiah 30 says, "Restoration is promised." The day I opened to that, I stopped right there and I've been repeating it for a while now. I have to have simple sayings to hold on to.
Hi Lysa,
God is getting the message out- never give up. Keep praying. Your encouragement today hit home with me. Was amazed again at God's greatness and faithfulness to speak into each of our hearts. Just this weekend I read about Caleb's bold prayers and blogged about it today. You lil' sis is precious in His sight!
This comment has been removed by the author.
I have been praying for a baby for a couple years now. Have already gone through two IUI cycles, one miscarriage and one failed IVF cycle. We just received the news today that it didn't work. Being a fairly new Christian, I'm a little confused. Are we to pray for the impossible (like me being blessed with a baby) or are we to pray for God's will? Because what if its not his will for me to have one? Will all my prayers for the impossible just be wasted?
Thank you! I needed this today. Praying for a friend who just had an abortion. What a lost world; I pray God will lead me and I will have the courage to stand up and stand strong.
I am praying for the restoration of a relationship which seems impossible to mend.I've been running from God and afraid to take steps I should have taken.Hearing and reading that with God nothing is impossible is a good encouragement to keep going. I too had always been a "free spirit" resistant to "conventions" but think I am being taught things at the moment.(big changes which is why been running back and forth from God and lesson learning not been pleasant!) Pray that I will give full surrender as well....and also a close friend whom I also thought of while reading today's post. She has firmly turned her back on belief but pray for her heart to be won too!
I love it, when Lysa writes the daily devotions. Her plainly written words touch my heart and soul like no other. Thank you and I pray God's continuous blessing for your ministry!!
Sophena
Dear Pam, It is wonderful to hear that you are someone who believes God for the restoration of your marriage.
God restored my marriage after divorce a little over 2 years ago.
I encourage you to continue until the end, and will pray for you.
Connie, Minnesota
Pam,
I also believe in and also stand for the restoration of my marriage. He can move the mountains and will! I praise God because He is working in so many ways for those who love Him. Stay loving, faithful and trusting to Him!
Andrea
My brother has been away from God for so long. I'm praying for the impossible for him! He just recently lost his job and I'm praying that God uses this opportunity to change his circumstances and allow him out of the life he's been living.
I believe He can!
Anonymous at 3:09 PM, you can pray for both, because it is His will that none among us (male and female) would be barren (look at Deuteronomy 7:14). I have had three failed IUI cycles. We are waiting patiently and remaining faithful for children. Stay strong in your faith and wait on the Lord!
To the author, thank you for this posting. It really blessed me to read about the change in your sister's life. I am still praying that my siblings would be saved, delivered, and set free.
Praying for my younger sister to be set free. She's been struggling with homosexuality. Recently, she's been been back with the family and open to hear what God has to say. She's also been participating with our family devotions and even praying to God about forgiveness. Please pray for an opportunity to talk to her one-on-one about where she stands and what step she's willing to take.
I thank you for this devotion, even though I read it a few weeks later. I have been praying and searching for some hope and answers. I have recently gone through so much in my marriage, and I feel in my heart there are some things my husband is still not free from or being honest with me about, to include possible homosexuality. My heart breaks and I just sit,cry, and beg God to tell me and heal my hurting heart. I know all things are possible with God. Thank you for this devotion.
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