Tag: obedience

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God Loves You Even on Your Worst Days

The Manna Chef

We know God loves us.  His Word reminds us over and over.  We know that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for us.  We know that He loves us with an everlasting love.  We all know that, right?  But have you ever had one of those days when you just feel unlovable to anyone, including God?  Have you ever felt so far from God because of your failures or shortcomings?

I read something recently that I had to just meditate on:  God loves you on your worst days.  I read it over and over.

Talk about unconditional love!  We’ve been taught since we were children that when things get tough, you’ll find out who your real friends are.  I learned it in the midst of divorce, sickness, and periods of lack.  God reveals those who are meant to be your life-timers, people who will be there for the long haul. 

But I’m referring to challenges that go even deeper than that.  I mean, have you ever felt distant from God?  And I’m not just talking about the separation that results from sin.  I’m talking about that feeling of just being far from God, even when you are praying, reading His word, doing what He’s telling you to do—and still feeling like you’re falling short or like you’ve somehow missed “it.”  It’s like that loneliness that Elijah felt right after God showed out on Mt. Carmel.  Elijah saw the supernatural move of God and then experienced one of his greatest lows.  Have you ever been there?

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Fill Me Up, Lord

The Manna Chef

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel like you simply have nothing else to give?  We get pulled in so many directions sometimes; it can be hard to just catch your breath, let alone function at a high level on a daily basis.  And the demands of everyday life never seem to stop, just a constant pull on you spiritually and naturally.  You ever just get tired of being tired?  I have definitely been there.  It’s in these moments that we have to really press to get into the Presence of the Lord.  He promised to renew us, but sometimes we get so caught up in the chaos that we forget that and try to operate under our own strength.  Well, guess what ladies?  That gets old really fast.  In our own strength, we are extremely limited. 

God recently reminded me that it’s in my weakest moments that His strength is made perfect.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)  He reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for you.”  In other words, you have enough and you are enough because I am in control.  It’s in those moments that we rely totally on Him, not our own strength, experiences, or knowledge.  And it’s those times that we have no choice but to turn to God.  And He doesn’t disappoint; God shows up and He shows out.  Well, now God is teaching me how to rely on Him for everything—even those things I think that I have a good handle on.  You know, the day goes a lot smoother when you consult God at the start of the day instead of waiting until a crisis to talk to Him.

God can fulfill our needs in ways we can’t begin to imagine.  There are many examples of God’s ability to move us beyond our own abilities and resources, but the Holy Spirit led me to this one to share.  It’s an example of God’s supernatural provision.

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Immediately vs. Eventually

The Manna Chef

It is important for the children of God to learn to move when God instructs us to do so.   Our blessings are awaiting our arrival!

(2 Kings 5:1-13)

There was a commander of the army of the king of Aram, and his name was Naaman.  He was a great man, highly regarded because he had been victorious in battle.  He was a brave soldier, but he had leprosy. 

  • Even when others perceive us to be great, we are flawed individuals who are dependent on the One true and living God.

There was a young girl who’d been taken captive from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.  One day she said to Naaman’s wife, “If only he would go to see the prophet in Samaria, he would be cured.”

  • God places people strategically in our paths to lead us to where we need to be.  It’s important to be obedient to the Spirit of God and to treat others with respect.  You may be carrying the key to someone’s deliverance in your mouth (and they may be carrying yours).

Naaman told the king what the young girl had said and the king told him to go.  He said, “I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”

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