What is God saying to you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
(2 Chronicles 33:10-13 (NIV))

Are you stubborn? Has God been trying to get your attention and you ignore Him? Carefully consider Manasseh and what he endured because he paid no attention to God. Manasseh may be an extreme example, for he had a whole nation that he was responsible for. Yet, Manasseh may not be a bad example to consider.

God had a calling on his life that also effected countless others. God did what He had to do in order to get Manasseh to follow Him. Manasseh was bound and led around by a hook in his nose. He realized his dilemma and called out to God. He called out to the very one he had been trying to ignore. God arranged for Manasseh to return to his kingdom.

If God has a calling upon our life, He will get our attention. You may be able to run for a while, but He knows where you are. Don’t be like Manasseh and be led through serious troubles before you come to your senses. Allow God to work within you. Don’t be afraid that you can’t do what He is calling you to do. God does not call the equipped. He equips the called.

What is God saying to you? Are you listening?

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do you have enough faith to believe in God’s promises?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
(Isaiah 11:6 (NIV))

Have you ever really thought about this passage and the perfect picture of peace that it represents? Prey and predator living in peace. No more enemies and no more fears. No lack of trusting each other. No mortal fear for your life. Existing in peace and perfection the way that God intended.

Too many people laugh at this concept and claim that this will never happen because the very natures of these animals will not allow such a thing to happen. Are these the same people who also claim that there is no god and that Jesus was only a man? They don’t believe that God exists. They don’t believe that the nature of creation can be changed. They claim that they are only being realistic and that if you simply observe things that it proves that this will never happen.

Can you think of a time in history when people would scoff at something and claim that if you simply observe things, it proves their point of view?

How is that flat earth thing going for them after Columbus returned from his voyages?

Sadly, some people are just too stubborn to accept anything on faith. They have it set in their minds that if they cannot see it, then it must not exist. If they can’t test it, then it could not possibly happen. They lack any potential to have faith or hope.

Can you imagine a more depressing outlook on life? A life without faith and hope leaves you void, angry and depressed. We all need faith.

Faith can move mountains. Hope and faith give us the strength to carry on from day to day.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
(Hebrews 11:1 (NIV))

Do you have enough faith to believe in God’s promises?

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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