Friday, June 6, 2008

Great Things

Here is a portion of a beautiful passage I read this morning in Streams in the Desert...

Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. ~ Isaiah 7:11

Make your petition deep, O heart of mine,
Your God can do much more
Than you can ask;
Launch out on the Divine,
Draw from His love-filled store.
Trust Him with everything;
Begin today,
And find the joy that comes
When Jesus has His way!

We must continue to “pray and wait for the Lord.” (Isaiah 8:17), until we hear the sound of His mighty rain. There is no reason why we should not ask for great things. Without a doubt, we will receive them if we ask in faith, having the courage to wait with patient perseverance for Him and meanwhile doing those things that are within our power to do.

It is not within our power to create the wind or to change its direction, but we can raise our sails to catch it when it comes. We do not create electricity, yet we can tap into it with a wire that will conduct it, allowing it to work. We do not control God’s spirit, but we can place ourselves before the Lord out of obedience to what He has called us to do, and we will come under the influence and power of His mighty breath.

Dr. Goulburn, Dean of Norwich once said “…A simple prayer from our mouths will be powerful enough to call down from heaven God’s gracious dew or the melting fire of His Spirit, just as the words from Elijah’s mouth called down literal rain and fire. All that is required is to speak the words with the same complete assurance of faith with which he spoke.”


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Lord, give us the courage to ask for great things. Things far greater than that which we can ask or imagine. Things you long to give to us. May our faith in your power be one of complete and confident assurance, like that of Elijah and so many other heroes of our faith. May patient perseverance reside within us as we await the workings of Your Will. In the meantime, may we continue on, humbly doing the work which You presently have set before us. May we not become so focused on the great things that we miss the blessings that will come in moments along the way. Open our eyes and hearts to each and every one. We love and fully trust in Your plan for our lives. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

16 comments:

Sarah@Life in the Parsonage said...

Good stuff, Tracy! Thanks so much for sharing it!

Phyl said...

Thank you for this post...just what I needed this morning:).

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Just what I needed! You asked how my summer is going? Well...

One full week down and I'm still kicking. Truly it has been a shock to my system. Always is. With Jadon's struggles, we've had a complete overhaul in how we live each day. We're getting into a rhythm, and he is seeing a tutor twice a week.

I'm realizing that I won't be able to do as much on the computer this summer, so even when I don't comment, I'm reading (usually late at night). Pray for me as I prepare to head to She Speaks conference in a couple of weeks. I'm tweaking my book proposal in hopes of getting a bite...actually, a nibble would suffice.

I am in a constant state of prayer these days. No better place for me to dwell. That's why I love this reading from "Streams."

God be with you in all your comings and goings this summer. So glad to hear about your son's work!

peace~elaine

godlover said...

Tracy, great post and how seldom we ask for great things. God is willing and able and He is waiting for our requests. We must ask in faith; that is His only requirement. So let us be brave and ask of our gracious Lord. If we ask we will receive according to God's will. What an awesome God we have!!

YSIC
Marj
Calaveras Co CA
http://gdlvr.blogspot.com

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

This spoke to my heart, Tracy. Thank you.

Becky said...

Oh, I loved the part about raising our sails to catch it when it comes! That was JUST what I needed to hear today. Thank you, Tracy.

Leaon Mary said...

Hi Tracy,
WOW... I often ask God for a sign... and you know... I don't think it really "occured" to me that it is even scriptural. I try to talk to him and ask His guidance always, but... WOW!
PTL
Lea
<*)))><

Paula V said...

Wow. Someone else quoted from Streams of the Dessert. A dear friend told me a couple months ago the only books she reads is the Bible and this devotional. I've looked at it at the bookstore but didn't get it. Maybe I should rethink that.
Thanks for sharing,
Paula

LAURIE said...

Tracy, thank you for commenting on my TT post, I came over to check your thoughts out and WOW, I loved this post. So many times we do ask and pray for a sign but sometimes our "sail" is down and we miss it. Thanks for sharing....-Blessings, Laurie

Tricia said...

What a great post, and one that spoke to me... I have a loved one that I need to remember to pray BIG things for and you have reminded me of that, thank you!

Joyful said...

Beautiful post Tracy. I'm asking God for more than I can think or imagine right now. I want to experience God in a BIG WAY!

The same power that raised Christ from the dead is living in me. Thanks for the encouragement to trust Him.

Blessings,
Joy

Robin Lambright said...

This devotional from “Streams in the Desert” spoke to me also. I had two comments on my blog directing me to yours as we both found this devotional. Good is so good. It was the focus of my post as well.

Tonya said...

the praying is the easy part for me it is the waiting that I struggle with.

Addicted to Beadz said...

Tracy,

What an awesome devotional! Really powerful! I really needed it tonight!

Thanks for visiting my blog and checking on Jan!

Please pray for her!

Cheryl

Joyfulsister said...

I love streams in the desert, I need to get me another copy. I loaned it out and never saw it again lol..probably because it was so good they forgot to return it.. Blessings Lorie

Julie said...

Streams in the Desert is one of my favorite books.
It was used in my life through many different desert experiences... The words are "lifters".. They lift your eyes and fix your mind on what really matters...HIM.

Thanks for sharing,
Julie