This Or Better

The older I get, and I’ve been around for quite a few decades, the more I look back on my life. There are so many things I would do differently. So many choices I’d change.

Worry about those bad choices? No way. Those were forgiven and forgotten by God, a long time ago. I know, without a doubt, that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Today as I pray, I know I can trust God to hear my prayers. In the past, I often wondered if He was there, let alone, if he heard me.

Such doubts. Such lack of faith.

You may disagree, but I think it’s good that we doubt. It’s our doubts that cause us to question and, hopefully, to seek. Jesus’s disciples, his closest friends, also doubted. Remember when they were in the boat with Him, and a big storm raged? Jesus was asleep on a cushion. Luke 14:22-25 (ESV).  And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

A GREAT RESOURCE

One of the things I do to feed my soul and to increase my faith in addition to my daily Bible study is to read from the plans section of the YouVersion Bible app. Thus far, I’ve completed ninety-six plans and I have seventy-six more saved in the app. One I finished this week talked about how sometimes it seems that God is silent.

Haven’t most of us felt this at one time or another? We pray and pray, and we see no change, no forward movement. Times like this often make us want to give up. To simply stop praying, stop working, question.

Are you really there, God? Why am I even putting forth the effort to see a dream fulfilled? Why are my children not changing? Why didn’t I get that promotion? It seems there is always a why.

This plan reminded me that when God is silent, He’s busy working on that very thing . . . and more. Wow. Think about that. He’s working not only on the things we’ve prayed about, but He sees our needs and the desires of our hearts before we even think them, let alone, voice them. He’s constantly working on our behalf.

Another plan I finished this week went so far as to add these words at the end of our prayers. You’re going to like this, I know. This or better.

This Or Better @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #prayer Share on X

Now, I know God is able to do far above anything I/we could ever ask, but it never occurred to me to add those three little words to my prayers. Epehsians 3:20-21 (ESV) Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

THIS OR BETTER – FOREVERMORE

This week, this month, this year, forevermore, when you pray, think about these things. Why not add those three little words to your prayers? To me, those words are a testimony to my faith. I believe He can and will because His Word tells me.

Yes, I know the hard part is waiting. You just keep praising Him while you wait.

Blessings, y’all.

 

This may not be your kind of music, but this is the style I grew up with. As I watched this video, I thought of so, so many who are here but are now with Jesus. What a day it will be to get to sing with all these wonderful souls. Yes, I’m classically trained, opera and oratorio, but this is my favorite kind of music.