21 Days

Day 15- Vision

Author: Chris Martinez

One Saturday morning on the way to my son’s football game, I accidentally drove in the opposite direction from where the game was being played. Instead of driving to the ball field, I was driving to work! We got in the car and I was immediately on autopilot since it’s what I routinely do every weekday morning. It’s funny how this happens on a short trip, but it would not happen on a family vacation or long trip. On a family vacation, I wouldn’t have just started driving. I would have a well thought out plan of where we were going and how we would get there. 

Has this ever happened to you? On some short routine trip you are on autopilot but for a family vacation you would have a plan on what to do and how to do it? 

What if this doesn’t just happen with driving habits but what if this happens with our lives? Many of us seek out God’s guidance, or vision, for major things (ex: long trips) but we do NOT seek out His guidance for small daily things (ex: short trip). What if we just trusted and obeyed God that He has a vision for all of us in every aspect of our lives?

When we think of the word vision, we think of something big. However, we need to know that every small step is equally important in order to carry out that vision. It’s not just big picture, it’s small picture as well. 

In fact, we should simply follow what Psalm 5:3 (NLT) says, “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” We should obey and trust that God already has a vision set out for us because of what Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

PRAYER

Lord, I pray that I would seek out Your vision and to follow through with it no matter what, and for the Holy Spirit to guide my every step. I pray that I would follow what Psalm 5:3 and Jeremiah 29:11 says and use it as my road map for trusting Your vision for me. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Day 14- Faith

Author: Rebecca Cole

In January of last year, my granddaughter, Journey, was asked in Children’s Church to write down some things that she was believing God for this year. Number one on her list was for a brother or sister to come in one year. She had been praying for a baby and was devastated when her mom had lost a baby two years earlier. Nevertheless, she continued to pray and believe that God was going to answer her prayer. In February, my daughter, Autumn, called to tell me that she was stopping the fertility drugs. No more shots and negative pregnancy tests, they were ready to consider adoption. For the next few months they began looking into the options that were available in the adoption process. But God had other plans. In May, Autumn found out that she was six weeks pregnant! No fertility drugs or shots to credit, all the glory belonged to God! The joy on Journey’s face was a priceless gift when she heard that a baby was on the way! Justice Lane Rollo entered the world on December 27^th!

What if we approached 2020 with the faith of a child?  Not worrying about the complexity of the problem or how impossible the situation might look in the natural, but simply believing that when we pray, He hears us. If only we would take the limits off of God and ourselves and, with childlike faith, take Him at His Word. 

Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” I am convinced that it is with child-like trust that we move the heart of the Father. Jesus said in Mark 10:13-16, “And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And He took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” It is the Father’s heart to bless His children. Matthew 7:11 says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him!” What are you asking God to do for you? Perhaps He wants you to ask Him with the faith of a child and watch him move on your behalf! 

Journey has learned some valuable life lessons that are good reminders for us all. Life happens. Stay strong and keep believing. There will be disappointments in life. God doesn’t always answer us the way we think He will or in the time frame that we expect. Stay faithful in prayer. Be watchful. His timing and His ways are perfect. Simply trust Him. When we pray and leave it in God’s hands, we can live with a spirit of expectation that something good is on the way.

PRAYER

Father, I pray that you would stir my heart to believe with the faith of a child and that my faith would know no limits and see no impossibilities. I pray that I would take the limits off of You  and expect the unexpected. Let prayer be my lifestyle and signs, wonders and miracles my reality. In Jesus Mighty Name! Amen