Have you ever awoken in the middle of the night and a situation, a problem before you, and you find your stomach sick, as if you have been kicked there, the problem seems to get larger and larger and you find yourself sinking as you look at it, and feel devastated, weak, hopeless feeling, anxiety churning.
Reminds me of a few years ago with my youngest son in Ireland, during the dark of night as we sat at a window looking out a window and through the amazement of his eyes as he watched for the first time, a soccer field and surroundings the thick dew descend on it and cover it all like a thick blanket, like a thick fluffy white cloud that has settled on the fields that arises and spreads till the field is covered in like a blanket covered white amidst the darkness of the black night. It was magical to him for he had never seen it before. It rises and sits above the land, except this morning it is not land but my heart and yours perhaps, a blanket of anxiety, hurt, pain, seeking to cover us in hopelessness.
This morning was one of those mornings, when a problem in someone else’s life began to overtake and my stomach sickened with emotional pain seemed to gradually overtake my thoughts, and helplessness seemed the ONLY outcome., “BUT GOD…” exposed the lie! It was then He in mercy began to remind me of HIMSELF and bring such a passages to mind, and as the Irish dew on those field were not permanent for the sun would evaporate them so our problems are not permanent for they in the presence of the Son, ALL POWERFUL ONE are helpless as He chooses to exercise His Power. We have hope.
He brought verses to mind as I sought and fought to get my mind on truth to combat the lies. “AH Sovereign LORD You have made the Heaven and earth with Your Outstretched hand and great power, NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT With You… Whatever the LORD PLEASES HE DOES in Heaven and earth… With God all things are possible”- How thankful He can bring verses to mind, some long forgotten but the Holy Spirit brings them back….
“NOW TO HIM Who is ABLE TO DO the EXCEEDING ABUNDANT Beyond all I can think or ask”- Yes GOD IS ABLE, and as He worked for good by taking the poisonous “fiery dart” to disillusion and become problem orientated which can only lead to anxiety in the heart which causes to weigh it down “{Prov 12:25}.. He replaced my focus with “…a good word that causes the heart to rejoice.”-{Prov 12:29}. HE enabled me to look not to the problem but to Him- the POWERFUL PROBLEM SOLVER. Our God is Able.
Consider;
“GOD ALMIGHTY”
The first time God uses His Name- “God Almighty” it was to Abraham. “He is almighty, all-powerful. That name is used forty-seven more times in the Old Testament and never of anyone but God. It has a New Testament equivalent, used ten times, which means literally “to hold all things in one’s power.” Scripture is punctuated with references to God’s omnipotence from beginning to end. He is the Lord strong and mighty (Psalm 24:8). Power belongs to Him (Psalm 62:11). “Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength” (Psalm 147:5). He wants us to know Him as the God who is able to do anything”-{strauss}
ABRAHAM INTRODUCED TO THE GOD WHO IS ABLE;
He had promised ABRAHAM and Sarah a son, But.. the problem.. they were well past the age to produce a baby, and even in their own foolish attempts with Hagar to produce a son, they royally messed up, “BUT GOD…” is greater than our failures and sin, and He would accomplish and show HIS POWER, even if it meant bringing forth a son of PROMISE to a couple who were incapable of producing a son and this HE DID! HE introduced Himself as “THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY”- “Now when Abram was ninety nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless’” (Genesis 17:1).THE ONE WHO CAN DO ANYTHING, WHOSE POWER IS LIMITLESS AND CAPABLE TO BRING FORTH A CHILD FROM A WOMB THAT IS DEAD IF NECESSARY! Sarah laughed and God said,” Why did Sarah laugh?” Then He replied, “Is anything too difficult for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14) When Abraham and Sarah learned the answer to that question they would be able to believe that God would keep His Word. And they finally did, “being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:21.) THEY REALIZED, and believed Him ABLE to do what He said by His great omnipotent power!
JEREMIAH AND THE GOD WHO IS ABLE;
Jeremiah in the midst of great pressures, said “AH Sovereign LORD, By Your Great Power and outstretched hand, You made the heavens and earth, NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU!”{Jer 32:17.} While a carpenter or tradesperson needs something to work with in order to fashion what they are making GOD SPOKE THE WORLD INTO EXISTENCE using NOTHING,{Ps 33:6,9}He merely spoke it. and Hebrews says HE UPHOLDS/ MAINTAINS ALL THINGS BY the POWER OF His Word…” Jeremiah believed Him, in His Creative Power to do what only He can do since only He had the power. He believed God was ABLE! Both Abraham, and Jeremiah grasped and believed GOD’S POWER! HIS ABILITY- HE IS ABLE!
Consider these verses to encourage and strengthen your faith; Concerning YOU AND ME AND THE GOD WHO IS ABLE;
HE WANTS US TO KNOW HIM BETTER…. OUR PROBLEMS ARE OFTEN INTRODUCTIONS AND REMINDERS SUCH AS…
- GOD IS ABLE- TO DO EXCEEDINGLY MORE;
“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” -{Eph 3:20} - GOD IS ABLE- TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST;
“He IS ABLE TO SAVE TO the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them… {Hebrews 7:25] - GOD IS ABLE -TO DELIVER;
“God whom we serve IS ABLE TO DELIVER US from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand… {Daniel 3:17}
4. GOD IS ABLE- TO BUILD YOU UP IN GRACE, THROUGH HIS WORD;
“I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, LE TO BUILD YOU UP AND GIVE YOU…the inheritance among all those who are sanctified… {Acts 20:32}
- GOD IS ABLE – TO EXECUTE ALL HIS PROMISES;
“..fully convinced that God was ABLE TO DO WHAT HE HAD PROMISED.”-{Rom 4:21} - GOD IS ABLE- TO COMFORT AND EQUIP US TO BE ABLE TO COMFORT OTHERS;
“Who comforts us in all our affliction, SO THAT WE MAY BE ABLE to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God… }2 Corinthians 1:4} - GOD IS ABLE- TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING;
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy… {Jude 1:24} - GOD IS ABLE;- TO PROVIDE A WAY OF ESCAPE NOT TO SIN IN YOUR TRIALS;
“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may BE ABLE to endure it…{1 Corinthians 10:13} - GOD IS ABLE- TO MAKE YOU ABOUND IN GRACE, FOR EVERY GOOD WORK;
“God IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TO YOU… having all-sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. -{ 2 Corinthians 9:8}
THE GOAL? – HIS GLORY – {Read Eph 3:21}
NO, the problem still exists, watching someone been led astray from the things of God, and totally oblivious, “BUT GOD…” through His grace and Word has allowed me to turn to LOOK to Him. My pain is lighter, as He has turned my attention from the PROBLEM to the LORD WHO IS ABLE, HIS OMNIPOTENT POWER TO INTERVENE, FOR I LOOK AT THIS MOMENT- TO THE GOD WHO – IS ABLE… And should I forget or take my eyes of Him and become problem occupied I am convinced out of His love HE IS ABLE- to remind me to look away as Abraham, Jeremiah, and countless others to the OMNIPOTENT ONE, WHO IS ABLE TO DO THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANT BEYOND ALL I CAN ASK or Think in the situation.
For HE IS ABLE TO ..
1. – ABLE TO DO THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANT…
2. – ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST {COMPLETELY}…
3. – ABLE TO DELIVER
4. – ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP IN GRACE
5. – ABLE TO EXECUTE ALL HIS PROMISES.
6.- ABLE TO COMFORT YOU AND EQUIP YOU TO COMFORT OTHERS
7 – ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING AND PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS.
8. – ABLE TO PROVIDE A WAY OF ESCAPE SO YOU DO NOT SIN IN YOUR TRIALS
9- ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TO YOU SO YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.
Who is able? GOD is able! If the solution to the problem, whatever it is does not lead you to and leave you with God, be assured whoever or whatever they are, they are not able to meet the spiritual need of the heart!
THE GOAL ?- HIS GLORY – {Eph 3:21}
PRAYING TO THE “GOD WHO IS ABLE.”
Good’s ability, His Omnipotent power is available, and so we come to Him to ask Him to manifest it in the circumstance. For His glory. If we cannot ask for His glory, we tell Him, asking Him to help change our motivation. We pray pouring out our troubles, temptations, weakness’s and at times humbling saying to Him, “Lord I believe Help my unbelief.” And He will strengthen you as you remember “these things WERE WRITTEN that through Perseverance and the ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES we might have HOPE… May the God of Hope fill you with ALL Joy and Peace in believing SO THAT YOU may Overflow with Hope by the Power of the Holy Spirit.”{Rom 15:4,13}
ASSIGNMENT- NUMBER ONE
Which of the above verses on the “God Who Is Able,” will you take and write down on a 3 by 5 card or in your phone and memorize, meditate and pray…the Scriptures, to strengthen your faith? “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ,:-{Rom 10:17.} Look away from the problem as though it has the final authority, to God alone, who Is ABLE!
REQUEST-
Would you be kind enough to carry my burden and in doing so fulfil the law of Christ, which is love and … pray for the one who is being led astray, and could lead others astray. Pray God who is able to do the exceeding abundant beyond all we can ask or think would manifest Himself to this dear one. And rescue and deliver from evil to worship and faith in Him! That God would bring him to his senses, and repent and renounce the works of darkness and turn to Him and embrace the GOD WHO IS ABLE!
Sometimes our problems, those things that seek to weigh us down HE CAUSES to work for good, to turn us to Him to pray and look to Him, to lean upon HIM. His Word gives us fuel for our faith as see Him, His Promises, His power. Let us Pray to Him and take Him as His Word! “God Is Able!”
Such has been my journey in the midst of an early waking, burdened in the midst of the night, “BUT GOD….” turned me towards Himself and the OMNIPOTENCE- ALL POWERFUL ONE , to consider, trust Him… and persevere in prayer. The burden lifted, for now, as the Scripture reminds me, “Blessed be The LORD,who daily bears our burdens… Cast all of your cares upon Him who cares for you!” {Psalm 68:19 ; 1 Peter 5:7}
ASSIGNMENT- NUMBER TWO;
IS THERE A PROBLEM LOOMING OVER YOU?
* YIELD yourself completely to Him. By faith and obedience.
* SUBMIT THE PROBLEM TO HIM {He calls us sheep, and they were never meant to carry loads }
* TRUST HIM TO DEAL with it in His way and His time.
* PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING that He will undertake and show forth His power
* THANK HIM HE IS ABLE. IT ALL DEPENDS UPON HIM!
“What is impossible with man… ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD…”AS my wife has often said in her own way about some lost soul, HER simple childlike, believing prayer “Go get him LORD!”
So now I go back to Him whom I have been burdened for who is been led astray, to Pray, not stressed but at rest{for now} and ask Him to deliver for His Word says He is ABLE TO DELIVER, and HE IS ABLE TO DO THE EXCEEDING ABUNDANT BEYOND all I can ask or think…
TO THE – “GOD IS ABLE”- BE HONOR AND GLORY, Let’s PRAY!