Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

Fighting Words

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Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Satan is a crafty enemy who uses many tactics to shut down those who are Christ followers. One successful approach is to convince God’s children that they are helpless and unable to do what they are called to do. I know this because this is something the enemy has used on me.

I have never been a very confident person. Though I can come across as very self-assured, I have always struggled with a feeling deep inside that says I am not good enough. These feelings became so strong at one point that I came to a place where I really started to believe that I was not good enough to do even the simplest of tasks. When asked to clean a house for someone, I panicked thinking that I did not have what it would take to accomplish the job well. 

Thank the Lord I finally realized where these paralyzing thoughts were originating. They were vicious lies whispered in my ear by an enemy who desired to shut me down. He knew that I am a child of God and have the power of the Holy Spirit available to me and he decided to attack me where I was weak. 

Through Bible study and prayer I recognized that I needed to combat these feelings with truth, so I memorized today’s verse. From that day on I have quoted this promise every time I have felt the vicious, self-degrading words slipping back into my mind. I now know that I have the ability to do all that God has given me to do. He will supply whatever I lack to help me to accomplish His will.

How about you? Has Satan ever used this tactic to try to keep you from trusting God and doing what He has planned for you? If so, then memorize this truth. And the next time you hear the enemy’s fighting words whispering, “You are not good enough to do this,” stand tall and fight back with the truth of God’s Word – “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!”

Love,
Mama

Water into Wine

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Good Morning,
The verse of the day is John 2:5. His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

What had started out as a joyous day was near disaster. The bride and groom had waited excitedly for the celebration of their marriage. The invitations had been sent out, the feast prepared and the crowd had gathered for the festivities. As the unsuspecting guests danced the night away, Mary, the mother of Jesus, realized with horror that they had run out of wine. She understood immediately that, in this culture, the current predicament was a terrible faux pas. Such a miscalculation would be a great humiliation for the newly married couple.
Mary went directly to her Son and told Him the problem. Jesus responded, “Dear Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come?” Instead of being daunted by this response, Mary, turned to the servants and said, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Do you ever feel like you are praying about things that don’t seem to get the immediate answers that you want? I have. In some cases, I have even been praying for years.  It is easy to wonder if you should just give up on “that one.” Maybe God’s time hasn’t come or maybe it is not important enough. Those are not thoughts of faith.
Photo:Morey Milbradt/Getty Images
Mary, though I don’t believe that she knew how Jesus would answer her request, believed that He would. She told the servants to do exactly what He told them to. In response to Jesus’s strange directions the attendants filled six stone water pots with water. They then drew some out and took it to the headwaiter to taste.
When the headwaiter took his first sip his eyes got big and his dejected face brightened. This was the best wine he had ever tasted. Though the servants knew where this wine came from he did not, so he ran to the bridegroom. “Sir, every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Mary’s faith in her son’s ability and willingness to help changed a difficult situation into one that brought God glory. This was the beginning of the signs that Jesus would do to manifest His glory. As a result even His disciples believed in Him.
What about us? Let’s not give up on our requests. Let’s go to God in faith, looking expectantly for His answer. He may not answer in the way we expect – but He might just turn our water into wine!
Love,
Mama