Growing by Knowing

"We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God" (John 6:69 NIV).

Because the well runs dry, we know Jesus is the river of living water (John 4).

Because the storm rages, we know Jesus is the Lord of the storms (Matthew 14).

Because the floods overwhelm, we know Jesus is the rock on which to build (Matthew 7).

(Read more...)

Your Own Genesis Week

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalms 51:10 NIV).

God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother's womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form (Psalm 51:10 MSG).

This is a Genesis event, where God speaks into the void and the darkness of your life, creating for you a new beginning.

(Read more...)

A Commitment to Seek Only God Leads to Blessing

"Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!’ But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me'" (Genesis 32:26 NLT).

Obviously, God could have overpowered Jacob and ended the wrestling match instantly. Why did God let the struggle go on?

Here's the lesson: When God allows a crisis into your life, He doesn't solve it immediately. He lets it go on for a while because he wants to see if you're really serious about seeking him. If God answered your prayers immediately, you'd begin to think God was a big vending machine: put in a prayer, pull out whatever you need.

(Read more...)