How Revealing - Encouragement Café - January 18, 2016

How Revealing

Café Menu for Monday, January 18, 2016

Today’s Special is:  When the Light Comes On

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Paris Renae

Main Ingredient:

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV

Entrée:

I bet it’s happened to you.  You’ve seen or read something before many times but then the light comes on.

This is especially true with the precious Word of God.  At least it is for me anyway.  I can be reading along and suddenly I see the words in a whole new way, as though they were just revealed.

New Year resolutions are all about transformation we want to see.  

But what about the daily transformation our Father wants to see?  Is it possible?

My aha moment most recently was a very familiar passage,

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD’S WILL [emphasis mine] for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

I had seen the ‘be joyful’, ‘pray continually’, ‘give thanks’ – but I had missed the bigger point.

How often do we and others say ‘I just want to do God’s will’ or ‘I wish I knew God’s will’ or ‘what is God’s will in this’?  But there it is.  His will at any time and at all times is to be full of joy, to be praying, and to be full of thanks – in all circumstances.

Now that’s transforming.  

So in our day to day and in our good times and in our tough times,

we should be found showing joy (because in Him, no matter what, we have joy),

giving everything to Him in prayer (because He is in control, not us), and

being thankful for whatever the day holds or the outcome may be (because He works all things for the good of those who love Him).

Aha moments, those that can transform us and make this New Year one to His glory come softly, quietly. Through His Holy Spirit who knows just when our hearts are ready - as it says in our verse today revealed to us by His Spirit.

Take Out:

Let’s get our hearts ready for the year ahead.  Let’s read His Word with expectation.  Knowing He wants to reveal His truths and promises in ways that will transform us.  Let’s be like little children, eagerly anticipating the wonder of His presence.

Dessert:

Oh Father, we are Your children, help us to open our Bibles like we would a brightly wrapped package – with expectation and anticipation.  As we discover Your truths, Your love, Your instruction let us eagerly find ways to share our aha moments with those who love You and those who are lost.  Help us in this new year to feel You breathing newness and life into our relationship with You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

© 2016 by Paris Renae.  All rights reserved.

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