Many times people put limits on God and as a result they do not receive what they could receive from Him. There are three ways that people limit God. Sadly, many people do not even realize that they are limiting God.
The first way that people limit God is by not accepting or believing that He is able and willing to do what He said He would do. The Bible contains many clear promises from God. Each of us has free will to believe or not believe and If you don't believe that He can or that He will, you will not receive from Him.
If you don't want to limit God in your life, then start by accepting that His promises in the Bible are true. He is very willing and very able to perform what He said. We receive His promises when we believe His promises.
Another way of limiting God is by telling Him exactly what He needs to do and how He needs to do it. Some people don't even realize just how arrogant and irreverent they are. They say things like, "God, you just have to do this right now", or "God I need you to give me this amount of money by midnight tonight.
Imagine going to the dentist and telling him exactly what he needs to do for you, how he should do it, and how much time it should take for him to complete the job. Just walk in, give him his orders, and never allowing the dentist to have the freedom to do what he is an expert at. Wouldn't that be arrogant of you?
Now I understand that when we pray we need to give God our specifics requests. I also know that the Bible teaches us to go to God holding nothing back; to tell Him all that is on our heart, even if it is negative. But we still need to show reverence to God Almighty, don't we?
If we really believe that He can and will help us, then we do our part, which is to ask and believe. We may at times go to God in prayer, upset and discouraged, pouring our heart out to Him, But then we need to let Him do His part, which is to provide, however He sees fit to do it.
Too many times people put God in a box and tell Him exactly how and when He needs to do something. The Bible says, "Let your requests be made known unto God". It doesn't say anything telling God how He is supposed to do it!
The third way we can limit God in our lives is by feeling unworthy. Countless Christians, because of guilt and condemnation, do not feel worthy to let God know their requests. They do not believe that God would do anything for them because of their past sins, and thus, they limit God in their lives.
Let's get honest for just a moment. Who in and of themselves is really worthy to receive blessings and favor from God Almighty? Who has lived such a perfect life that they are worthy of receiving the promises from the Creator of the heavens and the earth?
None of us are perfect; we all fall short and we all sin. But Jesus Christ has paid the price for all sins. Because of his accomplished work, and since God has raised him from the dead, we have forgiveness of our sins.
Far too many Christians limit God in their lives because they do not see or understand what Jesus Christ accomplished. Because of Christ's accomplishments, we now stand righteous before God. We no longer need to carry the sin, shame, guilt and condemnation. Jesus Christ paid the price and we have been cleansed.
We can avoid limiting God in our lives by remembering that we are now dear children of God, made righteous in His eyes by Christ's work. We can go to our Father with confidence, pouring out our heart to Him, confident that He will bring His promises to pass for us. And we can be absolutely confident that all His promises are true, and that He is able and willing to bring them to pass for us.
We need to remember that God has unlimited resources. He has ideas and ways of answering our prayers that we have never even thought of. We pray and then look for and expect His answer.
When we believe God we trust Him. We are relying on Him to help and to take care of things. And He is really good at it! He's been doing it for a long, long time for those who trust and believe Him.
Ask Him for His help, and ask reverently, acknowledging Who He is. Don't put any limits on Him by telling Him what you think He ought to do. And see yourself as His dear child, knowing it is His desire to bless your life.
Michael A. Verdicchio offers a FREE eBook, "9 Keys to Answered Prayer!" for signing up for his FREE weekly news letter, "The Pep Letter," at:nhttp://www.ConfidenceAndJoy.com nMichael is a husband, father, minister, author, broadcaster and the voice on numerous projects and productions, Get a FREE Lifetime Membership to EnrichingYourLifeNow.com when you subscribe for FREE to his inspiring blog.
Full text religion-and-spirituality articles - Content for Reprint
"I'm stressed out!" "This is just too much stress." "I don't know if I can handle all this stress." Statements like those are far too common these days. This article offers a solid plan to get rid of the stress in your life.
The days we are living in can be filled with a lot of stress due to uncertainty. The economy not just in the United States, but indeed globally, may be cause for great concern about the future. Meanwhile, individuals and families try to cope with everyday life. As a result, many people live with a great deal of stress.
Many articles have been written about stress. I have spoken on a number occasions to groups of people about reducing stress in the workplace. I do know that ignoring the stress in your life can have some serious physical consequences as well.
So what is God's opinion about stress? There are Christians who believe that no matter what adversity comes your way, you are just supposed to accept it as God's plan. In other words, just suffer and endure because He has some kind of a reason. But even if you believe that, it doesn't get rid of the stress.
The Bible talks about being careful, or anxious for nothing. The word careful could quite literally be translated, "stressed out." The Greek word, merimna?, means to be mentally divided with cares and concerns.
We all have cares and concerns, but when those cares and concerns become overwhelming we become stressed out. So, that word, merimna?,, in the Bible is used both of having cares and concern, like we all do, and it is also used when we are overwhelmed, when we are stressing.
God's advice is that we should be stressed out for nothing. What? Is it possible to live without stress? Yes, and He tells us how.
The Bible says that in everything, by prayer and petition to God, with thanksgiving, we are to let our requests be made known unto Him. We remain thankful for what He has already done for us in our lives, and we let Him know about our current situation. Another verse talks about casting all your care (anxiety, stress) upon Him because He cares (has care and concern) for you.
Now some could dismiss this by saying that they have prayed and asked for help, but they are still stressed out. Perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss God's instructions on how to relieve stress. Maybe we should simply carry out His instructions, even if we need to cast our cares and let our requests be made known to Him a hundred times a day.
If we do so, the Bible promises that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. Isn't that where the stress factory is, in our hearts and minds? And when we are stressing, just how peaceful are we?
It is amazing how many people hear, in detail, other people's situations that they are stressing about. Some spend so much time telling others all about their stress. Maybe a better use of one's time would be to tell God, and keep bringing it to Him.
One final point is critical. Why would God ask us to make our requests known to Him? Why would He ask us to cast all our cares on Him? Why is there so much scripture about prayer?
The answer is so plain and obvious that it is so often overlooked. God wants to answer our prayers! He is a God of answered prayer. Why else would the scriptures say things like, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you?"
So we can choose to follow His instructions, because He not only wants to help and answer our prayers, but He also knows how detrimental living with stress can be. Stress takes a great toll on our bodies and minds. Some have stressed about a situation so much that the physical consequences in their body from that stress were far greater than that which they stressed about in the first place.
I am aware that there are a number of things one can do to reduce stress like exercise, laughter, getting more sleep, watching your diet, etc. I'm not at all negating those things. But, for me, the first thing on my list when I am feeling any stress at all, is to cast all my cares on Him, because He cares for me.
It is truly amazing how God can speak to us through a myriad of circumstances - and through any means he so chooses...
This article may be funny to you - but it packs a lot of truth, and I must be transparent in my own shortcoming to give the message.
Several months ago, I spent a few days in Virginia Beach doing some street ministry. Walking the malls and shopping centers, looking for someone to pray with or bless with a word from God. We saw some great healings and we witnessed people turn their heart to God, openly in front of everyone crying and praying toward heaven. To say it was great is an understatement - it was awesome! Then I met Jim (not his real name), and went out witnessing and praying with him.
I only spent a few hours with Jim, as we went to a local hospital waiting room and prayed for the sick. Our team prayed for people, gave prophetic words over some of the staff (including at least one Muslim), and simply shared God's love with many people. I was excited to bring the Kingdom to the world outside of the four walls of the church. I may have been excited... but Jim was ecstatic!
Jim prayed for everyone in his path! Everyone he saw he seemed to pray for... if they wanted it or not! He went through the waiting room smiling and rebuking sickness and disease like the Tasmanian devil chasing after Bugs bunny! I was initially impressed with his zeal - but I seriously doubted his judgment and his approach.
A few hours later I was discussing this (nice way of saying rebuking this behavior), with a friend of mine over dinner. I continued about his lack of knowledge in approaches and how he was allowing zeal to be a stumbling block. I guess my friend was not the only one listening...
I opened my fortune cookie, which I never take serious, to see a message of correction. I have never repented over a "word" from a fortune cookie before until I read...
"Ignorance on fire is better than knowledge on ice."
Wow. God spoke through a donkey before - now he was speaking through a cookie! And I keep that fortune cookie reminder on me everyday now.
Are we reaching the lost outside the four walls of the church? Are waiting "to be led" - I have never have seen that excuse in the Bible... or are we waiting until we are "anointed enough"?
It is time to take the word of God as truth and actually reach those outside the church. It is time to begin being obedient to our assignment. Can we "improve" our approaches? Sure. But we must start where we are.. and start now.
No more waiting... it is time to start! Start a fire today...
A deeper connection with the religious element of your nature is achievable through personal prophecy and meditation. If you need a prophetic word for counseling or comfort, visit the web pages.
A Prophetic Word Just for You Today « Barnabas Ministries UK
is a simple prophetic word given in order to bless and inspire you as you conduct your Christian life. They are intended to be helpful messages that will enable you to move on in your Christian life and service. ...
Publish Date: 07/01/2011 1:35
http://ernestanderson.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/a-prophetic-word-just-for-you-today-15/
Holy Spirit Journals: God's Prophetic Word is "YES and AMEN"
God's Prophetic Word is "YES and AMEN". Perhaps you have had some dealings with double-minded people who promise you all kinds of things but never deliver. I once worked in a job where my director said that she would ...
Publish Date: 06/24/2011 11:37
http://darrencanning.blogspot.com/2011/06/gods-prophetic-word-is-yes-and-amen.html
Prophecy
The power of God's Word can smash open and break any situation. The first person who gets stirred when you bring a prophecy is you. Get into the habit of prophesying to yourself. There is no sitting on the fence with the Prophetic Word. ...
Publish Date: 06/30/2011 23:29
http://jezman.blogspot.com/2011/07/prophecy.html
A prophetic word for those who know Christ
(I was very tired when I made this video, sorry about that!!) This word was given to one of the elders of my messianic synagogue in May, 2010. Here it is in print: -------- Prophetic Word given at 3:33 am, May, 2010 Do not be concerned with cause and...
