Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
When we read the promises of God, we must read them the way we ourselves want to be heard—in full context. Just as we expect others to understand our words in light of what we’ve said before, God expects us to interpret His promises in light of all He has revealed in His Word.
It’s tempting to isolate a promise like “ask anything in My name” and stretch it to cover every personal desire. But “anything” doesn’t mean “everything.” And “whosoever” doesn’t mean “whoever ignores God’s will.” God’s promises are not blank checks for the self-centered or the disobedient. He hasn’t promised to fulfill our every whim—He has promised to equip us for His will.
Imagine being asked to build a fence, and the one who sent you says, “If you need anything, call me.” That “anything” clearly applies to fence-building, not requesting a sports car! Likewise, when God says, “Ask anything,” He means anything related to what He has asked you to do. He has not promised to indulge our whims but to equip us for His work.
This is why many prayers seem to go unanswered—not because God is unfaithful, but because we’ve misunderstood how they relate to His assignment for our lives. False assumptions produce false expectations, and false expectations delay the heart’s joy (“Hope deferred makes the heart sick”—Proverbs 13:12). But when our desires align with His purpose, prayers are answered, lives are transformed, and Christ is being formed within us. (Galatians 4:19)
God never promised to fulfill all our wants, but He has assured us that He will meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19). His provision is always connected to His purpose. He is faithful in equipping you for His calling, not to make life more comfortable but to make you more useful for His Kingdom.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]In Israel, we often see goats and sheep roaming the countryside. Driving through rural Israel often involves suddenly stopping to allow a herd of sheep or goats to cross the road. But interestingly, I have never seen “sheep kill” on the side of the road in all the years that I’ve lived in Israel. It’s because sheep don’t roam without a shepherd!
Set my mind on things above where my life is hidden with Christ…
…every problem, every issue, every fear, every practical matter concerning nature and flesh, to be reckoned in the light of a spiritual identity, a reality which I cannot see, a Heaven which is somewhere outside my universe. And Paul says, “Seek that!” How do I do that? How do I stretch my attention into the Heavenly realm…set my mind on things above?
The Sabbath is a weekly experiential reminder of the FREEDOM we experience from bondage to sin. In the above passage, Moses explicitly connects the celebration of Shabbat with deliverance from slavery. Isaiah 61:1 beautifully expresses Yeshua’s saving work bringing good news to the poor, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and opening the prison to those who are bound, a wonderful message of deliverance and freedom.
The apostle Paul’s epistle to the Thessalonians contains clear and powerful exhortations concerning the will of God for believers. These exhortations express the specific will of God in relationships with others, with ourselves, and with the Lord. Packed into these short verses are patterns of life and behavior which receive His blessing in all these relationships.
In this day and age, I’m convinced that it’s more imperative than ever to learn to rest! The famed preacher, C.S. Spurgeon, once wrote, “Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.”
When I was growing up, we used to have fire drills in school at least once a year. The fire alarm went off, causing you to shake from the sudden loud bell momentarily, but it was only seconds before you knew.... it was only a drill; you really didn't expect a fire. Nevertheless, everyone present was expected to rush out the door (in an orderly fashion) to the parking lot. It was a nice break from class, that yearly fire drill.
Our true value was expressed at the cross of Messiah, where God valued us according to the redemptive work of His only Son. In the light of our identity in Christ our value is inestimable. We are worthy in Him. Much of our spiritual battle, however, is about maintaining and expressing our true identity and worth, day by day.