ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH

Today’s Text: Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. (Matthew 9:29)

Today’s Thoughts: How much faith do we have when we ask the Lord to intervene? If our prayers were answered only according to our faith, how many of our prayers would be answered? And how well would they be answered? Sometimes the Lord may wait for us to express our faith in Him before He acts. We need to tell Him that we believe He can and will intervene. Sometimes we should even be confident enough to tell others that we believe God will intervene, because when He does intervene, they will know that we truly do serve an absolutely amazing and loving God. We need more faith. God is waiting for us to ask Him for it.

Today’s Testimony: A few weeks ago I had a really rough assignment due. I had so many other things to do that I was far from finished when the due date approached. I therefore had to e-mail my lecturer to apply for an extension.
I e-mailed one of my lecturers, but got no reply, so I decided to e-mail another one. The second lecturer e-mailed me back and said that he had forwarded my application to the module leader. I then waited again, but got no further response. I therefore e-mailed the second lecturer again and told him that I had not received a response and asked if he could help me. By now it was the day before my assignment was due and I was praying that someone would respond and grant me an extension.
I was chatting to a friend about the situation and this is what I said, “God has never let me down. ...Somehow I know He's gonna come through for me with this assignment too. But I still can't seem to stop worrying about it.” Yes I was stilled concerned about my problem, but I had stated that my God had never let me down and that I believed He was going to come through for me, and therefore, though the faith may have been quite small, God intervened.
Just over five minutes after saying those words to my friend I got an e-mail to say that I could have a one-week extension. God is so good!!!
I managed to get my assignment sent the following week, although I knew that it could have been better. I prayed that I had at least sent off enough to pass. Remember before that I said that the Lord Himself is my Tutor? …He helped me with my assignment. I finally got my result back. I got a distinction. My God is so good!!!

Today’s Task: Ask the Lord to increase and strengthen your faith. Know that He can do all things. Tell the Lord that you believe He can and will intervene. Tell others that you know that your God will come through for you. Allow them to become part of the miracle. Trust that God will intervene no matter what you face. Know that if things don’t turn out the way you hoped, God knew of a better plan. He cares about you. Have faith in God – He is faithful.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You always come through for us in the way You know best. I thank You that we can trust in You. Please help us to have faith in You. Please increase and strengthen our faith. Help us to give others the opportunity to be part of the miracles that You perform for us so that they can turn to You and grow in You. I thank you that You are faithful. I thank You that You love us so mush. We love You too. Amen.

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

Today’s Text: For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. (Psalm 38:15)

Today’s Thoughts: If we pray about our problems and place our hope in the Lord He will hear us. Today we use the word hope far differently to the way it’s used in this text. This hope is a solid hope – a trust that we place in God because we know that He will intervene. It’s not “being hopeful”; but “having hope”. When we pray – God hears. And then He answers in accordance with what He knows is best. God can work miracles. All we need to do is trust that He can, and ask Him to do so.

Today’s Testimony: Today’s testimony will be short and sweet, but still a powerful testimony.
The weather back home just before the camp meeting wasn’t all that good and we were having a problem getting all our clothes washed and dried. We left for camp early on Thursday morning, and on Friday night my sisters and I still had clothes that were far from dry. We hung the clothes in our bedroom windows and then I did what seemed obvious to me – I prayed.
The following morning my older sister came into our room (my twin sister and mine); felt my clothes and exclaimed, “How come your clothes dried!” I simply asked her if she’d prayed about it. I then felt bad for not being more specific about which clothes I wanted dry by the next morning. And yet at the same time I was standing in awe. God answers prayer!!! Believe it.
If all the clothes had dried it could have been accepted by some as “nothing special”, but my clothes had dried because I had prayed about it. God works miracles if we place our trust in Him. I serve an amazing God! Do you?

Today’s Task: Place your hope in the Lord. Trust in His power to work miracles. There’s power in prayer. Ask the Lord to intervene no matter what problems you face – God answers prayer. He loves you and He wants to make you smile, but He also knows what is best for you and therefore answers in the way that He knows is best. Trust His wisdom, and then ask Him to help you to be thankful and smile anyway, no matter what the answer. Remember that no matter what happens, God is there for you and He loves you so much. Pray – God hears prayer!

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I praise You that You hear and answer prayer. I thank You that You always do what is truly best for us. Please help us to trust You. Help us to place our hope in You. I thank You that You are always there for us and that You love us so much. Lord we love You too. Amen.

SHARE YOUR TESTIMONIES

Today’s Text: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32)

Today’s Thoughts: If we bear witness for Christ, He will bear witness for us before God. His followers must always have a testimony to share about how great our God truly is. If they do not have a testimony, then they, quite plainly, obviously haven’t been following Him enough. You cannot follow Christ and not see His hand working. When we share what Christ has done for us, He is even more willing to intercede on our behalf before His Father. Think about it: if we are sharing testimonies that glorify Him, He has an extra reason to bless us with more testimonies. Make sense? We truly do serve an amazing God!!!

Today’s Testimony: This last weekend I went to a church camp meeting. Last year while attending the same camp meeting it poured with rain quite a lot. Our tents were rather old and were far from successful in keeping the rain out. One morning we got four litres of water out of our tent. Some of our clothes that were in our bags got soaking wet. We even had to walk to some the meetings in the rain. I was really blessed throughout the weekend with the messages presented and through the conversations that the Lord and I had, but I wasn’t a very happy and dry camper.
This year had to be different. We still had to use the same old tents, except for fixing the zips (but the problem was more than that), and I was so concerned that we were going to get rained out again. Well, there was only one thing to do – I prayed. The weather forecast for that area was rain practically all weekend. But I knew that if it was my God’s will He could intervene.
It wasn’t raining when we arrived on Thursday afternoon and we managed to set up camp without a problem. On Friday morning there was a heavy mist but still we had had no rain. Later that day the weather looked pretty unpromising and I once again started pleading with the Lord to not let it rain. Sometimes He answers our prayers in the way we want just because He loves us, but I mentioned that I would share the amazing testimony via Today’s T’s if He held the rain back. The Lord then said to me, “If you do powerful things for me – I’ll do powerful things for you.” WOW! The Lord asked me to share a better glimpse of Him with the world, and seeing I am (Today’s T’s is available to the whole world) He has extra reason to bless me. Every blessing that He bestows is going to go forth as a powerful testimony of who He is and glorify His name.
One night it rained a bit during the night when everyone was safely inside their tents. Our tents didn’t flood like they did last year. Another night it drizzled a bit, but also didn’t flood our tents. I kept hearing people say that it was going to rain. But we didn’t see any rain near in comparison to the time before. The only other times that it rained (and every time the rain only lasted a few minutes), was early one morning when we were going off to the bathroom to get up and dressed (but it wasn’t raining hard at all). And then the other time I want to share in more detail….
My family and I stayed at the camp an extra day. Most of the campers left on Monday but we stayed till Tuesday. On Monday afternoon it was threatening to rain. I was praying. Finally it did rain for a bit. But soon passed and the sky cleared. We then watched the storm from a distance – lightning and all! God is so good!!! On Monday it started spitting just before we were ready to leave. The whole weekend we stayed pretty dry. God is really so good!!! I want to continue to share His goodness for as long as I can.

Today’s Task: Share the testimonies of what the Lord has done for you with as many people as you can. Know that He can work miracles. Take every concern to Him no matter how big or small it may seem. He wants to bless you. He loves you. Meet the Lord and give the rest of the world a better glimpse of your wonderful Saviour.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You bless us simply because You love us. I praise You that You bless us so that we can share the testimonies and glorify Your name. Help us to entrust You with every problem. Help us to share what You have done for us. Lord may we truly be Your followers so that You can say to Your Father, “This is my child, and therefore his/her sins are covered with my righteous life.” We want to be Your children and be clear before God. Help us to live in You. I thank You for Your love. Amen.

GOD KNOWS BEFORE YOU ASK

Today’s Text: Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:8)

Today’s Thoughts: In the verse prior to this one Jesus mentions the heathen who pray vain repetitions thinking that the Lord hears them due to how much they say, but Jesus says that God already knows what we need – prayer is something far more personal. He wants us to talk to Him about our needs, but it’s never in order to fill Him in on what’s happening in our lives – He knows that. Prayer is an expression of faith. We ask, hopefully because we believe that God will hear and grant. No matter how many words we pray, or how eloquent our prayers sound, it really makes no difference. God want us to talk to Him because we have a relationship with Him. He is a personal God. He knows our needs before we ask, and He will often step in to answer them long before we’ve even thought to ask; sometime before we’ve even encountered the problem. God is so good. He loves to bless his children.

Today’s Testimony: A while ago I mentioned about the Lord blessing me with two Afrikaans Bibles (Today’s T’s Day 61). I bought the first one before leaving for Cape Town one year.
While in Cape Town that year, one day while I was washing my hands, I was thinking how much I’d love to have an Afrikaans hymnal. My twin sister and I share a room, and my older sister was sitting in our room on the floor looking through some stuff we’d been given that had belonged to my aunt, who had passed away earlier that year. I walked out of the bathroom and as I walked into our room Toni said, “Here, this is for you.” Need I say that it was an Afrikaans hymnal?!!!
That one was a word edition. I have since been blessed with a word and music edition. My step-dad’s brother immigrated to the States, and had given us a few things. One of those things was an Afrikaans hymnal, words and music. I had my eye on it, and finally my older sister asked my mom if I could have it. I now own two Afrikaans hymnals. God is so good!!!
God knows what we need, but He also knows what we want. He knows our needs and wants long before we ask. If it is in His will to grant our petitions, He will surely grant them. God loves to make His children smile.

Today’s Task: Talk to the Lord about your needs and wants. He knows them all, but He wants you to share everything with Him. Do not pray thoughtlessly, speak as though you are speaking to your Best Friend – I hope He is your Best Friend. But I do know that He is the greatest Friend you will ever have. Take your requests to God, He will answer – He might already be answering. And then please, never ever forget to thank Him.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You hear each and every prayer. I thank You that You know our needs and wants before we ask. I thank You that You answer them in the way that You know best. Please help us to trust You. Please help us to come to know you personally as our Best Friend. I thank You for being the greatest Friend we could ever have. I love You Lord. Amen.

GOD WILL BE WITH YOU

Today’s Text: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (Psalm 91:15)

Today’s Thoughts: If we call on the Lord when we are in trouble He will answer us. He will be with us through our trial and He will deliver us from it – whether it be in the middle of the trouble, or whether He brings us safely through it, He will deliver us in the way that He knows best. In the end we will be honoured. Those around us will see that we have something that they lack and want – a peaceful and trusting relationship with an almighty, loving God. And finally, if we cling to our Saviour and endure every trial until the end, God will give us a crown of life (James 1:12). No matter what troubles we face, we can know that if we turn to the Lord, He will be with us – our God is faithful!

Today’s Testimony: Remember when I shared about the exam for which the Lord told me exactly what to study (Today’s T’s Day 13)? I mentioned that that was my toughest exam for that semester. Today I’d like to share another testimony around that exam.
When I got to the exam room I noticed that the time on my watch was slightly different to the time on the clock in the exam room. I therefore adjusted the time on my watch.
I’ve also mentioned my alarm clock that God keeps ticking (Today’s T’s Day 10-12, 18, 19 and 49). When I got home from my exam I noticed that my alarm clock had stopped ticking. I looked at the time that it had stopped; calculated the amount of time that I had changed on my watch in the exam room; and realized that my alarm clock had stopped ticking at the same time that I started writing. The Lord said to me, “Lindy, I wasn’t with your alarm clock – I was with you.”
Yes God is omnipresent and is everywhere at the same time, but the message was so special to me. He was still present in my home with the rest of my family, but He had no reason to be keeping my alarm clock ticking. He was with me during my exam. I needed Him and He was there.

Today’s Task: Ask the Lord to be with you no matter what you face. He is waiting for your permission. He longs to be by your side through ever trial and every joy. He loves you so much. Run to the Lord. Trust Him – He will deliver you. Then please, don’t forget to thank Him.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You care about us. I thank You that You hear us, and that You answer. I thank You that You deliver us. Lord please help us to trust You. Help us to glorify Your name during and at the end of every trial. Pease let all those around us see Your intervention in our lives, and please help them to accept You into their lives too. Lord I thank You that You are faithful and trustworthy. I thank You that You are always with us because You love us. We love You too. Amen.

STAY STRONG

Today’s Text: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10)

Today’s Thoughts: No matter what we face in life we can always receive strength from the Lord. He can intervene in all situations – there is power in His might. If the Lord is our God we can stand up and be strong in every storm. God’s strength is available to each and every one of us. We just need to make use of it.

Today’s Testimony: A friend of mine often signed his messages with “stay strong”. I never really thought all that much about it, until one day I was on my knees asking the Lord to help me to “stay strong”. I then realized that asking the Lord for strength and asking Him to help you to stay strong are two totally different things. Strength is asked for when we do not have any, or when we need more. We can only ask the Lord to help us to stay strong when we are already strong, but know that we can easily become weak again. We need to continually draw on the Lord’s strength whether it be because we lack it or because we need it to continue.
I prayed those words because I had just gone through an extremely trying experience; once again felt strong in the Lord, but knew that with what was coming my way I would need His intervention to keep me strong. These are the words to the song I wrote after realizing that becoming strong and staying strong are two totally different things.

Stay Strong

Stay strong My child
Though the storms of life be wild
The strength that I have given you
If you ask I’ll renew
So don’t let the wind bend you
For hope I will send you
But My child, stay strong
Stay strong

Lord, help me to stay strong
Though the storm may seem too long
May I lean on You always
Lord give me strength throughout my days
O don’t let the wind bend me
May Your presence attend me
O Lord help me to stay strong
To stay strong

O Lord help me to stay strong
To stay strong

Today’s Task: What trials are you facing in life? Ask the Lord to give you strength or to help you to stay strong. Draw from His strength. Our God is almighty and can give you peace and strength no matter what you face – simply ask Him for it.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You have made Your strength available to each and every one of us. Please help us to run to You for strength whenever we need it. I praise You that Your strength is sufficient to help us through any trial. Help us to trust in Your strength. I thank You that You are not our God from a distance, but our God right here with us – caring about us and our needs, hopes and fears. I thank You for Your everlasting love. Amen.

GOD CAN GIVE YOU YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

Today’s Text: Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. (Psalm 21:2)

Today’s Thoughts: God can provide for all our needs, but He also loves to give us our hearts’ desires. If we ask Him for things and He knows that it is best for us or that it will not harm us, He will grant our requests. He loves to bless His children. God knows all things; He knows what is best – if our petitions don’t fall outside of His perfect will, He will most probably answer them. We’ve spoken before about the fact that this world is full of evil only because Satan is very active in it. God hates to see us suffer, but there is a war going on for our lives, and Satan is trying to deceive us into blaming God for our pain. God is good – always good and only good! He is very present when we suffer. If He wasn’t, things would be far worse. He is right there to comfort and strengthen us. God loves you and He wants to give you your heart’s desire. Believe it.

Today’s Testimony: I quoted from my favourite author, E White, a while ago (Today’s T’s Day 54). Today I’m going to share how the Lord has blessed me with many of her books. My family owns quite a few, but I wanted a few of my own.
Firstly, there was a book containing 10 of her books. I really wanted it, and it was being sold at an extremely good price, but I couldn’t really afford it. My birthday was coming up and I was hoping to get the book from my family, but decided to leave it in the Lord’s hands and not ask for one. I knew that the Lord knew whether I should get the book, or whether I needed the money more. My family did give me the book for my birthday! God is so good!!!
Then there were some more of her books that I really wanted. They were on sale, but at that stage I couldn’t spare the money. The Lord then later blessed me with all three of them and more. Some of those books I received second-hand but in good condition for free, and two I bought second-hand for an extremely good price. God is so good!!!
Then there was a nine-volume set of her books that I also really wanted. We had been given a few duplicates of the free second-hand books, and then there were some other extras that were sitting in a pile for us to give away. There were a few odd books from the nine-volume set, but I wanted the whole set – all nine volumes. Four of those books were very thick, and the Lord said to me, “Lindy, those four books are rather thick, go look at them again.” I did, and discovered that it was all nine volumes in four books. God is so good!!!
God knew that one of the desires of my heart was to own all those different books. He blessed me with the desire of my heart. He still does bless me with my heart’s desires on many occasions. God loves to bless His children!!!

Today’s Task: No matter what evil you see all around you, know that God really does care about His children. He loves us so much. He loves to bless us. He hates to see us suffer and He is there to strengthen us whenever we face trials. He longs to give you your heart’s desire – take your requests to Him. Ask Him to grant your petitions if it is in accordance with His will, and then wait for Him to answer. Never ever forget that He loves you!

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You know the desires of our hearts. I thank You that You love to bless us with those desires simply to say, “I love you child.” I know that You love each one of us so much, and I thank You for that. Lord, we don’t deserve Your love or Your blessings, but I praise You that You joyfully give us both. I thank You for Your great love. Amen.