But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:6).
Feeling a little deflated! How do you not second guess everything you're hearing when things don't come to pass as you thought you heard? How do just not throw in the towel and quit when so many signs point the way, but the promise hasn't come to fulfillment? Is it faith? Foolish? Just Desperate? Maybe God is strengthening faith and trust in Him as we continue to wait? Today's devotional couldn't of come on a better day. God knows what we need, when we need it!
We all need faith for desperate days. The Bible is full of such days. Its record is made up of them, its songs are inspired by them, its prophecy is concerned with them, and its revelation has come through them. The desperate days are the stepping-stones in the path of light. They seem to have been God's opportunity and man's school of wisdom.
There is a story of an Old Testament love feast in Psalm 107, and in every story of deliverance the point of desperation gave God His chance. The "wit's end" of desperation was the beginning of God's power.
Recall the promise of seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sands of the sea, to a couple as good as dead. Read again the story of the Red Sea and its deliverance, and of Jordan with its ark standing mid-stream. Study once more the prayers of Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah, when they were sore pressed and knew not what to do. Go over the history of Nehemiah, Daniel, Hosea, and Habakkuk. Stand with awe in the darkness of Gethsemane, and linger by the grave in Joseph's garden through those terrible days. Call the witnesses of the early Church, and ask the apostles the story of their desperate days.
Desperation is better than despair. Faith did not make our desperate days. Its work is to sustain and solve them. The only alternative to a desperate faith is despair, and faith holds on and prevails.
There is no more heroic example of desperate faith than that of the three Hebrew children. The situation was desperate, but they answered bravely, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." I like that, "but if not !"
I have only space to mention Gethsemane. Ponder deeply its "Nevertheless." "If it is possible…nevertheless!" Deep darkness had settled upon the soul of our Lord. Trust meant anguish unto blood and darkness to the descent of hell--Nevertheless! Nevertheless!
Now get your hymn book and sing your favorite hymn of desperate faith.
--Rev. S. Chadwick
--Rev. S. Chadwick
When obstacles and trials seem
Like prison walls to be,
I do the little I can do
And leave the rest to Thee.
And when there seems no chance, no change,
From grief can set me free,
Hope finds its strength in helplessness,
And calmly waits for Thee.
Like prison walls to be,
I do the little I can do
And leave the rest to Thee.
And when there seems no chance, no change,
From grief can set me free,
Hope finds its strength in helplessness,
And calmly waits for Thee.
God says in John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Often we get stuck on the first part of a verse - steal, kill, destroy and lose sight of the "But God" part - that I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
The other day, I saw a post on Facebook that said renounce "hope deferred". It is too easy to go there. I know many of God's children are in a desperate place and contending, decreeing and falling into despair and hope deferred. We need to retrain our brains, renew our minds in the Word - which is life giving. Focus on the "But God" part. No more hope deferred! Get out of agreement with that and start focusing on "A longing fulfilled is a tree of life". Yes!!! Yes!!!! Yes!!!!
The Lord spoke to my heart and said
"stay EXPECTANT and FULL of HOPE. I the Lord will not disappoint. This is your personal HARVEST season. I the Lord reward those who diligently seek Me. Your faith has pleased Me. No more toiling. Those days are over. Watch & be amazed! I'm doing a NEW thing."
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6
SOMETIMES WE ARE JUST ONE DECREE AWAY FROM OUR BREAKTHROUGH - BILL JOHNSON
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Ken - his hours have been cut again. We are still trying to sell furniture and things to raise funds to pay our bills....and yet trusting God to provide! He is faithful!
Michele - Praise God - I am sleeping a little better - getting 4-5 hours a night. Contending for full healing!
Ministry - we are believing God for an insane amount of money - that only He can bring forth to fund the vision He has given us!
If you have been blessed by this ministry or feel led to support what God is doing through us - financially, below are a few options. Your generosity and your prayer support is greatly appreciated and needed as we continue to walk in faith and God's calling.
Megablessings -
Ken & Michele Cole
http://www.wantinsight.com
michele@wantinsight.com, ken@wantinsight.com
Tax deductible & non tax deductible donations can be made:
1. Checks made payable to Sonlit Fields, PO Box 371, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 or if you prefer anonymous giving - you can give through our Donor Fund
2. Non tax deductible donations can be made directly to us by: THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET MONEY TO US FOR DAILY USE.
Paypal - www.paypal.com (michele@wantinsight.com)
3. Donor Fund - Contact National Christian Foundation - Ken & Michele Cole - Want InSight Fund - Tax deductible
7171 W. 95th Street, Suite 501
Overland Park, KS 66212
Phone: 913.310.0279
Fax: 913.227.0254 www.nationalchristian.com
Vision
God has given us a vision to build a retreat property along with ministry equipping center.
The retreat portion of our ministry is to provide a safe place for pastors, lay leaders & other ministry folks to come and be refreshed & encouraged through prophetic ministry (if wanted). We will offer private cabins with kitchens & full bathrooms, and plenty of places to roam on the property to get quiet with the Lord.
We will offer other specialty retreats - marriage, healing, prophetic teaching & activating people into the world & health and wellness retreats and more.
The Lord has graced us with the desire to come alongside the Church - to bring healing, deliverance & freedom to new/newer believers. We are not wanting to replace their church, but better help them be ready to serve in their church.
In our community building - we will eventually have a 24/7 prayer room, healing & prophetic rooms and a place for community worship services for those on the property.
Our passion is to minister to a lost & hurting world. To equip the saints to do the same and to be a blessing to our community and surrounding areas. Our hopes are that we can pour out God's love in a mighty way to bring more and more souls into the Kingdom, get them discipled, called into their purpose & destiny and released to do God's business!!!! We also have a passion to give generously to help those in need and to help others launch into their God given destinies.
