Day 232 - He Is Willing

Matthew 8:3 NKJV Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing, be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

"Jesus is willing, are we wanting? We can be cleansed if we will come."

It starts with desire. What do we want from the Master? Is it a real desire or just a passing pleasure to spend on ourselves? Would we humble ourselves to fall at the Master's feet and cry out to Him? If not then we shouldn't expect to receive anything from Him. 

It goes from desire to action. Some want and wait but never come. It is like the old saying that was popularized by song "Everybody wants to go to Heaven but nobody wants to die." If you want it you must come! And not only that you must come the way God wants you to. You don't approach a king any way you want. You have to approach a king the way he wants you to. So it is with God. We come humbly. We come dependent on Him. We come desperate for Him. 

When we do then we will find Jesus willing to save, willing to cleanse, willing to heal. And not only willing but able and abounding. We will be overtaken by His goodness. He will bless so abundantly we will be overwhelmed. 

What do you want from God? How bad do you want it and what do you need to do to get it? 

Day 1 - First thoughts

"I am listening for the voice of The Lord for this coming year. In my prayers I have been desiring to hear His voice and follow Him. I am also fasting this month to silence my appetites and hear Him more clearly."

We have been doing a fast in January for several years now. Every time we do the Lord speaks and reveals some of His plan or counsel. I remember one year I heard nothing for the whole month and right at the end of the fast God gave me a word of encouragement.

Looking at last year's thoughts I see how my situation hasn't changed but I have. There was a list of things that I was believing God for that today I still am in faith for. This could be a discouraging thought but since I know my God and since I am not the same man I was last year it doesn't bother me.

I can also see that there is a real difference between a want and a desire. I had some things listed that I wanted to do but didn't. There were desires that I committed to and I finished. That feels good. I would rather be strong enough to handle tough things than be weak and live a cushy, no problem, life.

When you look back on 2014 are you encouraged? Did your situation change or did you?