Do you believe GOD IS ABLE?

Do you believe GOD IS ABLE? Ephesians 3.20-21; Phil. 4.6-7 
God is Able #2. 

The headlines are disturbing, the presidential campaign is concerning and then perhaps you are undergoing an intense season of trial. Following yesterday’s ‘What in the world is going on? God is Able,1’ comes a question: 
in the face of worry, when you are under duress, do you remember GOD IS ABLE? 
“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able 
to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 
to all generations, for ever and ever.” Amen. Eph. 3.20-21 

If you and I truly believe GOD IS ABLE, we must act as though we are counting on him to be at work, in control and on the move. We pray with that in mind. 

Life verses for all of us: Don’t worry about anything; 
instead, pray about everything. 
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, 
which exceeds anything we can understand. 
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.2 

Now Paul describes that God will do far more abundantly than all you ask or think. ‘Far more abundantly’? That is super superlative! Paul is serious that God can outdo our finite thinking. So, do you and I pray expectantly, filled with faith and hope, because we are sure of both God’s heart toward us, and that he is wholly capable of doing anything? God’s Word is very clear that when we ask, we are to have faith that we will receive. For instance, James wrote, ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.3 When we pray, we are to believe … aye, to have faith, and stand steadfast upon the object of our faith, our GOD WHO IS ABLE. 

And when God answers our prayers, as he always does—either 
‘no’, ‘not yet’, or 
‘yes, and here is something extra to make you smile, 
so you know I love you, and have heard your prayer,’ 
‘because I have caught your tears in a bottle,’ 
or ‘I just love to bring you joy’— 
we are to give God the glory that is his due. We were created to give glory to our Creator. Just as an eye-catching, inspirational work of art brings attention to the artist, so we as the crown of God’s creation have been made to give him glory. 

Let us consider Paul’s doxology yet again: 
“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” 

The One who answers prayer, the one who works out his will in us and through us in this world … it is to Him, we give glory – all of us who claim his name, down through the generations, telling and retelling his mighty works, for ever and ever. The tune to a childhood chorus runs through my mind, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”4 

Indeed, it is the chief end of man to glorify God, 
And to enjoy him forever! Amen.5 

Determine to get your eyes off your situation and on to the One who can effect change in your situation. Turn off the television and take a few minutes to pray to the GOD WHO IS ABLE. COMMIT YOURSELF TO GOD, GIVE HIM WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND, ASK HIM TO MOVE – TO HEAL, TO COMFORT, TO CHANGE – IN SHORT, TO COME AND DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO. AMEN. 

DO YOU BELIEVE GOD IS ABLE? THEN ACT ON IT. 

Christine

PastorWoman.com

1 Phillipians 4.6-7, New Living Translation 
2 - Link for written briefing What in the World is Going On? http://www.pastorwoman.com/ReadArchive.aspx?id=2754 ;

or Podcast: http://www.pastorwoman.com/podcasts/d1666e3a-e9c3-40b4-8017-8c8f601...;

3 - James 1.5-6 
4 - 1 Timothy 1.17 
5 - Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1647, Westminster Assembly.