Martha believed in the power available to Jesus Christ; she believed that if He had been there He could have healed her brother; she also believed that Jesus had a special intimacy with God, and that whatever He asked of God, God would do. But— she needed a closer personal intimacy with Jesus. Martha’s theology had its fulfillment in the future. But Jesus continued to attract and draw her in until her belief became an intimate possession. It then slowly emerged into a personal inheritance— “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ…” (John 11:27).Is the Lord dealing with you in the same way? Is Jesus teaching you to have a personal intimacy with Himself? Allow Him to drive His question home to you— “Do you believe this?” Are you facing an area of doubt in your life? Have you come, like Martha, to a crossroads of overwhelming circumstances where your theology is about to become a very personal belief? This happens only when a personal problem brings the awareness of our personal need.To believe is to commit. In the area of intellectual learning I commit myself mentally, and reject anything not related to that belief. In the realm of personal belief I commit myself morally to my convictions and refuse to compromise. But in intimate personal belief I commit myself spiritually to Jesus Christ and make a determination to be dominated by Him alone.

Then, when I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and He says to me, “Do you believe this?” I find that faith is as natural as breathing. And I am staggered when I think how foolish I have been in not trusting Him earlier.

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November 6 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning God. I really love the way You continue to show us, through devotionals, music, and your Spirit the main thing, over and over and over. We no longer need to search for that one next sermon, lesson, Bible study or small group to feel intimate and connected with You. We simply need to give up…..to You. We no longer feel compelled to understand we simply surrender, connect with You and live out of that. And even when we cannot surrender, You give us trials and circumstances that give us that perfect result.

 

And God says…”When you seek Me, you will find Me, and most people, most of the time, seek Me after trying to figure it all out on their own; after trying to solve the problems and or eradicate their pain. You wonder where I am as you feel trapped inside your prayers and ideas about what it means to trust Me. Martha just knew in her own idea of how I should work; that Jesus could have healed Lazarus had He been there. It did not occur to her that Jesus could and would raise him from the dead. When you surrender your own ideas about how I should work in your life, you free me from the constraints of your limited faith. Trust in Me with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding of how and when I should work, and I will make your paths straight. Seek Jesus first, in all things, and know I will meet all your needs in ways you could not imagine or pray for.  Surrender, connect and be curious in your delight with Me and I will give you the desires of your heart.”