It's the message I've been hearing over and over. The things we think we need to ask God for are already done. But we need to make ourselves available to receive them. God won't ask us to do anything that He hasn't already made provision for.
Live Transformed Series: Health, by Dr. Jim Richards
In the gospels, john says that he wishes we would prosper even as our souls prosper. What is happening in our souls is going to keep us healthy.
( or make us ill ) What is happening in our soul comes out of the beliefs of the heart. The core of health of the New Testament believer is about managing your beliefs and your emotions. If you, by the grace of God manage your beliefs and emotions, you will turn your health around.
Jim was asked, what would be a great testimony of his ministry. Now, Jim does think healing is a great testimony and has had many at his meetings, but this is what he said. "A great testimony for me is not : You came to my church, I went to an altar call, you laid hands on me and I got healed right on the spot. a great testimony for me is: You came to my church, I went to one of your meetings, I went home and I started dealing with my issues and suddenly I realized, I don't have this problem any more."
I think Jim meant by issues: our heart beliefs. In other broadcasts he has said that it's not so much asking God to give us what we need as it is letting go of wrong concepts, ideas and beliefs about ourselves and God, and then we receive those things which God has already done for us. I think he is saying, when we don't believe we have those things, then of course we cannot receive them, even when God has already given them. The problem is not on God's end, but our end.
Lectionary, November 4/12
Psalm 51
v. 6: But you desire honesty from the heart so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.
v.17: The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken spirit and a repentant heart, O God. you will not despise.
v.10- 12: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Don not banish me from your presence and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you.
Psalm 119: Happy are people of integrity who follow the Lord; God never gives up on them!
Psalm 146: The writer asks God to give Him the right attitude so he can teach sinners and do the will of God with joy. That acknowledges our need as humans for God's help to obey Him.
Songs: Only You, Create In Me A Clean Heart, Come And Fill Our Hearts, Be Thou My Vision, My All In All.
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