OK -- OK -- now don't get your frowns in a furrow!! Last week bugs --- this week horses??
(Disclaimer: If you feel that your head is nothing more than a hat rack, or a knot tied at the end of your spine to keep you from flying apart, please don't read any further)
Some times we are just so worn out by the winds of adversity that messages like the "HLFA Encourager" is just toooooo much.
My apologies for the overwhelming nature of many of these devotionals --- stop...take a cleansing breath before we go any further. Pray --- ask the Lord to speak to your deepest needs, to help you hear beyond the words.
(I will take a risk here)...You never see the tears that flow over some of these devotions because: the more I cry to Him to hear His voice...the more I am overcome with His Heart Aching for us to know Him more and I have to pass it on to you.
John 14:8 - Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Devotion-ally translated for HLFA encourager:
Philip (whose name means "lover of horses") speaks to the Lord in hope of establishing an eternal benchmark: "Lord - Kurios, the one in control, give us a clear, concise, momentary view of the FATHER and we will be "once and for all" possessed by unfailing strength."
Philip, the "lover of horses" was the perfect pick to make this aching request the way he did...so human, so honest...so ready to learn and so ready to be encouraged by the "horses" of life to strengthen us.
Like Philip,we look for the "horses" of life to define our security and safety.
We may even believe that these "horses" are a sign of God's blessing.
The big houses,
the big titles,
the big bonuses,
the nice cars,
the fashionable clothes,
the big visions,
the awesome ministry events,
the new exciting truths,
the next big thing...but God has a different plan:
Personal -- People -- Touch -- Spoken words
Although, the "horse lovers" desire an overwhelming, momentary, show of "convincing strength" --- We would say with Philip - "Show us the FATHER and we "it" ... will sufficeth us. "It" never really satisfies us. The overwhelming vision may convince BUT "it" does not bring commitment: then Jesus reveals the better Way!!!
Verse 9 --- reveals the "once and for all" to focus on the "learning to know" Him not "it" and focus on the "seeing to experience" Him not "it".
WE DON'T NEED "IT"...WE NEED A GROWING LIVING LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT GROWS IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS COMMITTED TO US. Commitment inspires commitment.
When the events of this life bear down on us ... we do not need a glimpse of His glory ...we need Him.
HE IS THERE...when horses stumble and fall.
HE IS THERE...when the vision fades.
HE IS THERE...when we say "why did God allow this?"
Life happens, but not without Him, He is there and He wants you to learn of Him...there.
HE IS THERE.
Zecariah 12:4
In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
WHY???????
Consider the following verse too -
Proverbs 21:31
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. You will find Him there...because His has found you there.
The next step: Be there, with Him, for others.
John 20:21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Think about this ...pray about this ....
HLFA,
Jeff
