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MESSIAHNET DAILY DEVOTIONAL
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A ministry of the MessiahNetwork
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The MessiahNet Daily Devotional is a Scripture-based
devotional, designed to aid believers in their private, daily
devotional time and bring them into a closer walk with the
Lord. Each devotional contains a daily scripture passage,
devotional writing, and suggested prayer. All scriptures are
quoted from the highly acclaimed "Complete Jewish Bible",
a modern translation of the Tanakh ("Old Testament")
and the B'rit Hadashah ("New Testament").
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I Can Do All Things
April 9, 1999
I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than
enough -- in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being
full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. I can do all
things through him who gives me power. Philippians 4:12-13
There's no secret formula to being full, having abundance or avoiding
hunger and need. This is not what Sha'ul is teaching us -- that there is a
way to gain one and shun the other. Abundance and need; wanting and having
more than enough -- we constantly cycle between the two in all areas of
life. Indeed, to want steady, average, non-fluctuating supply for all
one's needs is hardly living at all -- that would be mere existence; as
believers, we are called to a life of dynamics.
The secret Sha'ul is teaching us is this: "I can do all things through him
who gives me power." What things? Things like being in want and having
more than enough! Things like being full and being hungry; having
abundance, being in need! Power to do what? To ride the wave between
extremes, to navigate the waters skillfully, to reach up when we are down
and out, and, yes, to tether ourselves to keep from getting too high.
Many baby believers grab hold of this Scripture with the best of
intentions, but it leaves a negative footprint -- "I'm going through a
rough time, but 'I can do all things through him who gives me power'!"
True enough -- and this is a good word to stand on in times of need; don't
ever forget it! But we must also remember that it's not God's intention
that we should always be in a state of need. On the contrary, he gives us
power, and we should intend on using that power to do *all* things,
*including* having abundance.
In Messiah, "need" is a season, as is "abundance." When we have, the devil
takes, or we lose it; then we take back, or it is given to us, and the
cycle begins again. The Good News is, for those who know Yeshua, our
"need" out-shines the world's "abundance", and the world's "need" is,
sadly, their total destruction. What Sha'ul is showing us is that in
Messiah, both "need" and "abundance" are "victory", and we have been given
the power to flow in either extreme -- for the glory of God.
P R A Y E R
Father, I receive your power to do all things. Give me the courage and
boldness to believe that I can cope -- by your strength -- with all life's
circumstances. Build me up, that I may not only conquer my need, but that
I will be a good steward of my success. Thank you, that I do not live a
lukewarm life -- I praise you and worship you for allowing me to witness
the glorious things you have done through the power you have given me.
Remind me everyday, Lord, I can do all things....
©1999 MessiahNet/Perfect Word Ministries
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