Obedience Activates His Power

Obedience Activates His Power TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5, NASB) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria One time, Jesus made mud and put it on a blind man’s eyes. He told him to go wash it off in the pool of Siloam. Jesus could have just as easily healed the blind man on the spot. He could have opened his eyes right then and there and sent him on his way. But obedience activates God’s power. The blind man could have wiped the mud off with his own hands and thought, “I’m not going to do that. That doesn’t make sense. That’s going to be a waste of time.” He could have thought, “I’m blind. I have these disadvantages. I can’t make it down to the pool.” But instead of making excuses, instead of talking himself out of it, he decided to just do it. He went to the pool and washed it off. Immediately, he could see. When you obey, dreams come to pass. When you obey, health is restored. When you obey, problems turn around. I wonder how many miracles we would see if we would simply do what we know we’re supposed to do. Are you talking yourself out of something because it’s not practical, it doesn’t make sense? Quit putting it off and just do it. If you’ll have bold obedience, you’ll activate His power and see God’s favor in a new way! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, thank You for Your faithfulness and healing in my life. I choose to obey You and open the door for Your miracle power in Jesus’ name. Amen.

You’re Happiest When You Give Your Life Away

BY RICK WARREN — JUNE 10, 2014

“If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw
away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News
will ever know what it means to really live.” (Mark 8:35 LB)

God wired the universe so that happiness does not come from status, salary, sex, or success.

Happiness comes from service. God designed you to be happiest when you are giving your life away. Why? Because he wants you to become like him. It’s all about love!

“If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live”(Mark 8:35 LB).

To have a happy heart, you have to practice service and generosity every day.

Matthew 20:28 says, “Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (NLT).

Jesus came to serve and give. Those are the two things that will bring more happiness in your life than anything else, and they define what it means to follow Jesus. If you’re not serving, if you’re not giving, then you’re not following Jesus. It’s very simple.

God also wired the universe in such a way that the more you give yourself away, the more God gives to you and the more blessed and happier you are.

In Philippians 2:17-18, Paul says, “Your faith makes you offer your lives as a sacrifice in serving God. If I have to offer my own blood with your sacrifice, I will be happy and full of joy with all of you. You also should be happy and full of joy with me” (NCV).

Your faith makes you offer your life as a sacrifice and serve God by serving others. Sacrifice and serving are two of the keys to lifelong happiness — generously giving your life away for the sake of the Gospel.

Talk It Over

• What makes you happiest in life?
• Talk about a time when you experienced happiness through service or generosity.
• How much of your time is spent on service? What are ways that you can serve others today?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgXL3y9RIbI