Don’t Wait for the Water to Part

Don’t Wait for the Water to Part TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you...” (Isaiah 43:2, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria When my dad died in 1999, I knew I was supposed to step up and pastor the church. I felt it so strongly inside, but in my mind it just didn’t make sense. I had never ministered before nor been to seminary. I said, “God, this doesn’t make sense to me, but I’m going to take a step of faith, believing that You know what’s best for my life.” As I stepped into the vast water of the unknown, as I got my feet wet, so to speak, that’s when the waters parted. God has taken me places I’ve never dreamed. Some people are waiting for the waters to part, and then they think they’ll take a step of faith. But your obedience is what causes the water to part! You might think you are waiting on God, but God is waiting on you. If you’ll do what you know God is asking you to do, then your obedience will activate His favor, the increase, the blessing. Much of what happens along the way are simply tests. Don’t wait for the water to part. Step out, believe God and walk into the blessing He has in store for you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, today I choose to trust You and step out in faith. I know that You are with me and parting the seas of the unknown in front of me. Show me Your glory as I honor and obey You in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Jesus Is Praying for You

BY RICK WARREN — JULY 7, 2014

“Who then is the one who condemns us? No one. Christ Jesus who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34 NIV)

God knows everything that’s going to happen. He is omniscient. He knows the past, the present, and the future all at once. He already knows what’s going to happen in your life this afternoon. He knows what’s going to happen in your life next week, next month, next year, and the rest of your days. This also means he can pray about it before it happens to you.

Wait a minute. God prays? You mean God talks to himself?

You talk to yourself all the time. When God talks to himself, it’s prayer. As a dad, I often talk to myself about my kids, and God talks to himself about you all the time.

The night before Jesus went to the cross, he was with his disciples. Peter was kind of bragging and saying, “Lord, I would die for you!” Jesus loved Peter, but he knew Peter was a little impulsive. He also knew Peter was going to deny him three times before the next morning. Jesus said in Luke 22:32, “I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me” (NCV). Jesus had already prayed for Peter in the storm he was going to go through.

Jesus has already prayed you through what you’re going to go through this year. In fact, right now Jesus is in Heaven, praying for his children. He is interceding for you, meaning he is talking to God on your behalf.

Romans 8:34 says, “Who then is the one who condemns us? No one. Christ Jesus who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (NIV). That’s what Jesus is doing. He’s praying for you to make it through your storms.

It’s great to have people praying for you. I love it when you pray for me! In fact I can feel it. And when people don’t pray for me, I can tell the difference. It’s one thing to have people pray for you, but how would you like to have the Son of God praying for you?

The Bible says no matter what you go through today, next week, or next year, Jesus is praying for you. He’s on your side. If you’ve trusted him as your Savior, he’s interceding for you.

Talk It Over

• What attributes of Jesus are evident when you think about the fact that he prays for you?

• How does your confidence or attitude change when you consider that the Son of God is praying for you?
• What storm are you going through right now? Ask God to help you believe that Jesus has already prayed you through it?