CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 813

“Limiting God”

Psalm 78:19 (ESV) They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? …  Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?”

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‘Think outside the box’.  If you have heard this exhortation once, you have heard it a thousand times.  It seems that in our human nature our tendency is to place limits and artificial boundaries on ourselves and others.  The result is that we limit our creativity in solving problems.  This gives rise to hopelessness and we give up.

The highly successful and innovative industries foster an environment of creative thinking among their employees.  There is no room in these companies for ‘box builders’ – those who stifle creative ideas with statements like, ‘It won’t work because we have never done it that way before’, and ‘That is the dumbest idea I have ever heard’.

The real danger to our ability to walk in faith and trust in God comes when we transfer our human limitations upon our perception of God.  In effect we put God in a box of our own making.  Can you imagine Peter telling Jesus, ‘I can’t walk on water because I have never done it before’?

In fact, Jesus was always exhorting His disciples to ‘think outside the box’.  In the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples wanted to send the people away and Jesus told them to feed the people.

But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” – Matthew 14:16

Jesus then showed them through the multiplying of the loaves and fish that God was not to be put in their box of limitations.

Jesus was also faced with Peter, the box builder when He told His disciples about His crucifixion and resurrection.  Peter rebuked the Lord.  In essence he told Jesus that that was the dumbest idea he had ever heard.

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” – Mark 8:31-33

What faith challenges are you facing today?  Do you need physical healing? Is there someone you are praying for to receive salvation?  Do you need a job or better income?  Whatever your need, God is able to more than meet your need.  Don’t put Him in a box of your own making – no matter how large a box you think you have created – God is not to be contained; period – end of story.

May you have sufficient faith and trust to step out of the boat or box you are in – and let go of its side as you walk toward Jesus across uncertain territory whether it be on rocky wilderness ground or tumultuous water.

May you have sufficient faith and trust to say ‘Yes, Lord’ to His call without grumbling or questioning His provision for your journey along the path that He is leading you.