I DON'T BELIEVE IT

INTRODUCTION

Timmy was a fairly average boy. He didn’t get in too much trouble and was always truly sorry when he did. Although he was much too young to understand it, his parents’ love and approval were the primary motivating forces in his life. When Timmy did something that pleased his father, he felt on top of the world. If he saw frustration or disappointment in his mother’s eyes, it hurt him deeply. Timmy loved his parents and their love for him warmed his heart.

With his tenth birthday approaching quickly, just as he had done the previous two years, Timmy only asked for one thing, a bicycle. Several of his friends had bikes and Timmy loved to ride them. But hanging around and waiting for the rare opportunity to ride another kid’s bike had long lost its appeal. Last year a family down the street gave him an old bike when their youngest boy outgrew it, but it was falling apart and was really too small for Timmy.

Unfortunately, times were hard and a ten year old boy just doesn’t understand the economic realities of a recession. But Timmy clearly remembered the bitter disappointment of his last two birthdays and not receiving the one gift he had asked for. So on the morning of his birthday, as he descended the stairs, he expected to find a package the size of a basketball, or maybe even a skateboard waiting for him at the kitchen table. As he turned into the kitchen, he braced himself for the disappointment. And there it was, sitting there, waiting to be opened, perhaps it was a soccer ball. Quite unintentionally he faked a smile as his mom and dad turned to wish him a spirited, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

On his birthday, Timmy always opened his present first thing in the morning. So he walked to the table and rather unenergetically began to tear open the paper. Half way through the process he stopped, looked up at his parents, and ran to the back door. He flung the door open and involuntarily shouted, “I don’t believe it!” and bolted out the door. With a tear in his eye, his father smiled and picked up the half opened gift and headed out the door. “Son. Son! Don’t forget your helmet!”


SCRIPTURE

Focus Verse: Matthew 7:9-11 Of what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Additional Verses: Matthew 6:7-8, James 1:6, Isaiah 55:8-9


DISCUSSION

Have you ever prayed for something only to be shocked when God answered your prayer? Our prayers should be so much more than just asking for things. We should praise Him, acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness, thank Him for all He does for us, seek His will in our prayers and for our lives, and much more.

Yet God expects us to humbly bring our requests before Him (Philippians 4:6). After all, He loves us. He sent His Son to die for us. He knows what we need before we even realize it. So what does it say about our faith in Him when we pray not expecting Him to answer or find ourselves amazed when He does?

Think about Timmy’s father. He knew his son wanted a bike. He also knew that all summer Timmy had faithfully taken out the trash and helped do his chores in the yard without having to be asked more than once. Timmy’s dad had made up his mind, that besides the financial difficulties his family was facing, he was going to find a way to get a bike for his son. He was rewarding his son’s obedience.

So, knowing that God’s ways are beyond our understanding, knowing He is omnipotent (all powerful), ask the Holy Spirit to lead your prayers in the Will of the Father, pray in faith expecting God to answer, and then trust, obey and accept the answer you get. God will always answer your prayers. He will either say yes, no or be patient. Ask God to increase your faith such that the next time he answers a prayer you don’t find yourself saying, “I don’t believe it!”


PRAYER

Father, forgive me for being surprised by Your awesome power and for underestimating the immeasurable love You have for me. Help me to pray in Your Will. Increase my faith. I submit to You dear Lord and humbly accept Your sovereignty over my life. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

LONGING FOR GOD


INTRODUCTION

There was a young lady named Mary who fell in love. Not puppy love. No, this was her first, truest and deepest love. She married the man she loved. Then Mary and her husband had children. She was happy and fulfilled.

And then one day, without any warning, her husband died. Mary was devastated. However, Mary was a strong woman and she had two young children depending on her. So, despite her pain, in time she pulled herself together and got on with her life. Mary worked very hard, took good care of her children and always spoke respectfully and cheerfully about her husband. She hid the pain very well.

But at night, when she lay in her bed alone, she missed him desperately. She ached for him. She often awoke dreaming he was there beside her. But she knew, no matter how much she cried, no matter how much she prayed, as long as she lived on this earth, she would never see her husband again. She longed for him.


SCRIPTURE

Focus Verse: Psalm 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

Additional Verses: Matthew 7:7-8, Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 63:1


DISCUSSION

When you lie in bed and can’t sleep, what do you long for? If you are a Christian, your first and deepest longing should be for God. Above all else, you should desire to have a relationship with God that is very personal. You should pray to know Him better each day and include Him in all aspects of your life (if you can’t talk to God about it, you probably don’t need it in your life).

Each and every day, you should strive to become more like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As you grow in the Lord, your heart should burn with a yearning to be close to Him (Matthew 22:37-38). But unlike Mary’s situation above (dealing with the heartbreak of knowing she will not see her husband again this side of Heaven), if you honestly and earnestly seek after God, your longing will not go unfulfilled. God has promised that if we seek Him, we will find Him. Knowing that God is faithful to keep His promises, through our faith in Him, this should bring us great comfort.

One of my favorite attributes of God is His omnipresence (He is everywhere all the time). Therefore He is always with you. In fact, as a Christian, His Holy Spirit is living in your heart. You are the temple of God. If you have not achieved this level of longing for God, don’t despair. Most of us have not gotten there yet. However, we should want to be there. Commit to spending more time in Bible study, prayer, attending church and fellowshipping with other believers. Seek God. Long for Him.


PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will fill my heart with a longing for you. Help me to be sensitive to the leading of Your Holy Spirit. Draw me closer dear Lord as I seek after You. Amen.