START TO PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE. BEGIN BY THANKING HIM, APPRECIATING HIM AND INCREASING HIS VALUE IN YOUR EYES, AND YOU WILL SEE HIM ACTING ON YOUR BEHALF.

GOSPEL CORNER

26/11/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.
Mark 6:5–6, ESV

THE GOD WHO MARVELS
In Mark 6, Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth, teaching in the synagogue. They had heard about the miracles He was doing, and they were amazed by the wisdom of His teaching. But they didn’t believe. They thought they knew who He was. They knew His family. He had worked among them as a carpenter. They thought there couldn’t be anything special about Him. Because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any mighty miracles there even though He had all His power. He had gone to different cities, doing amazing things. You would think in His hometown, they would believe more than anywhere else, but it was just the opposite. Jesus marveled at their unbelief.

When God looks at you, what does He marvel at? Is there anything you’re believing for that will cause God to marvel? Is there anything you’re dreaming about that’s out of your reach, that you can’t accomplish, that’s too big, too much, too hard? It’s time to awaken your faith and cause God to be amazed. Dare to believe bigger, dare to ask, dare to dream.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You for Your Beloved Son who is everything He says He is and is still doing mighty works today. Thank You that I can put unbelief far from me and awaken my faith to believe and ask bigger than I ever have. I want my faith to amaze You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

There are Christians who know in theory that Jesus is with them, but they do not actively practice His presence. For me personally, one of the best ways to practice the presence of the Lord is to thank Him all the time.

You can give thanks to Him for everything. Just say, “Lord, I thank You for this beautiful sunset. I thank You for Your love and for surrounding me with good things and good friends.”

There is no limit to what you can thank Him for since every good and perfect gift that we enjoy today comes directly from Him (James 1:17). Even if you have had a rough day at work and you are facing a seemingly impossible challenge, you can practice His presence.

The moment you realize that your heart is heavy with worry and your mind is plagued by anxiety, share your challenge with Jesus and thank Him that this problem is not bigger than His hands. Begin to surrender it to Him and depend on Him for His strength, power, and peace.

As you do that, you are already practicing the presence of the Lord. And as you honor His presence and behave like He is indeed with you, He sees it as faith in Him and intervenes on your behalf for your success in whatever situation you may be in.

It is sad when Christians behave like some husbands who bring their wives to a party, only to ignore them completely. Their wives could be right there with them physically, but these guys are so engaged with their own friends, talking about the stock market, economy, or latest game on television, that their wives might as well not be with them.

Ladies, do you know men like that? Now, men who are reading this, I know you are not like that, so don’t get offended, all right? I know you cherish and love your wife.

What I am trying to illustrate is that just because someone is with you physically, it does not mean that the person feels appreciated by you. Appreciation only occurs when you start acknowledging the presence of that person.

Now, what does the word “appreciate” mean? It means “to increase in value.” If you appreciate someone, the person increases in value in your eyes.

My friend, the Lord is already with you, so start to practice His presence. Begin by thanking Him, appreciating Him and increasing His value in your eyes, and you will see Him acting on your behalf.