“Being confident in this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6, NIV)
So often we become weary when our efforts are stopped short by circumstances that are out of our control. We don’t always see the results of growth among those in our life. But God remains faithful. I have learned that He is in control, and although we do not have the ability to fathom it, God knows the bigger picture for those lives He touches through us.
Prayer: Father, give me an opportunity to be involved in the growth process of those with whom I meet. Amen.
(from Voices of the Faithful compiled by Kim P. Davis, page 236)
Today I am joining … Open Sunday Thoughts and Spiritual Sundays and Scripture & a Snapshot .
I’ve seen the truth of this lately on a practical level when I’ve tried to take a picture of my garden. What looks like a vast sweep of green loveliness to my eye gets truncated to a small rectangle of a few plants.
And I know that I do this all the time with the love and the grace of God. He’s thinking fire hose to soak me and everyone in my world, and I’m looking for a small trickle to get me through the next few hours.
I’m always blessed by your Sunday thoughts, Joanne.
Michele, I do the very same thing. It looks so good through the lens and I think I have captured it all but alas, no … May we remember He sees the entire picture, beginning to end and knows the scope of His full plan. Have a wonderful Sunday!
That prayer might be my favorite one yet. I LOVE how these devotionals turn everything outward at the end with the prayer. I want to always pull it all in towards me, when in reality, each lesson I learn should be used as fuel to keep me giving outwardly. Thank you for this reminder. Bless you for this re-focusing. And happy Sunday to you.
Yes. I’ve had to keep this in mind of late. It is my habit to rush out ahead to try and get everything in the path set up. But, God knows the bigger picture and I need to remember that He is in control, not me.
I needed this reminder today! It’s easy to give up hope about myself or those I love getting victory and/or healing in certain areas of our lives.
Good quote! I’ve thought of this verse a number of times in the last couple of years. It’s true that sometimes we find that what we are doing to help a person grow in their faith just doesn’t seem to be working. But we can have faith that the same God who began a good work in them is able to bring it to completion. We are inadequate, but He is not. We can surrender them to God and trust Him to do His amazing work in their lives.