The Powers That Be..

"My stocks tripled in 5 days."

"I lost 47 pounds on the Krispy Kreme Diet."

"Debbie won the lottery. Along with 400,00 other people. So she only won $17.00."

I couldn't help but think of the film Bruce Almighty while still dwelling on those 1200 prayer requests mentioned in my previous post.

In the movie God challenges Bruce by giving him the divine powers to see if he can do it any better.

My favorite scene is when Bruce goes on the internet site Yahwey! Insta-prayers and just answers yes to every prayer request, this then makes a total catastrophe for the town of Buffalo, New York. Bruce becomes puzzled and asks God what happened, so God explains:

" A single mom working 2 jobs and still makes it to her daughter's soccer game, that's a miracle.

A kid saying no to drugs and yes to an education, that's a miracle. People want Me to do everything for them. What they don't realize is they have the power. Want to see a miracle?

Be the miracle."

I've come across many Christians who would literally just sit and wait on God to answer their prayers without any involvement of action on their part:

some needed a job but wouldn't go out and look, saying their waiting on God to do something, as if God was just going to send that company to their doorstep and say "Hey, we want to hire you!",

others saying their waiting for the right person to come along relationship-wise, but don't make any effort on their own part to find that person,

and then there's some that want to lose weight, are trusting in God to help, but don't do the necessary things to accomplish that goal

What is quickly becoming my favorite quote comes from a Reverend Ray at my church:

"You need to do what you can in the natural, and believe in God for the supernatural."

If you have a physical ailment of any kind, do what you are required to do in the natural:

see a doctor, follow their medical advice,take your medicine, watch your diet, and exercise. And in the process exercise your faith in God for the supernatural.

If you need a job, begin exercising your faith while out pounding the pavement or stroking those keyboard keys in search of that job.

The Book of James teaches us that faith without works is dead.

You will be amazed at what God can do for you when you mix action with faith. The impossible becomes possible.

No matter how much I want to answer yes to those 1200 prayer requests, if I had the power to, all I can do is pray for them and hope that they step out in faith and trust God to provide for what they are in need of.

And if any of them should cross my path or yours, remember:

Do not keep good from those who should have it, when it is in your power to do it.

(Proverbs 3:27)