Verse of the DAy: Matthew 7:7
Verse of the Day: John 3:16
The Little Girl who prayed for blue eyes
The Prayer:
When Amy Carmichael was a little girl, she prayed earnestly one night that God would give her blue eyes. The next morning she excitedly jumped out of bed and looked into a mirror expecting that God had done a miracle for her.
God’s Answer:
However, to her dismay, her eyes were still brown. She started to cry, because she thought that God had not answered her prayer.
Amy’s mother then comforted her by telling her that brown eyes are beautiful, and sometimes God answers our prayers by saying no because He knows what is best.
God’s Reason:
Amy’s mother’s words proved to be true years later after Amy grew up and became a missionary to India.
Because of her brown eyes, Amy Carmichael was able to disguise herself as an Indian and rescue many girls from slavery in the Hindu temples.
These poor little girls had been sold by their families to the temples of India’s false gods for money. Then they were forced into prostitution to make money for the priests of the temples. It was a terrible thing! But Amy was able to save many girls because she had brown eyes.
If God had given Amy Carmichael blue eyes as a child, she would not have been able to do this important work.
Our Lessons:
- God knows everything that we need today, and in the future.
- Everyone is beautiful, no matter how they look, because that is the way God made them
- Sometimes God answers our prayers with “no,” because He knows what is best, so we must accept His answer, and seek how we can use His “no” to serve Him better.
Corresponding Bible Verses:
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Resources:
- “Carmichael, Amy.” Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals. Timothy Larsen, editor. Downers-Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2003.
- Davis, Rebecca Henry: With Daring Faith. Greenville, South Carolina: Bob Jones University, 1987.
- Houghton. Amy Carmichael. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Verse of The Day: 1 John 5:3
Verse of the Day: Luke 9:23
Verse of the Day: John 8:12
Trust Jesus
The Bible teaches that we are to trust Jesus for everything.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
How do you hear God’s voice in order to know which paths you should walk in?
Here are 5 characteristics of God’s voice:
- God’s voice always agrees with God’s Word –God will never tell you to do something that His Word tells you not to do.
- God’s voice is always consistent-He does not change His message
- God’s voice is Persistent- If God wants you to do something He will not stop telling you to do it until you do it.
- God’s voice is always quiet never raging (1 Kings 19:12)-This is why the Bible says in 46:10a to “Be still and know that I am God…” We must be still and listen in order to hear God’s voice.
- God’s voice is always deep-meaning that God always speaks to your soul (the deepest part of you) not your emotions or intellect.
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
We should not worry about anything, but instead pray and trust Jesus to supply what we need.
Philippians 4:6-8 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
One thing that will help us to not worry is to think about Jesus, the Bible, and other good things instead of our problems.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
A person who truly loves God will obey God’s Word and will commit their lives to Him to further His purpose, which is to help every person to know Him.
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Romans 8:28 promises that all things will work together for good for a person who trusts and obeys Jesus.