Expressing thankfulness in the face of an impossibility, opens the way for the Lord to work unhindered. I often visit Psalm 78:41. It says, “Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” Hindered by their complaining. They were stubborn and rebellious. Verse 40 says that they provoked and grieved Him.

Hebrews 13:15 says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Psalm 22:3 says that He enthrones Himself in our praises.

Thanksgiving is the fruit of a trusting heart. No matter what we face, we have the assurance that He will bring us through. He was with the three Hebrew men. He walked with them in the midst of the fiery furnace. They were thrown in bound, but His Presence broke the bonds. He is Omnipresent ~ Ever Present. Psalm 46:1.

The miracle of feeding five thousand plus was recorded in all four gospels. When Jesus asked His disciples to feed them, they only saw the obvious ~ five loaves and two fish. What do you see when you are faced with what seems impossible?

In John 6:5 Jesus asked Phillip, “…Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” The question was a test. Verse 6 says, “But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.”

What an assurance for us. No matter what our circumstances, the Lord knows what He will do. We can trust Him to work out His best for us. We gain further understanding from this miracle. 

Jesus held the five loaves and two fish in His hands. Verse 11 says, “…and when He had given thanks…” They were still just five loaves and two fish until after He gave thanks.

The Pharisees prided themselves on being exact in law keeping. Jesus rebuked them in John 5:39-40. It says, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me.”

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Experiential knowledge comes through intimate communion. There is no other way.. 

John 14:1 says, “…you believe in God, believe also in Me.” When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, John 4:10 says, “…If you knew the gift of God…” 2 Peter 1:3 says that we are gifted through our knowledge of Him, with all things that we need to live in His righteousness. Verse 4 explained how ~ we become partakers of His very nature.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He came to Jesus by night. In John 3:2 he made a statement that the Lord didn’t comment on. He took him right to the crux of his heart. Verse 3 says, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus didn’t understand because he was thinking in the natural. Verse 11 cuts to our heart as well. It says, “…We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.”

When God gives a promise, that promise will be fulfilled by Him alone. We cannot make it happen. Oh we can try. We often work hard through our thoughts to figure out ways, but it is empty effort. Inert. Fruitless. Futile.

The Pharisees knew the law, but they didn’t know the Law Giver. We can read our Bibles, but unless we understand what we are reading we cannot apply it.

I love the story of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7. Her creditors were coming to take her two sons to be slaves. In verse 2 Elisha asked her what she had in her house. She replied, “…nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”

In verse 3 he instructed her to, “…Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.” He was setting her up for abundance. In verse 4 he told her to pour her one jar of oil into all the empty vessels. 

When all the vessels were filled the oil ceased. In verse 7 Elisha told her, “…Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” We often despair when we only see our lack. John 10:10b takes our vision out of human impossibilities, onto God’s infinite ability. Pour His promises into your empty circumstances and watch Him fill them.

John 2 recorded Jesus’ first miracle. They were at a wedding but there was no wine. Six waterpots of stone were sitting empty. Jesus told the servants to fill them with water. Verse 2 says that they filled them to the brim. In verse 3 Jesus said, “…Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast…”

The master of the feast tasted the water that was made into wine. He called it good. What ‘empty pot-circumstance’ is in your life? Fill it with Scripture about God’s ability. Don’t get sidetracked by the emptiness. See yourself on the edge of an opportunity. Attentively watch for Him to fill it with His good.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Your empty pot-circumstance is poised for the manifestation of His fullness.

I just love Luke 1:37. It says, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Here is a new song. You can move the mountains. You can calm the sea. You can split the skies and rescue me. Nothing is impossible, no nothing at all. You created everything before man’s fall. Though it seems impossible to me. I must remember Who You are as my Savior and King.

You rule in my heart through Your word supreme. I just have to believe-trust for You will faithful be. Nothing is too hard for You, no nothing at all. You delight to strengthen me through trials that reveal Yourself to me.

Your character is forged in me. Your anvil strong and true. You bring me through the fiery trials—my faith refined-secured. Your will is accomplished as I yield to Your hand. My thoughts are united with Your purpose and plans. As I walk in the path You choose You establish my heart. I serve You with thanksgiving and praise. You alone are worthy, O my Lord.

Colossians 1:16-17 says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” All means without exception.

Ephesians 1:4 says, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Proverbs 8 was written about wisdom. 

Verse 22-23 says, “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.” I encourage you to read the whole chapter. I coupled these two verses. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word…” Psalm 119:89 says, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.”

I started reading the gospel of John last night. I only got to the first three verses. I stopped to savor my roots. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Psalm 119 is a kaleidoscope of verses that display many names for His word. Here are a few of my favorite anchoring verses. Verse 1 says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the  law of the Lord!” Verse 15 says, “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.”

Please read this ‘root’ verse carefully. Verse 89 says, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” Titus 1:2 says, “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” 

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Back to John 1:3. It says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

Ephesians 3:19 indicates that it is far more than a mere knowledge of God. It is total immersion through our being a partaker of His nature. Our experiential knowledge conforms our thoughts, purpose, and actions to His will and ways  ~ producing inner transformation.

Romans 1:21 says that they knew God, but they did not glorify Him as God. John 15:1-8 was written about abiding. Verse 5 in the Amplified says, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me (cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing.”

Verse 8 says that the result of living in His abundance, bears much fruit that will glorify Him. Intimate communion is drinking in His abundance, dwelling vitally united to Him, so that we can reflect His character to others.