How Jesus Can Change Your Life and Give You Strength to Trust His Will
No follower of Jesus has advanced the Kingdom of God more than a Christian hating, persecuting Pharisee who was on a mission “to kill the Lord’s followers.” (Acts 9:1)
What changed him from persecutor to proclaimer? He came face to face with the risen Christ Himself.
As [Saul] was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
Acts 9:3–5
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!
And by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, the persecutor became the proclaimer . . . Paul.
I often think about the assignment Jesus then gave to Ananias. A task that required supernatural strength to trust God’s will…
“Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul.”
Acts 9:11
Go to the infamous Saul and lay “hands on him so he can see again.” (Acts 9:12b)
Can you imagine?
I must admit, I understand Ananias’ desire to find a way out. Especially when the Lord included this…
“Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Acts 9:15b–16
But the next verse says:
Ananias went and found Saul.
Acts 9:17
The Life Application Bible Notes say:
God calls us to commitment, not to comfort. He promises to be with us through suffering and hardship, not to spare us from them.
And He promises to give us the courage and strength to trust and obey His more difficult asks. The One who was with Paul and Ananias . . . is with you and me today.
Let’s pray:
A Prayer for the Life-Changing Strength to Trust God’s Will
Lord, I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Saul to experience seeing You in Your glory and hearing Your voice. When I read the words, “and he fell to the ground,” I’m not surprised. What an instantly humbling experience. One that completely turned this prideful Christ denying Pharisee into a sin-confessing, surrendered follower with a heart’s desire to trust and obey. That’s a life changed by Your grace. Thank you for changing mine.
Oh, to have faith like Ananias. I love his honest prayerful conversation with You and that even in the face of danger, He trusted You to be with him and give him strength. I’m blessed knowing that You gave him the courage to obey and the strength to trust Your will.
I am so thankful that You have changed my life with Your love. My heart’s desire is to obey You and to have the courage and strength I need to trust You and go wherever You ask. Give me all I need to live fully committed to sharing the message of Your love, trusting that You will be with me through any suffering or difficulty. Thank you, Lord. I am so very blessed by Your grace, mercy, and love. Amen.
God used the Apostle Paul to share Good News about Jesus with the entire Roman Empire. And still today, lives are being touched and transformed by the letters the Spirit inspired him to write.
Almost 50% of the books in the New Testament were written by the Apostle Paul and the Spirit has used them to transform lives generation after generation.
On today’s note write:
Jesus will give me the strength I need to trust His will.
God bless you today as you surrender your life to Jesus and proclaim His love to others.
Click here to read the rest of Acts 9.
God does call us to commitment, not to comfort, Deb. May we all strive to be as obedient to His will as Ananias was.
Blessings!
Amen, Martha! I try to remember that when obedience feels hard . . . He promises to be with us and give us what we need. Blessings my friend, I praying for you and Danny.
Thanks so much for your prayers!
I am new and love these daily readings about our Savior Jesus Christ. They help me daily to know that He has my best interest at heart and that whatever I am going through is not punishment but provision for my future. As an orphan it has been hard to fanthom someone loving me this much. I am still having to learn what this means in my life. Going through trials and waiting for years for an answer or an outcome can be very disheartening and at times make me heartsick. Joy is the hardest to thing to hold onto when waiting, especially if the years of trials have been especially hard and hurtful from others. I am having to reaquaint myself with God and relearn how to pray, read His word and praise Him through all of this. Reading Count your Blessings every day during the week is helping me. Thank you so much.
I am wondering where to purchase your book “Count Your Blessings”? I took would like to experience God’s word for an intimate, loving and lasting relationship also.
Thank you so very much, Dorothyia! I love hearing from readers and it blesses me to know that your visits here are encouraging you. God is with you and I am confident that He will bless your efforts to SEEK Him first in your life. Thanks for asking about my book. You can get a copy here – https://amzn.to/2Jfu3nM Thank you again for your kindness. God be with you and bless you!
Thank you for this lovely post. Just what I needed.
I’m so glad it blessed you! Thanks for letting me know. God be with you!
Love this powerful reminder! Thanks for the encouragement today, Deb!
Thank you for visiting, Gwen, and for your kind encouragement. Blessings!
Yes, God’s promise is to be with us, even to the ends of time. We have to come out of our comfort zone and commit to His will. He will give us all we need to endure whatever He allows in our live. When we Trust Him, He will use whatever we are going through for our good.
Blessings Deb.
Angela – Ireland
Commitment not comfort -well said. That would make a good refrigerator magnet or written on an index card placed at my kitchen window. Thank you.
Great idea, Marilyn! Thanks so much! When we are committed to the Lord, He really will give us everything we need . . . even when life is uncomfortable. God bless you!
Good words , yes God does call us to commitment, not to comfort ,but he promises to carry us through every struggle along we come across along the way, we truly just need the courage and strength to trust him in all the way
Amen, Idah! It is wonderful to know that we don’t have to face our struggles alone. He is with us and His grace is all-sufficient. God bless you!